I wrote a little about the Post-A-Day challenge in my blog post Busy busy busy on Soundcloud but Erika has posted some questions, so I’m going to try to answer them. Here’s a little instrumental track I made you can listen to while you read. This is the first track I ever made.
Here are Erika’s questions and my answers:
Why did you start the Post a Day/Week Challenge?
I was looking for something to do to maintain my sanity and give me a sense of purpose beyond the daily delirium of looking for a non-existent job.
I wanted to get writing again – after an almost 3-year hiatus. We writers/creative types do go a bit crazy if we can’t/don’t/won’t write/create.
I wanted to learn more about digital media and how to write for the web.
Describe the state of your blog at the time you started the challenge
How did your blog evolve over the course of the challenge?
It got better. Much, much better. I discovered I love to write about food! I found it a great place to post recipes I invented. As a person living alone, who loves to cook, I realized I have you to share my kitchen creations with – and that you really like that! So I started to write down my recipes, and even measure just so I could tell you how to make it.
I’ve started learning about design and organizing information on the overall page: laying out the text on a blog page to make it more attractive, working with widgets, sidebars, images, colors, and fonts. (I’ve got to start using footers and pages, and improve categorization…)
How to write longer posts in blocks of thought, making it more appealing for the random surfer.
…and on and on and on. I learned so much! And I have so much to learn! I love learning. I don’t ever want to stop. That’s the day I die.
Did you post as often as you had hoped? Why or why not?
I wrote 292 posts and published 211 – on this blog.
On alisonboston I wrote 45 and published 43 posts. ( By the way, I really like how that blog has evolved. Go look at it! Though be aware: as soon as you land on the page, an audio track will start playing. You have to click it off if you want silence or if you’re listening to the track on this page. Mind you, that can be interesting – I even mixed two tracks to make a sound bed for a poem. Here’s a sample:
On the personalone, which has been changed to ThePrimaLuce, I wrote 8 and published 4…
So that’s 345 written and 258 published. That’s pretty good. I almost wrote one a day and published and about 2/3 of what I wrote.
The posts I wrote that I didn’t publish were either too personal, or just sketches for ideas.
I didn’t post every day because I didn’t have to. The Post-A-Day Challenge was more of a way to pull me to write than a benchmark of success. Most importantly, I achieved what I wanted to do: to write and learn more about digital media. I did all that, and more.
What type of blogging strategy works best for you?
When I was writing for magazines, newspapers and radio there was nothing like a pay cheque, an editor, and a clearly focused assignment to create a strategy. The Budapest Times was great for that. 3 stories a week: 2 shorts and 1 feature on the Budapest culture scene. I had a weekly assignment, a style guide, an editor, a fantastic, vibrant city, and…. a pay cheque!
Blogging for yourself is different. I really didn’t know what I wanted to write about when I started this blog, I just wanted to do it (with my goals in mind) and see what happened. I’m delighted that I started to write about food. Lost about 10 kilo, too!
The A-Z blogging challenge certainly revved me into high gear. I DID IT! and I finished! Then I did A-Z food. Gad! I forgot about that! Oh my God did I ever write a lot! Yes, A-Z – either random to help you find your favorite subjects, or on an already chosen topic – is a great blogging strategy. It really focuses your mind on the writing. I did think about doing A-Z Blogging Geek for Dummies, as a way to learn…
If you could go back to the beginning, what would you do differently?
Nothing. What I did was perfect for me. (Yes, I come from the school of thought that where ever you are in the moment is perfect, even if sometimes it stinks.)
Except maybe click ‘follow’ or ‘like’ sooner and more often. I was hesitant to follow people because, quite frankly, I had enough to do with all the learning!
What are you most proud of accomplishing this year?
Here’s a link to more poetry tracks on alisonboston or you can go straight to my main Soundcloud page. I have a lot to learn about making audio tracks. Live radio was so much easier. Even making a documentary was easier. Having a pro studio to work in sure helped.
Read Busy, busy, busy on Soundcloud. I’m really interested to explore a way to combine blogging and sound. My post Sounds from My Kitchen is an attempt at that. Possibly the poetry will also evolve that way. I’m on a journey with an idea destination, and I love exploring side roads.
Name 3 great blogs you discovered through the challenge.
Jennifer Ward Pelar of http://militaryzerowaste. wordpress.com is dedicated to saving the planet.
Well top of my list is Jennifer Ward Pelar’s Zero Waste Blog. That woman is amazing. She and her husband are amazing.
Femina Invicta deserves an award for bringing important issues to light.
World Music is wonderful for just that – world music.
I’ve also really enjoyed reading Indie Albany Not sure what it is: the variety of voices, the clear, honest writing, the photo blogs of Eric’s cycling adventures. It’s so down to earth and real.
I’ve also enjoyed sheriji’s Just Sayin’. She often says things I would like to say, but don’t. At least not on my blog. I put stuff like that in my poetry and some audio tracks.
