"So did you make any time to work on your writing project this week? Probably not, if I know you. I was serious when I said I thought even 10 to 15 minutes of writing a day would be good therapy for you..."
~~Mr. High School, in a letter dated August 6, 2005
On November 1, 2011, I did the same thing I'd done on the first of November for the preceding five years--I committed myself to NaBloPoMo. I never dreamed that that month would turn into another month, and another, until finally, I had somehow racked up six months worth of daily posting.
Tonight marks my 182nd consecutive daily post; I have somehow achieved a goal I never really set for myself--though I committed to one month at a time, making six months never entered my mind. In NaBloPoMos past, I was lucky to make it through the month of November without a string of "I've got nothin'" posts. (My favorite of which can be found here.) This year, things were different because I "met" so many wonderful people in the blogging world and so relished that connection that it spurred me on.
Things were different, too, because I felt motivated and inspired toward writing in a way I hadn't in a while. When I first started daily posting, I was hopeful, almost determined, that the spark and energy I was getting from blogging daily (which includes reading other blogs) would translate into more writing away from the blog as well. It hasn't, though, which has made me rethink my commitment to daily posting.
For the first time in six months, I'm not registered for the upcoming NaBloPoMo. I may still post daily--and I will definitely be posting regularly, but I feel better with that particular commitment off the table.
That said, I've learned a lot of things from six months of daily posting. Primary among them is that I can make a commitment and keep it. I've also learned there is a difference between quality and quantity--and while quantity can be entertaining and challenging, it has made me miss quality all the more. There is also a difference between posting every day and writing every day--and while I may be posting less, I'm hoping to be writing more here and elsewhere.
Masked Mom's One-Word Review: Educational.
182 posts in a row?!! Impressive! I hope to read 182 more - at least - because you are a great writer and I'm so happy to have found your blog :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Judy, right back at ya. :)
DeleteCongratulations of 182 straight days of posting. That's a feat of endurance. I completely agree about the posting being distracting from the writing, though. Sometimes I tell myself "Oh, I wrote today." When actually I only posted. Not necessarily the same things. I wish you many scribbled pages in those notebooks of yours, and I'll still be hanging around to read whatever makes it to the blog.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your bold and honest decision and applaud your determination.
Thanks so much, TL. I've only been posting for months now so something had to be done.
DeleteI second Judy. I'm a fan! It's funny how NaBloPoMo started out for me as a sister challenge (anything she can do, I can do better!) but the daily posting turned into something I really enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed it as well--just started feeling in the last week or so that I should devote some time to the other writing that's been nagging at my brain lately. (Lately being a relative term since some of those ideas have been wiggling around in there for ten years or more.)
DeleteI happen to think the quality has been over the top! Every day, or less, I'll still be here reading.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jewels! :)
DeleteWow, congratulations on the six months posting, thats longer than I have even been posting full stop!!
ReplyDeleteI hope that your writing flows and look forward to you posts, whenever they come.
Thanks, SJ. It's a lot easier to post daily than to write daily because the posting offers the encouragement of comments, etc. I'm thinking I'll have to write encouraging notes to myself in the margins in different colored inks. :)
DeleteYES. I made a commitment to writing those 400 words everyday on my own writing instead of my blog this year. I still blog too, but I'm getting farther with my real writing and it may be a snail pace but I'm getting it done...
ReplyDeleteThat's good to hear. This is day two of my non-daily blogging and I did manage to put pen to paper for fifteen minutes yesterday. It's a start.
DeleteWoohoo! You rock! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stella. :)
DeleteWait a minute ... haven't you been married like 25 years or something? That says commitment right there - no need to blog for a measly 182 days to note that you can commit to something.... However, I enjoy reading all your posts so I am glad you gave it 182 days! I was able to post daily during April but part of that is due to weekend writing. NO way could I or would I want to post something every day --too tired.
ReplyDeleteIt will be 25 years in July and as with the blogging commitment, a startling portion of that has been pure stubborness. I've thoroughly enjoyed your daily postings in April, but I totally understand not wanting to do it as an ongoing thing.
DeleteWow! Congratulations! That's some serious dedication.
ReplyDeleteI too am funneling more time into writing other things and to working on the podcast. I love my blog and don't want to stop writing there but it feels so good to work on other satisfying projects too.
That is a huge accomplishment, congrats! I feel the same way about our 'group' from NaBloPoMo:)
ReplyDeleteWow. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteCongrats!! I just started my fifth month and am not sure why I am still writing daily. I wish you luck in whatever you write and will continue to read your posts.
ReplyDelete