I don’t claim to be any more qualified than the next guy to judge great writing from just decent writing, but we bloggers get used to having and sharing strong opinions about things. I’ve just been enjoying reading through recent blog posts of one of my favorite bloggers — Ann Handley — and this post really made me take notice.

Man, she is SO GOOD!!

You other bloggers surely know where I’m coming from. When we find someone that somehow manages to stand out in this endless idea-tickertape we call the blogosphere, we really take notice. More importantly, we want to understand how she does it!

Well, I’m happy to report that after about 90 minutes of sifting through roughly ten Ann Handley blog posts this morning (with the help of three cups of coffee and a bowl of Count Chocula somewhere along the way), I have cracked her code.

So here it is. The 5 Things That Make Ann Handley Float to the Top of the Primordial Blogosphere Ooze

1. Attitude - You really get the feeling through reading Ann’s blog that she is a “glass is half full” kinda person. This makes me more inclined to see what she is up to before some other bloggers. It’s often said that being controversial is a very effective blogging technique. Ann certainly proves that just the opposite can be true.
2. Writing Skill - Like I said, I’m no authority, but I really think Ann must be considered to be a great writer. Reading her blog is somehow effortless. It’s like riding a bike slightly downhill. There’s not much work to it and you even get a cool breeze across your face.
3. The Personal Touch - Ann makes it personal. She finds ways to share little snippets of her “real” life with her readers. Lessons are often triggered by something her kids said or did. We just naturally feel like she’s a friend over time because we know bits of her personal story.
4. The Wonderful Pictures - No, I’m not talking about jpegs here. I’m talking about Ann’s ability to paint pictures with words. Who else, to convey the uniqueness of each of her children, would refer to “the Chex Mix of their unique genetic makeup?” Classic!
5. ROI - In the midst of all of the above, she finds a way to deliver very useful information. I just can’t see a weak spot here.

Maybe the rest of us can use these keys to guide our own blog-writing. I suppose I have already tried to do so with this very post. I never would have divulged that I had Count Chocula this morning if I weren’t a believer in Ann’s rule # 3!