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43 Most Inspiring Writing Advice Posts of 2009

by Jennifer on December 2, 2009

By Jennifer Blanchard

This year there have been billions of articles about writing posted all over the Web, detailing everything from getting started to writing a first draft to self-editing to finding a publisher–and everything in between.

As a writer, I’m inspired by the words, ideas and thoughts of others. (I’m sure you are too.) And yesterday I was very inspired by Daniel Scocco’s post on Daily Blog Tips about taking part in a group writing project: By writing a 2009 Year in Review post on your blog.

So I’m doing just that.

I’ve compiled a list of the 43 most inspiring writing posts of 2009. This list is by no means exhaustive. There are probably thousands of other inspiring posts that I didn’t even come across during my reading this year. But these are the ones that inspired me most and so I wanted to share them all with you.

You’ll notice there are a lot of repeat authors. This is because some authors are just amazing and nail it pretty much every time. Larry Brooks, Joe Williams and Leo Babauta are three good examples of this.

I’ve included links to a few of my favorite Procrastinating Writers articles that I wrote this year, too.

Also, you’ll notice that not all the items on this list are specifically about writing, but I assure you, all of the advice given can be directly applied to both writing and/or overcoming procrastination.

I hope you enjoy reading the inspiring posts on this list as much as I did.

In no particular order, here are the 43 most inspiring writing advice posts of 2009:

And I had to include this series, because it’s by far the most inspiring series from 2009–Story Structure, an 11-part series, by Larry Brooks:

Whew…2009 has been one hell of a year! I’m very much looking forward to 2010 and all the inspiring words people will post throughout the blogosphere.

What posts inspired you this year? Please share the link in the comments below.

About the Author: Jennifer Blanchard is founder of Procrastinating Writers. Be sure to follow her on Twitter.


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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Iain Broome December 2, 2009 at 3:58 pm

Wow, thank you for including a post from Write for Your Life – Sophie will be very chuffed! I’ll have to have a good look through the rest of these asap.

2 jblan December 2, 2009 at 4:04 pm

@Iain Broome You’re welcome! That post was awesome. I especially liked the image because it really helped illustrate story structure and how it works.

3 Matt Willard December 2, 2009 at 4:57 pm

Thanks for including my CopyBlogger post on your list! I’m glad someone thought of my words as “inspiring”.

4 lara December 2, 2009 at 6:38 pm

what a great list of posts! this definitely has me thinking about what inspired me this past year.

5 Jane Friedman December 2, 2009 at 8:54 pm

Really appreciate the mention! Thank you so much.

6 Mackenzie Noelle December 2, 2009 at 9:02 pm

I loved this post: 10 Things New Writers Need To Know by C.J. Redwine

http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/2009/07/10-things-new-writers-need-to-know.html

7 Darrelyn Saloom December 2, 2009 at 9:42 pm

Thank you, Jennifer. It’s an honor to find The Battle of Resistance on your list.

8 Larry December 3, 2009 at 2:06 am

Wow, I’m humbled, excited, honored, blown away to have snagged 15 of your 43 spots. To say thanks doesn’t do it. Mostly, I’m grateful that you “get it” and very appreciative of the acknowledgement and your support. Makes all the effort worthwhile, and motivates me to keep it going in this direction.

Thank you SO much for doing this.

9 Sophie Johnson December 3, 2009 at 4:17 am

Wowsers, thank you!Glad you enjoyed the post.

Thanks Iain too!

Please excuse my cynicism, but why 43? Bit of an odd number! :p

10 Ali Hale December 3, 2009 at 6:31 am

What a fantastic list — I’ll definitely have to check out some of the ones that I’ve not read. Thanks for including my Daily Writing Tips post too; I don’t get to write much about writing (it’s not what I focus on in my own blog and my freelancing work) so it’s good to know that what little I *do* write has been inspiring.

Thanks again!

11 Susie McCray December 3, 2009 at 7:38 pm

This is very good information. Thanks a bunch.

