Best of Get In the Hot Spot 2011

I may or may not be taking the rest of the year off but I wanted to slip in this “Best of Get In the Hot Spot” post before New Year’s to give you some holiday reading and help you find all the hot posts you might have missed over the past year.

So here are the best Get In the Hot Spot articles from 2011, based on your fantastic enthusiasm via comments, links and social sharing. Thank you for that!

In chronological order:

35 Ways I Don’t Fit In

Do you ever feel as if you don’t fit in? Me too but don’t hide it, celebrate it. Here I reveal many, but no where near all, of my oddities and quirks.

On Embracing Change and Being Goal-Focused

The how and why I started another blog this year. My new blog Successful Blogging is devoted to helping other writers and small business owners blog their way to success.

The Timid Writer’s Path to Confidence

If I can change from being a quivering wreck, hiding my words for the fear of being judged, to a popular and confident freelance writer, copywriter and travel writer you can too. Do it.

3 Life Lessons From an Eternal Student of Life

Life lessons are profound and it’s so much easier to stick to the trivial issues but here I shove my perfectionist tendencies to one side and write about what’s helped me and what will help you.

5 Essential Personal Writing Tips

From the popular personal writing magic series. You can also download it as a free mini ebook here.

A Trip Back in Time to England in Spring

Nostalgia, quaint building and blooming trees. What’s not to like about an English spring? Find out in this post.

The Western Blogger and the Eastern Blogger

We have free speech but Chinese bloggers don’t and they can’t get internet from outside China either. Find out what it’s like being a blogger in China and be grateful for your liberty.

My $10,000 Writing, Travelling and Dreaming Bonus

Proof that having a dream, working hard and sticking with it pays off. Sometimes in cash.

The Kindness of Strangers

On hitchhiking which, in my experience, will rekindle your faith in humanity almost every time.

27 Years of Nomadic Living

Reflecting on all the places I’ve been and what it’s like to live everywhere and nowhere.

5 Great Reasons for Telling Personal Stories

More from the popular personal writing magic series. You can also download it as a free mini ebook here.

Top Travel Destinations: What’s the Recipe?

What make a place a popular travel spot and what do you look for when you travel?

5 Hot Books I Loved Reading

The best reads I’ve laid hands on that will have you engrossed.

Why Pitching a Book is Scarier than Hannibal Lecter

Video post in which I pitch my book The Naked Travel Stories (even though I haven’t quite written it yet) and tackle my two greatest fears – sharing my writing and talking about it in public.

What’s the Worst Thing that Could Happen?

Because anyone who’s ever done any traveling has a few travel disaster stories to tell!

7 Best Places for a Dream Trip in Australia

Australia is massive so where do you start? And where would you stay if money were no object?

15 Writing Tips From Ann Patchett

I happened upon this author talk and found that Bel Canto author Ann Patchett is not only a brilliant writer, she’s a fantastic speaker too.

Is Noosa, Australia the Best Place in the World? I’m Your Guide, You Decide

Noosa is my hood, my little piece of paradise. Now you’re invited on a tour with me.

Why Reverse Culture Shock is Squat On

In which I explore how hard it can be to re-assimilate yourself into your home country after traveling and embarrass my mother big time. Oh yeah.

25 Australian Travel Blogs and Bloggers to Watch in 2012

A great starting point for more hot travel reading.

Stay tuned by email or RSS for more coming in 2012.

Happy New Year and happy travels!