Well, it’s Day 4 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge and I sit here, my fingers frozen, wondering what my next sentence is going to be. This is an all too common problem for me. It happens every time I go to write an article, a blog post…even an email. I’m admitting to my readers that I am NOT a writer! Don’t get me wrong. I love communicating through written word, but it just comes very slow for me. I have a head full of info that I want to share, but it’s forming of the words on paper (or in today’s world we call it words on a computer or smart device LOL) that is a challenge. I was that kid in school that managed to squeak by with average grades in English and Composition. No matter how much effort I put into writing essays or reports, I never managed to get an A. And here I am now writing articles for my blog!
I will admit I woke up this morning and turned on my computer not knowing what I was going to write about today. I did subscribe to Paul Taubman’s daily email that gives you tips on what to write for a specific day, but sometimes even that is not enticing or it doesn’t spark an idea at all for me. Then there are emails that hit the nail on the head! So instead of being creative and writing a grand-slam article, I am writing how much of a struggle it is for me to write. Ironic, isn’t it?
I totally get it…this month is 30 days of 30 posts, which, in my mind, is going to challenge me to write and publish to my blog. Ideally, I want to get to a point this month that I’m writing and scheduling my posts days ahead of time, especially since I’ll be heading to Myrtle Beach next weekend for a much-needed vacation away from work. That means I need to write at least seven days of articles and schedule them before I leave my office. However, I will continue to engage in the UBC FB group while I’m away. I will have my phone and iPad so I don’t miss out on the fun!
I may get back to putting one together this weekend so I can stay on top of this challenge and I end up getting behind like I did back in January. Of the 31 days in January, I ended up blogging for 21 of those days. In case anyone is interested in a blog calendar, I do know Paul provided a link to one in his welcome email. You can download it HERE.
In the past, I have used a blogging calendar that I found useful to help me keep track of what I have wrote and when it was written and published. #blogboost #blog #blogging #UBC #ultimateblogchallenge Click To TweetIf you are not interested in using a paper calendar, there is a calendar plugin for WordPress sites that I have used in the past. It’s called the Editorial Calendar plugin for WordPress, and you can find it here: https://wordpress.org/plugins/editorial-calendar/ It’s a great way to keep your posts organized whether they are in draft form or published. Plus you can drag and drop your posts if you decide you want to move them around to have them post on different days than what you originally had planned. Great tool for someone who likes to keep organized without the use of paper!
Feel free to comment below your writing challenges and how you manage it. I would love to hear your tips and ideas! Perhaps I can learn from the best and totally turn around this whole challenge. I’m open to suggestions!
Please keep in mind that I may receive commissions when you click my links and make purchases. However, this does not impact my reviews and comparisons. I try my best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.
- 5 Creative Ways to Build Your List Using Video - January 31, 2020
- AccessAlly Certification Training in the Works - January 30, 2020
- 5 Offline Marketing Strategies to Build Your Email List - January 29, 2020
Woow! a wonderful article. loved it
Thank you, Vidhya! I appreciate you stopping by and reading my very simple article on my writing struggle. LOL
First of all – you are a writer! Don’t sell yourself short. Just because we have writer’s block doesn’t mean we can’t do it. It just means our strokes of genius are taking a little longer to arrive. (That’s what I tell myself anyway). I have two tips to share: 1) I have a notebook in my purse, on my nightstand and in my car so I can jot down an idea when the moment strikes me. 2) I start a draft of my blog post the night before they are due to post. When I wake up in the morning I do major editing and it is amazing how it comes all comes together. Sometimes, I need a little time and space before posting. We are doing great on day 4. Enjoy vacay and I’m sure it will inspire lots of future blog posts.
Thank you, Elisa! Such kind words! I love the idea of keeping a notebook handy in places when I have a good idea. Will have to try that out starting this weekend. I think keeping ahead of the schedule will work best for me. I hate waiting last minute to write a post. It’s just not doable for me.
Boom! Spot on. Even those with a great deal of experience writing, can feel blocks. Great transparency and very nice insights.