12 Suzannah--Write It Sideways December 3, 2009 at 8:46 pm

Jennifer,

Thanks so much for including my post in this list! I’ll be sure to make my way through the ones I haven’t read yet. Thanks for sharing these resources :)

13 S. Megan Payne December 4, 2009 at 1:32 pm

I love this post and the articles on it. Eventually, I’ll be good and share links to my ridiculously many most inspiring reads for the year.

14 jennifer blanchard December 4, 2009 at 7:42 pm

@Mackenzie Noelle What a great article! Thanks for sharing the link with us.

@Darrelyn Saloom The Battle of Resistance really opened my eyes to why we resist the things we resist. I’m sure others felt the same way. It was a very interesting look at procrastinating behaviors, as well.

@Larry I think it goes without saying how much you’ve inspired me this year. :-) I hope my readers love and benefit from you, your advice and your site as much as I do.

@Sophie Johnson I used to be a magazine editor… turns out articles with odd-numbered lists entice readers more than lists with even numbers. Go figure!

@Ali Hale Your post inspired me so much! It helped me generate an entire list of blog post topics.

@Suzannah Your blog ALWAYS gets it right. I just found it recently (via Larry’s site) and I haven’t stopped reading it since. Keep up the rocking work!

15 Nancy Rekow December 7, 2009 at 6:44 pm

Hi Jennifer,
As a lifelong procastinator/poet/author/teacher/self-publisher, I loved your blog yesterday on procrastination. Recently I looked up procrastination, thinking it must mean “for craziness” or some such (“crass”), because it always feels like that! To my disappointment it simply means “till tomorrow”–the old manana theme. No matter–we procrastinators know exactly what it means and how it feels! You mentioned the saying FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY — such fine advice. Did you know that’s the title of a wonderful book by Susan Jeffers which I highly recommend? It’s helped many of us over the years. And another book I always recommend to my writer students is THE COURAGE TO CREATE by Rollo May. Fascinating. He writes about how any creative endeavor involves 3 elements, the 2nd of which is the courage to dive into the chaos–because after all we’re creating something that’s never existed before! Anyhow, I recommend these two books to anyone concerned with these issues. And by the way, after many struggles and fears, I know have a blog about my recently re-published book, MINNIE ROSE LOVGREEN’S RECIPE FOR RAISING CHICKENS. The blogsite is: http://www.minnieroseschickensandlife.com So in the end, after the struggle, we can sometimes experience fun with fear! Thanks for your focus on these questions!

16 jblan December 8, 2009 at 2:40 pm

@Nancy Rekow You know, someone mentioned the Susan Jeffers book to me once and I forgot all about it until you just pointed it out again. I haven’t heard of Rollo’s book, but it sounds very interesting. I am adding it to my Amazon wishlist right now.

17 caolld December 15, 2009 at 6:35 pm

Wow, what a great list. I’ve bookmarked this post as I want to read everything on it. These links are fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

18 Alanna Klapp January 20, 2010 at 10:09 pm

Hi Jennifer!

Thanks for your blog, I love it! I found you through my neighbor (whose aunt, Darrelyn Saloom, is one of the 43).

Thanks especially for this post. I’ve blogged about it twice at my blog:
http://alannaklapp.blogspot.com/2009/12/alanna-klapps-four-guest-host-podcasts.html

http://alannaklapp.blogspot.com/2009/12/alanna-klapps-four-guest-host-podcasts.html

I hope you and your readers will stop by! Thanks again and keep up the wonderful work!

19 Alanna Klapp January 20, 2010 at 10:10 pm

I’m sorry, the second link should be: http://alannaklapp.blogspot.com/2010/01/book-and-blog-highlights.html

20 Thomas Retterbush September 26, 2010 at 3:23 pm

What a truly inspiring post, in more ways than one; I am interested in possibly republishing it on my blog. If I leave all the credit and links in tact, I’m sure you wouldn’t object. I will notify you, however, including links to to the post so you can check it out.

21 Shelley DuPont October 24, 2011 at 8:33 am

What a nice surprise. I’m honored to think I was worthy of mention along with these very talented writers. It certainly encourages me to continue with my freelance endeavors.

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