Friday, January 31, 2014

Ready for a New Month?


The last post for the month of January. Not only the last post, but The Ultimate Blog Challenge completed, too. I started late, but ended today with 31 posts in total.

A Look Back
I started with the hope that I could get close to the end before I had to drop out for whatever reason. I wasn't dooming myself to fail based on the idea that I couldn't achieve it, but keeping myself open to the possibility that things happen. I might not finish through no fault of my own. I'd already started a week behind, too. Seemed slightly impossible, but I love personal challenges.
Themes made the whole process less stressful. Instead of overwhelming myself with 31 blog posts, I broke it down into manageable segments. That idea was based on an email from one of the founders, or a video she had; I can't remember. It was good advice. I only had to come up with five or six posts for each theme since I used the first day to introduce the theme.

Let's see, we had a theme about me, which only lasted a few days since I started middle of the second week. It was with the hope that readers would get to know me and return. Or it might have scared some people away from the blog! Always a chance of people running quickly from my blog as if their hair was on fire. My brand of quirky is not always for everyone. In the grand scheme of things, I have to be okay with that fact.

Second week was flash fiction. I really enjoyed that. The point of the flash fiction challenge was to rid myself of the fear of people reading my work. I can check that off as mission accomplished. I wrote a story yesterday that brought many reactions from people. Nothing negative, but comments that made me realize that the ending was more subtle than I'd intended.

Next Stop: published book!

Third week was random trivia that I pick up while working. Week four was a mixture based on a poll on the blog. Overall, I'm extremely happy with the posts I shared.

Parts I Enjoyed
I liked connecting with people every day. It felt like people were engaged, making comments and coming back regularly. It's a great feeling. The posts weren't tossed-together poo like I thought they would be when the month began. It stretched me as a writer and a blogger, which makes it an amazing experience.

Not so Enjoyable Parts
It's a ton of work to blog every day. I didn't always feel like it, and I had to adjust my schedule to accommodate the posting, and return comments on this blog as well as commenting on other blogs for the challenge.

Lessons Learned?

  • I AM able to blog more often than I did in the months previously.
  • The theme of my blog and my voice became more focused.
  • After blogging seven days a week, a three-day blogging commitment doesn't seem so hard.
  • Using a theme and planning ahead make all the difference.
  • It's not as scary to put myself out there.


That's it. That's all for January!

Going forward, I'm going to blog three days a week. In reality, I'll try to blog more often, but Monday, Wednesday and Friday are the days I can commit to each week. Some weeks, I'll have a theme, or a guest post, book review, or whatever.


I'll keep it entertaining! If I don't, I'll provide tomatoes for people to throw at my blog.  

14 comments:

  1. I've been blogging for some four years now, and I congratulate you on completing the UBC and committing to a regular blogging schedule. You'll never regret it. And you know what? Tomatoes still mean you've engaged the reader, and they've cared enough to comment. As long as it isn't someone who is being nasty or spammy, I am glad when I see comments waiting for me. Best of luck! Alana

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    1. I appreciate all the comments, and knock on wood, so far there haven't been any negatives.

      Four years is a long time to be blogging. I'm now going to blog-stalk you to see yours! (Although, I think I've been there before if I'm remembering correctly.)

      Thanks for stopping by to comment!

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  2. Congrats on reaching your goal thus far! OH, and that whole "quirky" deal is okay. I have my own brand of "weird", and have learned that the ones who should stay will. Enjoy your weekend!!

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    1. I appreciate that, Natalie! I thought I recognized a bit of the quirky in you. I'm drawn to people who look at things a little differently than everyone else.

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  3. Props to you for doing so much blogging in January! That is a lot of hard work but I know it was very rewarding for you. Don't worry about dropping down to less days next month. You will still keep your readers, your blog is interesting!

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  4. Thanks! It is a ton of work, but I'm happy to have done it. It taught me a lot.

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  5. Congratulations! I have panic attacks just thinking about 31 days of blogging! I know some do it, ,but honestly unless it's their full time job, I see content suffering from just throwing stuff out there for the sake of a post. I've enjoyed seeing most of your posts this past month (may have missed a few) and look forward to months of more. I love the quirkiness you add to your writing and characters.. i'm afraid some day I may see one that resembles me.. eeek!! then I will provide the tomatoes!

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    1. When I first started the challenge, I was concerned about the quality of over 30 posts. They weren't always gold, but I never tossed them up just to have something on the blog. I put work into each one. I didn't want to annoy readers. The point is to entertain above all else.

      All writers bank information to be used in the future! I have plans for you all!

      *evil laugh*

      Not really, but I've been practicing my evil laugh, so I wanted to try it out.

      Thanks for sticking through the month!

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  6. I enjoyed following your challenge, though I came to it late in the game. I'm still thinking about the Rumpelstiltskin story! For me, I appreciated seeing that it can be done, though grueling at times and that it is a feasible tool for bloggers looking to hone their craft.

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    1. It was a great experience. After that, three days a week seems like a cake walk. Thanks so much for following along! Hope you'll stick around forever!

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  7. I really enjoyed your posts this month!! I was just thinking that you should publish a book, It would be very refreshing to see you publish a book. I can't wait for what is to come for you and I am on the side lines cheering you all the way! :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Alicia. You're always so super supportive and genuine. It means a lot!

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  8. Congrats to you!!! Feels good to know that you can do it, doesn't it?!

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    1. Thanks! It does! And it feels even better to know I never have to do it again. Kidding. I might do another challenge one day, but I'll happily go to three days a week.

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