I signed up for the Ultimate Blog Challenge (UBC) with BlogChatter last month, where we needed to write and post daily, through the month. While writing gives me a high, the ‘what to write’ and finding time to write it are the tough bits and what drove me metal, almost. Till a few deep breaths later I decided to learn from this challenge and enjoy it, rather than fret about it and end up hating it.
Blogging daily is not an easy task. Annoyance at the lack of ideas and posts not turning out how you want them to are excuses that could turn into reasons to give up at any point of the challenge. The fact that there is no one monitoring you is tempting enough to make a quiet exit. That is when you shouldn’t.
I am glad I stayed put, for these are the lessons this challenge taught me.
Discipline: An occasional spurt of daily blogging is good for your blogs health. It makes you think, it makes you carve out time for writing, it gives you a sense of responsibility, it attracts an audience and if you’re lucky enough, you are left with loyal readers who are hooked to your writing style.
Experimenting and Balancing: Writing and posting everyday gives you a chance to explore various genres of writing, like 55 word stories, flash fiction, micro blogging and more. And experimenting with varied genres ensures that you could balance your posts, include a light hearted one if you’ve been doing a lot of serious writing or a short and sweet one, if lengthy posts are all you have.
Perseverance: I wanted to drop out of the challenge many times, as it got overwhelming. Also there was sudden travel, a planned trip and the festival season which meant tons of work and less time for writing. But I was determined to complete the UBC and finish with 31 posts ,and after doing so, I am glad I did.
Evaluation: I realized my writing strengths. What worked for me, what just about worked for me and what just didn’t work at all. And when I was happy and comfortable with what I wrote, my posts reflected that.
Friendship: I discovered friendship, where at times my fellow bloggers encouraged me with their comments on my posts and gave me ideas and while at other times just seeing them go ahead with determination gave me that much needed boost to write my next post too, even though I thought I couldn’t.
In fact, I got such a high from doing the UBC that I signed up for not 1 but 2 Daily Blogging Challenges for November!
I will be writing and posting daily for the NaBloPoMo and this is my first post
I will also be attempting to write a 50 Thousand word book through NaNoWriMo
Wish me luck and wish me words! May the muse be kind!
What? NaNoWriMo too? You are seriously mental!
But I salute your spirit and enthusiasm. I hope I have the same energy to continue with NaBloPoMo. Good luck, Mayuri and congratulations on the successful completion of UBC.
I agree with every point there, and more to friendship . I have never been happy more than this month while blogging. It has been great for me to get connected to so many friends, who have ideas exactly like mine and also share a passion that worked best while I did the UBC. Hey I did 32 posts last month,, and who was behind all this- You and our team
Superb Gyan post Mayuri. I am glad we will do this together too.It’s gun to have friends with you on difficult journeys.Friends for good time are many ,challenges few.May we be All weather friends.Best of luck with November and to new milestones
Wow! Two challenges! I wish you all the luck in the world. I find that finding time to write and post and read and comment is extremely time-consuming. I’ve been blogging and making the blogging rounds for 6 hours this morning and I’m still not done. So really. Good luck to you!
You’re something else Mayuri! After a grueling challenge like this I’d be taking it easy, not taking on two more daily writing challenges!! But here’s hoping the muse is kind to you. And I’m looking forward to hearing about your NaNoWriMore journey, especially!!
Holy Moly, are you kidding me? 😛
Good luck! And sending you all the words I can find 🙂
Like I said on Twitter, you are a rockstar and I have no doubt that you will be able to finish what ever you take up. Good luck!
Coming to your learnings, I agree with them. I usually do not experiment a lot with genres but I know you are fabulous at that. Discipline, making friends and learning top the charts for me too.
Good Luck Mayuri
I can totally sense your passion for writing and kudos to your spirit of challenging yourself! I took Nano blogging challenge last year and also wrote a post on lessons I learnt. I understand how enlightening and exhilarating writing daily can be. Moreover if it is as a part of a challenge! All the best for your writing endeavours this month! 🙂
You are seriously the mental, Mayuri! 2 daily writing challenge! Bows down… to the queen. Good luck!
And perseverance most of the times pays well..
Wow! you are ama-zzzzz-ing!!! I had troubles like yours too while writing and missed out the #UBC by 3 posts which were missed due to paucity of time.
Boy did I struggle with topics to write…………..
I also have 2 challenges for this month; one is daily wriitng with NABLOPOMO and the other is Blogbuddy3.0
All the best for your two overtly daunting challenges and may the force be with you M!!
Such an articulate post! The lessons you learnt are the actual take aways as per me from daily challenge ..
I took up my first daily writing challenge when I was literally balancing a zillion things yet I sailed through and ended up at such a high. I can completely relate to the zest you are feeling and I wish you the best for both the November challenges too !
Blogging challenges are a test of our commitment to blogging.
Good luck through November. You’re a braver person than I am! 🙂