No answer. Yet. Except maybe how much I could learn about digital media just by blogging. Also, how much time it took – because I wouldn’t just write. I had to also format… and I’m so picky! I’d spend three times as much time formatting and choosing images! But I’m faster at formatting now. I also reactivated an old Nokia mobile with a half-decent camera and started taking pictures – that sometimes made it faster because I had the image, I just had to choose the best ones from the ones I’d snapped.
What advice would you give to others who want to blog regularly?
Just do it! and if you want readers and followers, you have to interact.
What are your blogging goals for 2012?
To get more focused and better organize my main topics into individual blogs. I’m really pleased with how this blog has evolved and with the alisonboston blog.
To write more posts about meaningful life experiences. That was my intention for ThePrimaLuce. But I wasn’t ready to write that blog in 2011. I didn’t know how to write about meaningful life experiences without totally spilling my guts, which I don’t really want to do in a blog post! I do that in my poetry. I want to work on that in 2012. Both making more of my poetry public and writing about meaningful life experiences in a more universal way. I especially want to get more poetry onto audio tracks and into digital books.
It sure would be nice to integrate sound and earn some money. Maybe I’ll start doing blogcasts. Well, I did work in radio…once upon a time! And it’s way easier to listen to someone talk than to read a blog. You can do the dishes, cook, ly down and relax, drive a car, ride a bicycle, take a bath, fall asleep…and listen to someone talk. Blogcasts – rather than Podcasts (not sure what the difference is, other than putting the audio track on a blog page) now that’s a fine goal! That’s actually a most excellent goal.
Yeah – there’s a lot of blatant self-promotion in this blog post, what with all those audio tracks and links to other blogs and blogs posts. But, I’m Canadian ‘eh..with a British passport..so ahhh..
Alison, this is so informative for new bloggers and old bloggers alike. Such rich and helpful stuff. And I’m so flattered you gave me a mention and even put my picture on there! That was very kind.
You know how to do so much stuff. I’m still a little cloudy on RSS feeds….though I read the link you put up. It still doesn’t seem to make much sense to me. I understand what a feed is, but a RSS….? I’ll have Matt break it down for me.
The A-Z Geek Challenge would teach you so much. I don’t have the time to embark on something like that right now, but once I get the first draft of the book finished…it would be like drinking from a fire hose. But geez, look how much you’ve learned this year.
And it’s all important. It’s like you took a class, except you’re self-taught. These skills would be utilized and mandatory in the workforce now that everything is turnning completely digital.
And I’d love to try and put audio tracks on my blog like you have. (But not with me singing! LOL! Talking like you did about Canada. That was so funny. With how your mother said to say “hey” instead of “eh” and you started laughing when you told it. That was excellent.) Did you use Sound Cloud to do that?
I have a friend that does a pod cast in London. I don’t know the difference between a pod cast and a blog cast either. But they sound just like they’re on the radio. Hers go on for about 1/2 hour and are all over the place, subject wise. I put it on just to hear the English accents.
My favorite audio on this post is the one right under the cartoon monkeys with the dripping water. It was so pretty, I listened to it twice. The dripping water was so relaxing!
Sorry, didn’t mean to write so much, you just had so much info on here I wanted to ask/comment about!
Well, good. I know you keep me on my toes. You and Michelle (from Cook me a story.) I learn so much from both of you in the technical field, even if it’s just terms I have to go look up! 🙂
Hey Jenn, I finally have time to properly reply to your comment! Yes, I have learned a lot, but in the digital world it’s on par with a 2 year old learning to talk! Maybe this year, I’ll get into digital kindergarten 🙂 A dedicated course would probably help – just for the discipline – but hey I just a met a guy who taught himself python off the web in a weekend. Course he grew up in the computer age – whereas I came to computers as an adult who thought it was great to not have use tippex to correct the typos in my typed manuscripts!
You should join Soundcloud and try your hand at making a simple audio recording to introduce yourself on your blogs. You can record right on their page – all you need is a microphone – which you have.
It would be great to hear your voice.
I don’t think there is a difference between pod cast and a blog cast except perhaps where/how you choose to distribute. I’ve never gotten into listening to podcasts – I’m much more into music and sound.
The audio track you like so much is a mix of a recording made entirely from Scottish water sounds – you can hear the original track – will post it on my blog.
And thanks for calling us amazing. That was so kind. You know we’re trying out here. I feel like I could be doing so much more, so that was a boost of confidence!
Well Lee, I have your A-Z challenge to thank for really kicking in my blogging. You are a real inspiration with that challenge. But A-Z video! Oh my god! I might be able to handle A-Z sound but never video! But I’ll take a look.
Oh I get it! It’s niot A-Z video, it’s one video to promote the A-Z challenge! Whew! Fior a minute there I thought people were going to try to do a whole alphabet of videos!!!!!
It seems at least one person mentioned doing videos from a to z last year. It could be done, but hopefully they’d be very short.
