Let's go to the hop...

No, it's not a '50s dance party.  It's a blog hop, and I'm in on the action.  There are a lot of great writers out there, and this is a good way to find a great many of them all at once.  More specifically, Matt and Alex are running a blogfest with more than 200 blogs linked together.

As a participant, I'm supposed to recommend three blogs and why you should visit them:

The Literary Lab: This is my favorite writers' water cooler.  The three moderators raise interesting points about reading and writing, and the community of followers add to the discussion in the comment threads.  Writing is a long process, and there's always more to learn.  Following the experiences of others is a great way to pick up new tips / tricks.

Nathan Bransford: I started following Nathan's blog in hopes that he would one day represent my writing, and I continue to read it now that he is done agenting because it's insightful and well-written.  Plus it's another blog where the comments are a big part of the attraction.

D. Michael Olive: Mike's posts are a combination music review and wine review...two things that sit close to my heart!  Mike has introduced me to many guitar and bass greats.  His link compilations can serve as an incredible distraction, though...they make me want to pop a cork and sit back and listen to 45 minutes of music, the rest of the day be damned! 

BONUS BLOG:

Roger Ebert: I've been a fan of Ebert's movie reviews since the late '90s.  Even if I don't agree with his rating of a film, I enjoy reading his opinion of why he rated it that way.  His blog takes that same writing (Pulitzer prize winning, I might add) and applies it to a wide variety of topics, from film and TV, to his battle with cancer and subsequent perseverance, to politics, religion, and the world.