Blog Awards and Me
It’s that time of year again: every wine blog in the world is reminding their readers to nominate them for a Wine Blog Award. I note that someone who has never commented at Louisville Juice (at least that I can find) has nominated me — unbidden — in the Best Writing category. Thank you, whoever you are.
For years when I was writing scripts in Hollywood I spent quiet moments rehearsing my Oscar speech, always being careful to hit just the right tone of both humble appreciation and ironic detachment. You don’t want to sound like that kind of thing matters, even though it does. No matter what a person does, it’s rewarding to be recognized for doing it well.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not nearly as good a writer as I think I am. I’ve given up winning awards or even having a large audience. I write almost entirely for my own entertainment now. That a couple of hundred people a day take time to read Louisville Juice amazes me. When people comment or email or link to something I’ve written, I get a big charge out of it. That a couple of those who take me seriously are talented writers much more accomplished than I am means a lot. So, again, thanks.
All of that said, after a couple of years reading every wine blog I can find, I don’t have a clue what it is that makes a successful wine blog. I can sneer all I want at the people who win these awards — and, as several of you with whom I’ve had private correspondence know, I sneer a lot — but they must be doing something right to find an audience big enough to vote them to victory.
Oh, well. I’ll keep writing for my own entertainment, and I’ll continue to be immensely grateful for those of you who spend your precious time reading the (let’s face it) weird mixture of stuff I put up here. But in the dark of night, I’m going to continue to wonder just what it is I’m doing wrong, because it must be something. As much as it grinds me to see the same people win every year, the conclusion I’m reaching is that it’s not them that has the problem. It’s me.
And I’m comfortable with that.
May 28th, 2011 at 4:34 PM
I enjoy reading your site even if I don’t comment often. I’ve been nominated for a few awards over the years but never won–it doesn’t bother me much. Since I was under 30 when I started the blog six years ago, I figure I might eventually get some sort of Longevity Award by default.
Kate Hopkins of Accidental Hedonist had some good thoughts on this topic recently. Her post is mostly about a male/female divide with food bloggers, but the concluding paragraphs are great.
May 29th, 2011 at 9:11 AM
You write well. And having a couple hundred interested people a day is doing pretty well for a wine-related blog, by the way,
I for one hope you keep tossing your written snark out to us on the global inter-web-thingy!
May 29th, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Does this mean that you won’t nominate me? I’ll nominate you.
May 29th, 2011 at 2:27 PM
Nothing beats a shot of Louisville Juice at the start of my day.
That chuckling you hear? It’s just me enjoying another one of your witty posts.
You’re a winner, Tom. Thanks for taking the time to write.
May 30th, 2011 at 9:20 AM
Tom, and I’m being serious now:
Certainly, as the emails flying about likely prove, winning blogger awards is a matter of negotiation rather than of talent.
Wide acceptance is the surest indication of mediocrity; one should revel in his or her obscurity.