Blogger Recognition Award - Celebrate Bloggers!

Updated 5/26/16
As it has been over a year now since I first published this, I've cleaned the writing up a bit and updated the guidelines! :)

Blogging has changed our world. Like the Internet as a whole, it's changed the way we communicate, exchange information, and simply how we spend our time. People from all walks of life can create a blog and work their way into having a dedicated readership, or just experiment with the freedom it gives. Talented minds, famous names, ordinary people - every single one of us has the chance to be heard. To be part of a global community. This is the blogosphere, the blogging world, and each individual blogger helps to make it what it is.

So, why not celebrate this wonderful thing? Not just blogging; but celebrate the bloggers themselves. The folks who share with us their talents and interests, their photography and stories and art, their views and opinions; the people who come here to vent their frustrations with life, and the people who want to make us laugh and smile. Because without them, this diverse, free, and fun thing wouldn't be possible.

Now, how shall we celebrate? With an award, of course! 

Now, there are plenty of other things like this out there. But, in my humble opinion at least, there can never be too many of them.

These little "awards" are a small gesture of goodwill that often have a big impact on the people who receive them. And when you go and say, "Hey! I've nominated you for so-and-so award! Congrats!" and give one of these simple little pictures to a fellow blogger, you've probably just made that person's day. You've inspired them to keep writing posts. You've given their confidence a little boost, and helped to make them feel that they are a part of this community. You've made them happy simply by being generous and showing your appreciation. There's nothing better than that.

So, if you think these awards are silly, or that they're just annoying chain letters (they essentially are chain letters, but with a good purpose), remember that they aid in keeping the spirits of bloggers high, and they can also help get them just a little bit more exposure. They're also great for establishing relationships between blogs and their authors. They do a surprising amount of good for the community.

But things tend to be so much sweeter, and they mean a lot more, when you earn them - if you are nominated for this award, or if you've not been tagged but want to give it a go anyway, below are the guidelines to follow:

• Select 10-15 other blogs you want to give the award to. Do some digging if you must! This is the whole point! Find those blogs. You cannot nominate the person who has nominated you.

• Write a post to show off your award! Give a brief story of how your blog got started, and give a piece or two of advice to new bloggers. Thank whoever nominated you, and provide a link to their blog. List who you've nominated in the post. 

• Make sure to also attach the award itself! (You can do this by right-clicking, saving, and uploading the image above, or by creating your own).

• Comment on each blog and let them know you've nominated them. Provide a link to the award post you created.

• (Optional) Provide a link to the original post on Edge of Night. A link back here will allow those who were tagged to find the original guidelines if needed. It also allows me to find the posts that linked here so I can check them out! 

Note: You can decline the award if you don't feel up to doing the above, but remember - it'll taste that much sweeter if you do the work to earn it! :)

Below, in no specific order, are the first nominations. Have fun, be creative, and if you have any questions, be sure to ask them! 

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1. Adaline Gray, "AG In The Shire"

2. Rabea Schulte, "Rabea's Beauty Tipps"

3. Miharu, "MiharuJulie"

4. Cathy, "hello, Cathy"

5. June, "The Journeys of my Beating Heart"

6. M, "The Life of Little Me"

7. Subham Rai, "Subham Rai Fashion & Food Blog"

8. Paranormal Blogger, "Paranormal Book Reviews"

9. Daisy, "Little Kawaii Daisy"

10. Marcia, "in reckless abandon"

11. Acacia, "Acacia Rachel"

12. Darcy, "a memory of us"

13. Georgia May, "TeenBookHoots"

14. Joshua Hideki, "Joshuahideki.com"

15. Meg Stewart, "Fashion and Beauty Talkz"