Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Nov 30: Has it been a month already?

Today is the last day of NaBloPoMo. For those of you who don't know, those letters stand for National Blog Posting Month. The challenge is write and post a blog post every day during the month of November. It started out as a spoof of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), but a lot of bloggers really dug it, so now it's a real thing run by Blogher. The folks at Blogher gave away lots of prizes--I didn't win a fucking thing--gave daily writing prompts (I didn't use them), and gave us lots of support and encouragement.

And I did it! In spite of working on two overlapping shows at a local community theater, grading stacks of research papers, cuddling a new granddaughter, Thanksgiving, and that awful day when Google decided to shut down my blog for several hours with no explanation whatsoever, I posted every single day in November. Yay!

One thing I've re-learned from doing this is that I can be obsessive about writing if I write a lot. If I had six more hours in every day, I would write them away. I spend a lot of time thinking about what I'm going to write about when I get to the computer or have a chance to sit down with a paper and pen. I put off doing things like laundry and emptying the dishwasher so I can write. I stay up way too late because I want to keep working on a post. I've written a lot this month that I haven't even posted. I take notes when I'm out with friends and threaten promise to write about them on my blog. Some people stop in mid-sentence around me these days because they're afraid I'll embarrass them here make them a celebrity.

The most surprising thing I learned is that people will read here every day. I was anxious about writing so often because I thought readers would start skipping posts and then more and more and more .... and then pretty soon the only people coming would be the ones who googled unusual dildos or naked mommies or riding a Sybian to church.*

I'm always shocked when somebody mentions in real life something I wrote on my blog, and then I'm like a little kid. "You read my blog? Really? You really read my blog? Like every word or do you just skim? What are your favorite posts? Do you think I talk about vaginas too much? Do you know where I can get a cookie? Will you give me a cookie.......?" Yeah, I've turned into a cookie blog monster.

Several people have asked if I will continue to do this at least through December. I'd like to, but I'm not sure I can keep it up. I have lots of ideas I want to write about, but some of those posts will take a while to crank out. It's harder to get to the meatier posts when I have to meet a deadline every day. On the other hand, if I have to write one out every day, I can't put off writing about the things that are important to me. I can't get lazy.

And yet I have other work I need to do here in this space. I need to do a big redesign and maybe even transport my blog to another home. That takes time, and I'm struggling deciding on a design. I am thinking about this guy for my mascot though. He's juicy and he looks like he can dance. I don't know about you, but I'm imagining a hula skirt down there, and I'm sure he's wearing it regimental. Not a kilt, but it will do.

My melons can't compete.

When I started writing here regularly last summer, I was writing through some losses, trying to fill a void. I'd been writing for other reasons, to someone else, and I lost that audience. This blog became my refuge, a place where I could deal with some of the briar patches in my life, a place where I could hide among the words. In some ways I'm still hiding here, but it's a healthy place to hide for now. I'm making valuable connections here.
 
So, will I continue to write every day? I'm going to try. That's the best I can promise right now.

Thanks for reading this month. I really do appreciate every comment and email I get. See you in December!

* Oh, yes, it is time for another keyword post. I had no idea what a huge problem men have with where to put their junk in the bike shorts. No idea.

16 comments:

  1. You're seriously my hero. I want to write like you when I grow up!

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  2. Great finale. And I've thoroughly enjoyed going on this ride with you all month! :)
    And that guy with the melons :::shaking head::::

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  3. Gosh, Ria. I really am blushing. Thank you. I think you're doing a fabulous job of being a writer already though.

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  4. Sue, we did it! Every day for a month. You go work on your books. I think I'll hang out here for a while.

    Hey, that guy with the melons .... yeah, he's ridiculous. Obviously doesn't have a woman in his life to stop him.

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  5. Please please keep writing, every day if you can! I'd miss it so much if you stopped. When you don't write until late in the day, I check FB before going to bed just to get my fix.

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  6. Congratulations on making it happen! I missed several posts and double dayed some. I did get another blog set up but am not moving yet. Figured out how to let people follow and other stuff.

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  7. Thank you, Rollo. And I'll say the same thing to you: you're doing just fine. I look forward to the next chapter of your memoir every week.

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  8. Thank you, Leslie. You know what it's like to be a writer too. Sometimes I feel like I send these words out into space in a capsule and just hope somebody finds and reads them centuries after I've gone supernova. I'm definitely going to post earlier than 11:59 today.

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  9. Kristin, I think posting most days is an accomplishment, although you do that anyway. I'm pretty sure NaBloPoMo works better for lazy bloggers like me.

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  10. I applaude you Reticula! I was gone for two weeks of your posts and was looking forward to getting back and reading what you would have to say. I was both impressed and inspired by the diversity and thoughtful nature of each and every post from this month.

    You can count on me to keep reading and to keep gaining inspiration through your writing.

    As a side note, I too share that dual addiction of writing and riding. They form a yin yang relationship for me as my writing tends to come from a dark place and the riding is a very light place. They both offer an incredible release and freedom for a soul too big for this body.

    I have a terrible cold now but I would love to have you read my cards at some point in the near future. Plus, it will make me feel good to know that the money will be used for a good cause.

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  11. And I have now succeeded in my pledge to comment on every single one of your NaBloPoDiddlyMo posts for the last month.

    It has been fun taking this journey with you... I'm sure the ride isn't over yet...

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  12. Vapor! I missed you. Sorry you're down with a cold, but I'll definitely read your cards when you're feeling better. I need to find out what that surgery is going to cost so I can make a chart showing financial progress toward rejuvenation.

    I'm having bike withdrawal. I'm too busy and too wimpy to ride in this weather. So I guess I'll just have to stick with the writing and wait for the light like everybody else.

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  13. Yay, Diplomat! It's an achievement.

    No, the ride is NOT over.

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  14. BTW, let me make one thing perfectly clear...

    I don't ever want to see that watermelon man on these pages again.

    Just saying...

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  15. Really, Diplomat? Not a good mascot? I was thinking of a two-tone green and pink theme...I bet if I asked him nicely, he would design other costumes he could model. Maybe something having to do with pizza or marshmallows or ham?

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