Thank you, Kathleen! I know writer’s block is common…I just have it more than others. LOL
Writing is HARD, and this blog challenge is a real stretch, but you are doing brilliantly. I am addicted to my content calendar. I actually planned out a whole year’s worth of posts in January. I did it based on weekly posting, so this challenge has meant a complete re-jig, but it also meant I could just move a lot of ideas forward!
Oh wow, Karen! I love you have a whole year of posts planned. That’s awesome! And, yes, with 30 posts, it means rearranging what you already have to fit. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for sharing what’s in that brain of yours. It came across just like a writer wrote it! You are a writer. That is a large category of people, but you’re a part. For me, I struggle with calling myself that sometimes, but I’m lying if I say I’m not a writer. Keep up the good and hard work.
Thank you for encouraging me that I’m a writer. I know we all have it in us, but the passion may not be there for some. And keep up the good work yourself!
“I did subscribe to Paul Taubman’s daily email that gives you tips on what to write for a specific day, but sometimes even that is not enticing or it doesn’t spark an idea at all for me. ” I feel like I have failed today… My daily email was no good!!!! So Sorry!
You did a great job writing today! Some days you are a hammer, some days you are a nail (just wear a helmet and take some aspirin that day!)
Thanks for joining us!
Paul.
Hey Paul! No offense to you at all! I really take your daily blog tips to heart and sometimes I freeze up even with what you provide. Keep doing what you do best. You lead us through this challenge with brevity and encouragement. Without you, there would be no UBC community. Love the analogy though. Today, I was a nail. Hahaha!
When I don’t feel anything,I don’t write. I give myself some time. all I need is my ‘metime’ to write. A run around the club makes a difference too. I get some flowers and make my home warm. I catch up with an old friend or go out for a tea. Sometimes I get ideas also when I cook a hearty meal. Great to read your honest blog.
Great advice, Shrilekha! I do try and take breaks from work and even that refreshes my brain when I start to feel overwhelmed and out of sorts. I can see where that would also benefit if I move my focus to something else, then come back to what I’m writing. I actually did that this morning. I had to run an errand, then came back and finished my post.
Well written! A+
Thank you, Rob! 🙂
What a post, Aletha! Not everyone is open, revealing, and honest. There is so much posted on social media to look like everything is “wonderful”….or “no problems.” To see some one admit they have issues, that not everything is “wonderful” and there ARE problems makes them real to me, especially when I can relate to the problem and I can certainly relate to this one. Thank you for sharing so openly.
Thanks, Livvie! I definitely was showing my transparent side today. And with that, I’ve received lots of great ideas to make this writing challenge more bearable to me. Thanks for commenting. I appreciate all the encouragement I have received today. That’s why I love being a part of the UBC community!
The only way I survive these 30-day challenges is to write as many of the posts in advance as I can. Occasionally, I can get them all written in advance, and then, I can focus just on sharing them, reading other blog posts and getting them out to social media. Trying to write on the spot is more pressure than I can handle! I love Myrtle Beach, by the way. That one area with the Johnny Rocket and the Hard Rock Cafe and the dueling pianos – love it! But I can never remember its name.
That’s why I really need to plan and start writing my posts ahead of time so I’m not pressured and stressed why I haven’t written my post for the day yet. I enjoy Myrtle Beach, especially this time of the year before the summer rush. I don’t remember the name of the dueling pianos either! LOL
It’s amazing how sometimes our blog topics just appear without us knowing! Enjoy your vacation in Myrtle Beach, we live in Little River, just out of Myrtle!
I am a writer myself. I wrote for 25 years in a weekly newspaper and sometimes there is nothing as intimidating as a blank sheet of paper or a blank page on the word processor. I am starting my first blog challenge and wish me luck.
Oh if only I wrote for a newspaper or a magazine like you did! Haha! I’ll just stick to writing blog posts instead. I do wish you all the best of success with your blog. I’ll stop by sometime and give it a read. 🙂
Today’s blogging idea was easy for me. I wrote a newspaper article about composting and it just happened that I was a day behind and I needed to write about something that began with the letter C. So… composting it was! (that was convenient, lol) Usually, it doesn’t come to me this readily!
Good for you, Alice! I just so happen to have a saved title for my Day 5 that I didn’t use in the last challenge. It actually matches up with today’s theme of explaining to a friend or colleague something they have never heard of. I’ll share on the UBC later.