Blogging Lessons from the Front Line

THE BOOZE BIN

By Pia Mara Finkell (@piamara)

For me, blogging evokes two emotions in their purest form…stress and satisfaction. It’s a two-step process.

First, I spend a few hours stressing about what to write for the Booze Bin. It’s not that there’s a lack of ideas, but rather a surplus, plus the uncontrollable urge to make each post brilliant. Clearly, I’m shooting for a James Beard Award every time I hit publish (ah, the sweet scent of sarcasm).

A million ideas swirl through my head, I research all of them until my eyes cross, obsess over the details, and then stress some more. When I’m thoroughly exhausted, because I woke up at 5am to start the process having procrastinated all week, I give in to the demons and start to write.

While the actual writing moves at lightning pace, it’s the stressing, editing and finally, satisfaction that takes up the majority of my time. Let me further explain the satisfaction part of this predictable process. It’s an even assemblage of staring at my completed work, waiting for the confetti, balloons and clowns to arrive once published (still waiting for this actually), and buzzing about it on every possible medium (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.). Retweets are like corndogs at a carnival. Comments make me as giddy as my bullmastiff Vinny discovering peanut butter for the first time. Mentions and write-ups about the post? Well, no simile could do this justice.

Taking part in this weekend’s Wine Bloggers Conference made me realize a few things. One, there’s a ton of talented wine writers out there publishing their work every day for free. Some are successful enough and have chosen to accept advertising to try to make a living of it, but all blog for the love of wine and all in attendance strive to improve and grow.

Another solid learning is the best wine bloggers should be treated, and should behave, as colleagues to the best traditional wine writers. Eric Asimov made a good point during his keynote speech: “it’s time to think of ourselves simply as writers.” Whether you are an industry writer or write reviews, cover a single subject or discuss heated wine politics, the rules of good writing and reporting should apply to as much to bloggers as traditional writers.

Here are some of the best wine bloggers out there, from this weekend’s 2011 Wine Blog Awards:

• Best Overall Wine Blog – Fermentation
• Best New Wine Blog – Terroirist
• Best Writing on a Wine Blog – Vinography
• Best Winery Blog – Tablas Creek
• Best Single Subject Wine Blog – New York Cork Report
• Best Wine Reviews on a Wine Blog – Enobytes
• Best Industry/Business Wine Blog – Fermentation
• Best Wine Blog Graphics, Photography, & Presentation – Vino Freakism

For some key learnings from this weekend’s awesome keynote speakers, Eric Asimov of The New York Times and well-known wine author, Jancis Robinson, take a peek at this post-conference write-up on Richmond.com.

Photos courtesy of Creative Copywriter, Crushd and Wine Blogger Awards.

About Pia Mara Finkell:

With over a decade of experience in communications, Pia has a strong background in wine, beer and food public relations, marketing and promotional strategy. A vice president in CRT/tanaka’s Food & Beverage Practice, Pia oversees public relations, traditional and social media programs, strategic partnerships and program development for various beverage alcohol and food accounts, including the Wines of Rioja, Les Vins Georges Duboeuf and the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers. Her agency work has helped win various industry awards, including two Bronze Anvils, Silver Anvil, Bulldog Digital/Social (Gold and Silver), PR News Platinum, two PR News Digitals, Clarion, Big Apple, Commonwealth and a Telly. In recognition of her passion and client work, Pia also won the CRT/tanaka annual Whatcanbe Client Award in 2011. In 2010, Pia created the weekly BuzzBin column called 'The Booze Bin,' offering up interesting musings on the beverage alcohol industry and all things booze. Depending on the season, what she's cooking, and whether or not the Yankees are winning, Pia can be found toasting a glass or pint of something awesome.