Pick the Brains of Top Bloggers!

I am constantly looking to improve my writing, and have been struggling with attaining just the right amount of crisp, clean prose while maintaining punch and a flowing cadence. This is my ever-elusive goal. Frustrated by my bang-head-against-wall approach lately, I had a late night/early morning conversation with James Chartrand of Men with Pens yesterday about the issue. (I asked James for help because that’s kind of guy he is. He’s passionate about his profession, cares deeply for others, and is an all-around nice guy. But don’t spread it around that I said that!)

The Wheels Start to Turn

During our email conversation, I began thinking about what other professional writers do to evolve their writing. How do they achieve their writing goals? What motivates them to excel in their craft?

Harebrained Ideas Always Begin After Midnight

So late last night, I came up with a harebrained idea: I would interview top bloggers with distinctive writing styles that others emulate. Whom did I contact? Well, that’s the crazy part. I emailed bloggers like Sean Platt, Darren Rowse, Susan Johnston, Sonia Simone, Bob Younce, and Tom Chandler. Then, a crazy thing happened- they agreed to my interview! (I emailed a few other interesting surprise personalities, too!)

Let the Brain Picking Begin!

I am champing at the bit to read these exceptional writers’ answers! Keep an eye out in the next few days as the responses to my mini-interviews come in as the bloggers’ schedules allow. I will post them, unedited, giving you a chance to pick the brains of top bloggers in the online copywriting and freelance industries.

Does this sound like fun to you? If you would like to see responses from a particular blogging favorite, drop us a line and we’ll see what we can do!

Let the brain picking begin!

18 Responses to Pick the Brains of Top Bloggers!
  1. Writer Dad
    September 27, 2008 | 1:26 am

    I heard that Sean guy is kind of a curmudgeon. Did you have to offer him pizza or anything?

    Writer Dads last blog post..I’d Be an Idiot If I Didn’t Listen

  2. Writer Dad
    September 26, 2008 | 9:26 pm

    I heard that Sean guy is kind of a curmudgeon. Did you have to offer him pizza or anything?

    Writer Dads last blog post..I’d Be an Idiot If I Didn’t Listen

  3. Jamie Simmerman
    September 27, 2008 | 1:42 am

    You know, I offered him my first born son, but he turned me down, muttering something about kids up to his eyeballs. Instead, we worked out a deal where we trade cold hard cash, glowing compliments, and free babysitting. ;)

    Curmudgeon? More like irascible and cantankerous, but only before coffee. After that, he’s as mellow as a VW Bug. :)

  4. Jamie
    September 26, 2008 | 9:42 pm

    You know, I offered him my first born son, but he turned me down, muttering something about kids up to his eyeballs. Instead, we worked out a deal where we trade cold hard cash, glowing compliments, and free babysitting. ;)

    Curmudgeon? More like irascible and cantankerous, but only before coffee. After that, he’s as mellow as a VW Bug. :)

  5. Sonia Simone
    September 26, 2008 | 10:41 pm

    Hey, there’s free babysitting with this gig? Now *that* gets my interest.

    Sonia Simones last blog post..Objection Blaster Series #3: Dakara Nani? (So What?)

  6. Kelly
    September 27, 2008 | 2:47 am

    Jamie,

    Sneaky and clever. Looking forward to the interviews. :)

    Regards,

    Kelly

    Kellys last blog post..Only One Candidate Can Give You Speaking Tips This Fresh!

  7. Kelly
    September 26, 2008 | 10:47 pm

    Jamie,

    Sneaky and clever. Looking forward to the interviews. :)

    Regards,

    Kelly

    Kellys last blog post..Only One Candidate Can Give You Speaking Tips This Fresh!

  8. Jamie Simmerman
    September 27, 2008 | 2:53 am

    @ Sonia Yep, I have lots of Amish neighbors. I’ll throw some black clothes on your kids, drop them off down the road, and they’ll fit right in. :)

  9. Jamie
    September 26, 2008 | 10:53 pm

    @ Sonia Yep, I have lots of Amish neighbors. I’ll throw some black clothes on your kids, drop them off down the road, and they’ll fit right in. :)

  10. Jamie Simmerman
    September 27, 2008 | 3:00 am

    @ Kelly There’s just something about sleep deprivation that either makes me a genius or a lunatic. This happened to be a genius moment. Stay tuned for the lunacy. ;)

  11. Jamie
    September 26, 2008 | 11:00 pm

    @ Kelly There’s just something about sleep deprivation that either makes me a genius or a lunatic. This happened to be a genius moment. Stay tuned for the lunacy. ;)

  12. B J Keltz
    September 27, 2008 | 10:46 pm

    An excellent idea. You’ve picked some good ones, too! I’m looking forward to reading the resulting post since I “know” the work of several of these bloggers already :) and always look to improve my stuff also.

    Hmm…if good ideas come after midnight, does that mean we all need to stay up later?

  13. B J Keltz
    September 27, 2008 | 6:46 pm

    An excellent idea. You’ve picked some good ones, too! I’m looking forward to reading the resulting post since I “know” the work of several of these bloggers already :) and always look to improve my stuff also.

    Hmm…if good ideas come after midnight, does that mean we all need to stay up later?

  14. Jamie
    September 27, 2008 | 8:22 pm

    @ B K I’ve always been a night owl, so it works for me. Others may find themselves drooling on the keyboard and writing drivel by 2 A.M. But, if you have kids, this can occur during daylight hours, so it’s a toss up. :)

  15. Jamie Simmerman
    September 28, 2008 | 12:22 am

    @ B K I’ve always been a night owl, so it works for me. Others may find themselves drooling on the keyboard and writing drivel by 2 A.M. But, if you have kids, this can occur during daylight hours, so it’s a toss up. :)

  16. Janice Cartier
    September 29, 2008 | 6:25 pm

    I can’t wait. What great idea.

    Janice Cartiers last blog post..Even Before Coffee

  17. Janice Cartier
    September 29, 2008 | 2:25 pm

    I can’t wait. What great idea.

    Janice Cartiers last blog post..Even Before Coffee

  18. Sonia Simone
    January 6, 2010 | 8:15 pm

    Hey, there's free babysitting with this gig? Now *that* gets my interest.

    <abbr>Sonia Simones last blog post..Objection Blaster Series #3: Dakara Nani? (So What?)</abbr>

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