A to Z sound would be pretty interesting, but I’m sure you could add video to your sound. I’ll bet you could come up with something very creative.
Lee
I’m with Lee. Though one a day might be a bit time consuming…..once or twice a week would be a fun goal.
This made me laugh. I could almost hear you! 🙂
Well maybe A-Z sound bytes – the seed idea is planted. But not video. You guys are nuts. 🙂 I landed on a site last night that was promoting sound and all the sound was attached to video. I was both bored and distracted by the video – I really felt it took away from the aural experience. Don’t you just love listening to sound, with no images?
You have to really focus on the sound when there are no images, it’s true.
Alison Amazed 
Thanks for kind words about Indie Albany . . . I’ve enjoyed discovering your blogs as well!
Eric, Reading it is a window to another world. It opens my mind. And I really enjoyed your cycling pics from Albany!
Greetings from Croatia! All THE best NeXT year
Hey Dee, Croatia! I’d love to be there. Enjoy 🙂
Alison, this is so informative for new bloggers and old bloggers alike. Such rich and helpful stuff. And I’m so flattered you gave me a mention and even put my picture on there! That was very kind.
You know how to do so much stuff. I’m still a little cloudy on RSS feeds….though I read the link you put up. It still doesn’t seem to make much sense to me. I understand what a feed is, but a RSS….? I’ll have Matt break it down for me.
The A-Z Geek Challenge would teach you so much. I don’t have the time to embark on something like that right now, but once I get the first draft of the book finished…it would be like drinking from a fire hose. But geez, look how much you’ve learned this year.
And it’s all important. It’s like you took a class, except you’re self-taught. These skills would be utilized and mandatory in the workforce now that everything is turnning completely digital.
And I’d love to try and put audio tracks on my blog like you have. (But not with me singing! LOL! Talking like you did about Canada. That was so funny. With how your mother said to say “hey” instead of “eh” and you started laughing when you told it. That was excellent.) Did you use Sound Cloud to do that?
I have a friend that does a pod cast in London. I don’t know the difference between a pod cast and a blog cast either. But they sound just like they’re on the radio. Hers go on for about 1/2 hour and are all over the place, subject wise. I put it on just to hear the English accents.
My favorite audio on this post is the one right under the cartoon monkeys with the dripping water. It was so pretty, I listened to it twice. The dripping water was so relaxing!
Sorry, didn’t mean to write so much, you just had so much info on here I wanted to ask/comment about!
Jenn, Thanks for reading and commenting on my blog. Your active interest is a source of inspiration. Best Wishes for 2012.
Well, good. I know you keep me on my toes. You and Michelle (from Cook me a story.) I learn so much from both of you in the technical field, even if it’s just terms I have to go look up! 🙂
Hey Jenn, I finally have time to properly reply to your comment! Yes, I have learned a lot, but in the digital world it’s on par with a 2 year old learning to talk! Maybe this year, I’ll get into digital kindergarten 🙂 A dedicated course would probably help – just for the discipline – but hey I just a met a guy who taught himself python off the web in a weekend. Course he grew up in the computer age – whereas I came to computers as an adult who thought it was great to not have use tippex to correct the typos in my typed manuscripts!
You should join Soundcloud and try your hand at making a simple audio recording to introduce yourself on your blogs. You can record right on their page – all you need is a microphone – which you have.
It would be great to hear your voice.
I don’t think there is a difference between pod cast and a blog cast except perhaps where/how you choose to distribute. I’ve never gotten into listening to podcasts – I’m much more into music and sound.
The audio track you like so much is a mix of a recording made entirely from Scottish water sounds – you can hear the original track – will post it on my blog.
And thanks for calling us amazing. That was so kind. You know we’re trying out here. I feel like I could be doing so much more, so that was a boost of confidence!
You are indeed a prolific poster. Eclectic as well.
Lee
Have you heard about the A to Z Video Challenge?
Blogging from A to Z
Well Lee, I have your A-Z challenge to thank for really kicking in my blogging. You are a real inspiration with that challenge. But A-Z video! Oh my god! I might be able to handle A-Z sound but never video! But I’ll take a look.
Oh I get it! It’s niot A-Z video, it’s one video to promote the A-Z challenge! Whew! Fior a minute there I thought people were going to try to do a whole alphabet of videos!!!!!
It seems at least one person mentioned doing videos from a to z last year. It could be done, but hopefully they’d be very short.
A to Z sound would be pretty interesting, but I’m sure you could add video to your sound. I’ll bet you could come up with something very creative.
Lee
I’m with Lee. Though one a day might be a bit time consuming…..once or twice a week would be a fun goal.
This made me laugh. I could almost hear you! 🙂
Well maybe A-Z sound bytes – the seed idea is planted. But not video. You guys are nuts. 🙂 I landed on a site last night that was promoting sound and all the sound was attached to video. I was both bored and distracted by the video – I really felt it took away from the aural experience. Don’t you just love listening to sound, with no images?
You have to really focus on the sound when there are no images, it’s true.