No more blog boost for me
I’ve given up on The Ultimate Blog Challenge.
The idea was to write and publish 31 blog posts in January. It seemed to be the perfect vehicle to get my flatlining blog back on track.
But post every day? As a writer, I produce thousands of words every week for different clients, but I just can’t muster the enthusiasm to fill my blog every single day.
It quickly began to feel forced and I don’t want a “never mind the quality, feel the width” feel to it.
I want to write about a subject – any subject – when I feel like it. It may be twice a week; it may be once a week. But every single day? If I want to, but unlikely.
I’m sure you’re devastated to read that.
But what The Ultimate Blog Chellenge – which has a hashtag blogboost on Twitter – has done is given me the chance to resurrect my blog and given me a reason to begin posting again.
I may have lost the challenge, but it’s given me a reason to return to blogging again. And for that I’m grateful.
Good luck to everyone else who perseveres!
Good luck Jayne. It is great that the UBC helped you get back to blogging. I also felt a little forced at times through the challenge but I wasn’t blogging before and it was the jumpstart I needed to get my creative juices flowing. At the times I felt forced, I explored some creative ways to share with my readers rather than feeling forced to come up with the words myself. I am choosing to finish the challenge for the sense of accomplishment but don’t believe I will be blogging daily after January. I will however, blog on a consistent basis and be grateful for all the great tips I have learned along the way!
Lisa Berquist
22 Jan 12 at 6:54 pm
I am way behind but I DO intend to catch up. I can see how beneficial it is and has made me write a list of potential subjects and others just pop up as I go about my busy daily routine. Look forward to reading the blogs you do write.
Lyn Blackledge
22 Jan 12 at 7:27 pm
Hi Jayne, I know the feeling. The pressure of having to write something when perhaps there is nothing that moves you, can be difficult. Or if one is ill or otherwise lacking the time or opportunity, then the day just disappears. But it is definitely true, whether or not the challenge is completed, it has nonetheless been motivational and helpful to get into a habit of writing.
alice
22 Jan 12 at 9:07 pm
I posted a whole lot more during the last challenge and have only posted a few times during this one, but it’s summer school holidays and lots of things have been happening here but it’s got me back into doing stuff and I have a notebook full of ideas for different posts and I’m looking forward to continueing
Katrina
22 Jan 12 at 9:58 pm
This is my second go around with the blog challenge. The first time, I didn’t stress the 31 in 31 rule. I knew, for me, it was more about taking some sort of concerted action and having a source of traffic. I’ve seen a number of posts that fell far short of providing any sort of worthy content, just to get one in. I, too refuse to do that.
However, what I have done this time around, is create a bit of a theme that has allowed me to come up with more content. 31 tips in 31 days. The tips all revolve around personal development since I’m a life coach. It’s pretty easy to find 31 tips on how to better oneself so this made sense. I don’t feel the content suffered and I was never short on topics.
I’d say, don’t give up, just rewrite the rules to fit your needs!
Nicole Bandes
22 Jan 12 at 10:15 pm
sometimes it is easy to find a subject every day to post about
and sometimes we can hardly load the blogsoftware
so don.t give up, just post what you feel like to post.
but stick to the group and tell people that you posted!
so we can run over, read and comment!
most times i find it difficult to post about graphic-design, since it is not really the subject people yearn to read about, they want to see good examples in their daily life.
but hey, i try to keep the ball rolling and so you will.
looking forward to your next input
love helen
helen bogun
22 Jan 12 at 10:28 pm
So glad the challenge has been helpful in bring your blog back to life, Jayne!
I’m with Nicole — do what works for you and discovering that *is* success.
I post 31 days during challenges, but during other months I usually hit 5 posts a week and that’s a good frequency for me. If I were writing for clients I can imagine that’d be seriously challenging. Only so many words a day are coming out of my brain.
Michelle Shaeffer
22 Jan 12 at 10:53 pm
I know what you mean. I love writing, I have an English degree and teach part-time. I am wondering what to write about and it does seem to take over my day. At the week-ends I get more reading requests (also a full moon peak!) so I seem to spend all day in front of my computer. I too am running out of things to write about, but only 9 more days now. Somehow though afterwards I think i shall be going through word-press and deleting some!
judith/morwennauk
22 Jan 12 at 10:58 pm
I am right there with ya! I gave up several days ago, mostly because I felt like I was expelling all of my time and energy on blogging and was becoming unproductive in other ways. It wasn’t just writing my blog, either, but reading everyone else’s and commenting and tweeting and posting to all the different social media sites.
It did, however, give me the jump start I needed. My new goal is to work on blogging one or two days a week, rather than every day.
Good luck, Jayne, on whatever challenge you make for yourself!
Jen Simons
22 Jan 12 at 11:01 pm
Hi Jayne,
I don’t think you’ve lost the Ultimate Blogging Challenge at all. This is my first attempt and I’ve not kept up at all in terms of 31 posts but I’m not crushed. Sure I would have loved to achieve the goal. The great news though is I’ve already posted more frequently than I normally would and I’ve got to know many great bloggers. I’m sure you will have experienced the same so I think we’ve both succeeded immensely.
Cheers, Caylie
Caylie Price, Better Business Better Life
23 Jan 12 at 1:02 am
I agree absolutely with what you say, Caylie. It has given me my blogging mojo back – so I’ve not lost at all! I just can’t do 31 in as many days. Congrats on your success, too.
Jayne
23 Jan 12 at 8:56 am
Thank you, Jen – you too
Jayne
23 Jan 12 at 8:56 am
Thanks, Michelle – it has helped me get back on track, which is what I needed. Thanks for your efforts on it, too. It’s a great thing to do.
Jayne
23 Jan 12 at 8:57 am
Jayne, I think we have all learned loads participating in this challenge. Whether we complete the 31 posts or not is not really important. I have found it so useful, like you, just to get blogging further up the to-do-list everyday.
Charlie Damonsing
23 Jan 12 at 11:08 am
Don’t feel bad just see it as the kick start to a different challenge… work out the target number of posts a month that works for you and do your own challenge.
Elaine
23 Jan 12 at 11:15 am
Jayne – thanks so much for your honest perspective. There is always choice – and as others said – do what works for you
I’m really enjoying the Blog Challenge because I’ve written more blogs in 3 weeks than I did in the whole of last year.
It’s refreshing to hear people talk about quality not quantity and putting aside blogging when something more important comes along – and isn’t that life?
This has been the shot in the arm I needed to get going – and far from having writer’s block I have sooo many ideas that I have started making long lists of future blogs.
And I’m LOVING the feedback so I’m happy to give as well as get.
Thanks Jayne and everyone for honesty, connection and community – I look forward to reading more from all of you
Pauline Bright
23 Jan 12 at 1:51 pm
Good luck! I didn’t even start this month with completing the challenge in mind. The last two challenges I completed but this month I’m just trying to get back into the grove of things. Do what works best for you! Blogging is supposed to be fun… not a chore!
MommaSachs
23 Jan 12 at 2:34 pm