I’ve been perusing the #NaBloPoMo posts for this year’s traditional November challenge.
And I’m surprised.
The amount of people who don’t seem to get what it is and how it works. What the ENTIRE point of the challenge and exercise is. And it doesn’t seem that anyone’s doing much to explain anything.
NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) was created as a blogger’s answer to NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). With NaNoWriMo, the goal is a 50,000 word novel completed in 30 days – during the month of November. NaBloPoMo’s take for bloggers (who write posts, not books) is to write and publish at least one post every day. No banking your posts. No catching up if you miss the deadline each day. Write and post every single day, no matter what. If you miss a day, too bad – you lost.
We used to revel in the challenge, create amazing new badges to share with each other, create “earned” badges for winners, donate and award prizes that you had to complete the challenge to qualify for, etc..
Both NaNoWriMo and NaBloPoMo are not about quality. Though for me – I prefer to limit junk posts. After all – I might share personal stories, but this isn’t my diary. However, both challenges are absolutely about that consistency and commitment to write every single frikin’ day. Even when you’re dry on ideas. Even when you feel stupid. Even when you don’t wanna. Even when your family doesn’t understand.
The goal is to push your writing skills with deadlines and pressure that only you can hold yourself to. Which amazingly enough, sometimes squeezes absolute genius out of us.
Badge I earned for a different blog for completing NaBloPoMo 2009. (We used to earn badges too.)
But since BlogHer took over the care-taking of NaBloPoMo…. I don’t know…. It just seems like too many people no longer understand the point of the exercise. I peruse all these posts and see comments like, “__ more until I catch up,” and “Here are my 5 posts for this week.”
??????
>:P
Ugh.
Where are the good ‘ol days.
Crochet Liberation Front:
Aberrant Crochet (TM) 
Julia – I first learned about NaBloPoMo from your blog last year. It was your raw honesty about it that inspired me to fully step into the challenge this year. (I entered late after I read your blog and beat myself up ten days in, dropping out.)
I originally signed up for NaNoWriMo this year but was advised by a friend that I would be setting myself up and most likely walk away from writing altogether. She, and you, were right.
Writing every day is where the pedal hits the metal. Writing when you are dry of ideas, didn’t sleep well for several nights in a row (or had one glass of wine too many the night before 😉 or one of the myriad of reasons/excuses we make for not writing is where the writer emerges. Thank you for this post, and all of the others this month, and in 2013… and 2012….
So, you want to talk about a theme for emergence? Where else in your life have you stuck with it through hell and high water, given it your very heart and soul to emerge stronger, wiser, more humble and grateful for simply being?
and now you know why you inspire me… i’m just saying… ❤
Donna, thanks so much for your heartfelt feedback. I’m grateful. I had no idea you joined NaBloPoMo because of me. I am simultaneously proud and sheepish of the fact. I know you are exploring a lot and hope that you get a lot out of this year’s experience. And blessed wishes on your writing journey!
And on emergence. Gosh, isn’t it a way of life? So many things have been about sticking it out I guess.
I saw that going on and I was wondering. Thank you for saying something.
Pingback: It’s The Principle Of The Thing… | Aberrant Crochet (TM)
Pingback: NaBloPoMo Roll Call… | Aberrant Crochet (TM)
Pingback: Anarchy In Writing… | Aberrant Crochet (TM)
Pingback: NaBloPoMo – Tribal Call! | Aberrant Crochet (TM)
Pingback: NaBloPoMo Tribal Resources – Find Your People People! | Aberrant Crochet (TM)