What I learned last month during the 31 day writing challenge:
1. Apparently, I love a challenge. This is actually a revelation because I’m not particularly competitive or athletic. The only sport I ever played was softball in 2nd grade and I spent every game in the outfield praying the ball would not come my way. There was something about meeting the goal of a new, fresh, (hopefully) well written daily post and finding a new twist on one topic for 31 days in a row. It was like slowly climbing a mountain. I just had to keep going.
2. Writing is invigorating. I didn’t realize how much I love doing it. My background is art, primarily drawing and painting and I am a visual thinker, not a wordsmith. The only serious writing I’ve ever done (outside of school) is a children’s book published last year. To fall in love with posting 300 – 500 words about one idea was truly unexpected.
3. The key to the 31 days is to find a topic you are passionate about, one that you could sit in a coffee shop with a friend and talk about for hours on end. I wrote about adoption, both in my own life and the adoption story of St. Joseph. Who knew I had so much to say? It was liberating to put down the thoughts I had bottled up inside.
4. There is a ridiculous amount to know about blogging; I have much to learn. What an incredibly talented bunch of writers there are in the blogosphere, I am in awe of so many of you. Finding a wonderful blog is like discovering a valuable gem, you can’t believe your good fortune.
5. An amazing community of generous, talented, and funny people exist in the blogosphere who are willing to share and comment. I’m humbled by your kindness and encouragement and I want to have you all over for coffee.
6. To truly understand blogging, you pretty much have to be a blogger yourself. My friends would nod and smile when I told them what I was doing. The people who live in my house stood around and asked ridiculous questions like “What are you cooking for dinner?” and “Are there any clean socks?” just as I was coming up with the most illuminating thoughts about ways to cook and organize for, um, a family.
7. The best job in the world is one where you can wear comfie jammies to work. If you can do this and make a living at the same time, you are a True Genius.
I learned a lot about myself too. I’ve always been a writer but this challenge made me realize how much I miss doing it on a regular basis outside my job. I also met so many amazing people too. Coffee with all of you sounds like a dream!
Although I only wrote 14 days this year (sidetracked by unemployment and just hard transitions), I followed along where I could on the Facebook Page. Although I did not follow your series, I am thankful you wrote this post. I’ve been blogging for over 5 years and there is always much to learn. May God richly bless you in your future endeavors and I hope to see you around the blogsphere. Liking you on Facebook and hope to stay in touch.
Many of your “What I Learned” items would be mine as well!! This was my first time blogging; although I have hand-written in a journal for many years! That is where I was able to pull together information for my topic, Dementia’s Demands – my journey with my husband who has dementia. It was definitely challenging and I DID IT…It has revived the urge to write and I keep coming up with more things I want to write about…I am determined to go back and READ as many blogs as I can and add them to those I read on a regular basis! Thanks for sharing!