Premio Dardos with a Community Twist

March 13, 2009 · by Joanna Paterson · in

premio-dardos“Premio Dardos” means “prize darts” in Italian, and the Premio Dardos blogging award is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing.

I don’t always find time to participate in blogging awards, but I received this three times from different people, which seems like a sign I really need to both accept it and pass it on!

Many thanks to –Deb at Punctuality Rules, Lillie at A Writer’s Word, an Editor’s Eye, and Roy Jacobsen, at Writing, Plain and Simple.

The ‘rules’ suggest you pass the award on to another 15 bloggers.  I’m bending the rules a bit – I’ve come up with 10, chosen because of the particular community dimension to what they do.

And to make the list of blogs a little more interesting to you I’ve also tried to draw out how they build community around their blog.  The things I’ve mentioned are far from being the only way they do this – I wanted to highlight different aspects to create a more diverse list of approaches.

I hope you find it useful: I know compiling the list got me thinking a little more carefully about the different ways that people can and do build community.

(Paying attention to the detail of how bloggers achieve a particular effect is well worth doing by the way.  Notice the details – not just the words but things like their schedule, use of headings, interaction with commenters, how they link… all of it.  In detail.)

1. Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Works from the principle that ‘you’re only a stranger once’.  Writes to make people welcome, finds ways to connect and engage, and welcomes all new readers and commenters so you quickly feel like a friend.  [Watch and learn.  Watch and learn.]

2. Robyn McMaster at Brain Based Biz

Listens to reader questions and comments, and develops them into accessible, easy to make sense of material on the brain, and how to make it work for you.

3. Rosa Say and others at Joyful, Jubilant Learning

A community blog which dispenses with ‘normal’ blogging conventions in pursuit of a bigger goal: a community learning together

4. Karen Swim at Words for Hire

Demonstrates infectious enthusiasm for her subject  matter and life in general, making it easy and enjoyable to get involved in a conversation around what she writes

5. Brad Shorr at WordSell

Models genuine curiosity in his readers, their comments and feedback.  Learns, develops and experiments in response to ideas from his readership, and those he reads

6. Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings

Runs a group writing project once a month, providing opportunities for people to get to know each other and read each other’s work

7. Alex Fayle at Someday Syndrome

Highlights the achievements and challenges of readers, including case studies, guest posts and interviews with readers on ‘someday syndrome’ challenges

8. Amy Palko at Less Ordinary

Provides opportunities for ‘less ordinary’ readers to participate and connect in other places, including the Flickr Less Ordinary photography pool

9. Barbara Swafford at Blogging Without a Blog

Highlights new blogs and bloggers; offers tips and ‘classes’ at an introductory level making it easy for everyone to take part

10. Ulla Hennig at Ulla Hennig’s Weblog

Invests a good deal of time in reading and commenting on other people’s blogs, leaving constructive and thoughtful feedback.  Reaches out to bring people back to her blog about places, words, stories and songs.

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The Premio Dardos rules are to (1) accept the award by posting it on your blog with thanks to the person who gave it to you and (2) pass it on to 15 other bloggers, along with a comment to let them know.