Follow My Heart In Writing

Posted 7 Comments by dogear6

I’ve had several of my faithful readers asking if I’m doing the word a day challenge next year.

I’m not sure.  It challenged my creativity and I was surprised at how often I successfully delivered on the word.  But there were days it was limiting and some of my posts got overly long when they should have been broken into several days.

So I wanted to ask – how much interest is there in doing it?  I’m leaning heavily towards not doing it, but would like to hear from all of you first.

To follow my heart, my interest is still with being a diarist.  I have thoughts I want to share, books and blogs to pass along, and if I’m overly tired, maybe post just a picture.  I will admit though that my list of what I haven’t been able to share is pretty short.  I’ve been able to fit most everything into a word-of-the-day at some point.

To further follow my heart, I’m also giving thought to reworking my other blog, www.dogear6.com, into a writer’s resource.  Not sure what to write?  Check for prompts.  Want to get over your guilt at following your passion?  Check out this post here.  I’d repost that over on my other blog and at some point, write up my own viewpoints and advice on it.

There are great resources out there, including Writers Unboxed which have recently written on topics such as writer’s burnout (they did NaNoWriMo) and why writers should meditate.  Think you’re the only who’s realized that writing is hard work?  The Cracked Slipper had an article on that recently as well.  I’d either repost them or provide links for someone who needs some encouragement.

However, that is not the purpose of this blog, which is to share my life and encourage you that you’re not the only one out there.  It’s also a way for me to keep in touch with friends and family, including my new friends in the blogging world.  By the way, THANK YOU everyone who followed me over here.  I might not have a big following, but ya’ll are faithful to leave comments and encourage me.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

So that’s what I’m thinking this evening.  Come January 1, it is likely I will stop doing the random word a day, although I don’t think the content will have any noticeable change.  My headers should become more descriptive though.  I won’t rework my other blog until after the holidays.  I’ll let everyone know when it’s ready so that those who are not interested in writing resources can unsubscribe from it.

Do you like this picture?  I took it with my cell phone at lunch today.  The reflections in the bottom of my water glass were interesting.  It reminded me of how my diaries reflect my life back to me.

© 2011 dogear6 llc

Word for tomorrow – OUTRIGHT.  If you prefer to work ahead, see the list for the week under “A Word A Day”.

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dogear6 View All →

I am a backyard adventurer, philosopher and observer, recording my life in journals and photographs. Visit my blog at www.livingtheseasons.com.

7 Comments Leave a comment ›

  1. I’m inspired to try the word of the day. I don’t know the rules, but I will click the links and see if I can figure it out. I am a baby blogger and I am learning as I go along. I love your theme and the helpful hints and encouragement you give.

    • I have a tab called challenge. There’s really not any rules. KittyHere for a while took a picture of whatever the word was and posted it. As the year went on, she dug out her travel photos and started doing more commentary.

      I started the same way, then got frustrated because I had things I wanted to share. Eventually I worked around that.

      Like any new skill, it takes a while to get the hang of it. That’s why it’s such a blast to look back at early blog posts and realize how much one has improved.

      If I do the word again next year, it will only be Monday to Friday; I don’t really want to be writing on the weekends.

  2. I’ve been amazed at your ability to write to the word on a daily basis!! I did (most of – until I injured my hand) the April A-to-Z challenge and found that 6 days/week was challenging, let alone every day! I’ve enjoyed your daily posts, but can certainly understand why you might not want to turn around and do it for another year.

    The idea for your other blog rocks! And, I agree, it’s a cool photo — looks like a glass-blower’s adventure!

    • Thanks and thanks! I surprised myself at how well I did – I never expected it to go as well as it did.

      I’m glad you like the idea for the other blog. There’s so much good stuff out there and I’d like to get it in a single place.

  3. I’ve enjoyed doing your word a day challenge recently, but don’t think I’d want to do it for an entire year. I have a new project to attempt for the month of January. It’s interesting how ordinary things (your glass) become extraordinary.

    • Thanks Patti. At one time, there were six of us doing it. It’s down now to just you, me & Kitty. Kitty’s the only one who did it for a full year (I didn’t start until early February). It’s been really fun and I learned a lot, but I’m ready to try other things.

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