Readers liked my top-10 articles for writers list in November, so it’s going to be a regular feature. Thrilled to have a chance to help readers of this blog discover some wonderful other thought leaders on writing and blogging.

As I go, I’m refining my selection criteria — I want to present a fresh variety of voices, so I’ve decided no one author can have more than one post in the top 10.

Drumroll please…and heeere they are, the top 10 posts for writers in December 2010 (listed numerically/alphabetically by post title):

1.  4 Tips to Help Freelance Writers Earn a Living — by Laura Spencer on Writing Thoughts

2. 5 Ways to Promote your Blog: What You Should Be Writing Besides Blog Posts — by Rebecca Osberg, on We blog better

3.  8 Steps To Better Focus — by Anne Wayman on About Freelance Writing

4. 10 Lessons I Learned by Gaining My First 1,000 Subscribers — by Onibalusi Bamidele (He’s 16, people — get schooled!) on Daily Blog Tips

5.  How to bring hundreds of new readers to your blog — by Judy Dunn on Cats Eye Writer

6.  How to “Fake it ’til you Make it” (Without Being an Unethical Schmuck) — by Jennifer Mattern on All Freelance Writing

7.  How Your Prospect’s Brain Becomes Your Secret Persuasion Partner — by Marcia Hoeck on Copyblogger

8.  Inspiration vs Obligation: the Great Creativity Debate — Georgina Laidlaw, content manager for ProBlogger

9.   Say No Like a Pro — When You Must Turn Down New Business –  by Shari Weiss on CompuKol Connection.

10. Writing Goals: Get Rid of Disabling Beliefs — by Angela Booth on Angela Booth’s Fab Freelance Writing Blog

What were your favorite articles about writing this month? Feel free to add more article links in the comments below.

(Reminder: My contest for the best 2010 earning-strategy story ends tomorrow morning. There’s still time to add your entry. Winner gets a free copy of the ‘40 Ways to Market Your Writing’ audio.)

Image via stock.xchng user yirsh

There’s a contest for writing blogs that used to run on Michael Stelzner’s site called the Top 10 Blogs for Writers. Now, my A-List Blogger Club leaders Mary Jaksch and Leo Babauta have taken the contest over. This year’s contest just kicked off on their Write to Done site.

So (gulp), I’m going to ask you a big favor. If you enjoy this blog and find the information useful in your writing life, head over to the contest and vote for Make a Living Writing. If a lot of folks nominate this blog by commenting on the contest post over at Write to Done, I’m thinking a crazy thought: Maybe this blog has a shot at ending up on that list.

As it happens, I have a personal connection to three of the four contest judges. I’ve guested for Brian Clark on Copyblogger. I just mentioned Michael Stelzner, who’s still judging the contest, in my recent post about writing and blogging experts I trust, and we chatted on Twitter about it. And Leo Babauta is getting to know my work through the A-List.

In an interesting twist, Mary Jaksch actually emailed me and told me I should ask you to vote for Make a Living Writing. She made a point of reaching out and telling me about the contest, and encouraged me to get out the word about my blog. Interesting, huh? But maybe she’s just promoting Write to Done there.

Early in my career, I really got a jump-start when I won two writing contests. Which makes me wonder if now I could win a prize for my entire body of blogging work here.

Winning a contest like this one would give this blog more visibility and likely bring more readers. More readers could help this blog generate more income — which in turn means I could spend more time giving you free tips on how to earn more from your writing. So in a way, everybody wins.

Even if you don’t vote for me, and you have some other writing blog you love, go vote. It’s going to be interesting.

If you enjoyed this blog, you can do one other thing, too — subscribe. You won’t want to miss the action here next week, when I call bull*&! on the theories of a certain celebrity work/life author.

Technical note for subscribers: Starting Monday, I am migrating my email list to a new provider. I apologize in advance for any technical glitches that may occur.

Photo via Flickr user Shorts and Longs | The Both And