“Write a new blog post” is always on my weekly to-do list. But often an entire month slips by where I don’t get a new article up on my site.
A new month is here, and I’m determined to blog more this month — and “more” means at least four blog posts in August. Gulp.
Blogust Challenge
I’ve been accused of wanting to make a game or challenge out of things I take on. (You know me well, Gary Deardorff.) Gamifying is fun to me. Catchy names. Taglines and slogans. Friendly competitions. And prizes, whenever possible. I say, why not!
“Blogust” has a nice ring to it, and I see I’m not the first one to use the name for an August blogging challenge. (Thanks for confirming that, Instagram. Almost 500 people tagged their photos with #blogust, and I found a few articles about this online, too. I’ve heard it said there are no original ideas. So true, Mr. Twain.*
Good ideas are worth repeating, and here’s my spin on it: Create four pieces of new content while you enjoy the blog days (er, dog days) of summer. You’ll have new content to share with your followers and connections, and that’s a great thing!
LET’S MAKE AUGUST THE BLOG DAYS OF SUMMER.
JOIN THE CHALLENGE NOW!
BLOGUST CHALLENGE RULES
- Write at least four articles throughout the month. Go at whatever pace you want in creating them — it doesn’t have to be weekly — and publish them on your blog.
- There are no requirements for what you write about. No word-count constraints either. A short post, like this one, or a longer article like my 1,640-word Why 2020 is the “Year of the Pencil.” (It’s the most-read on my blog right now!)
- If you don’t have a blog, you got options, friend. Publish them on your LinkedIn profile (as an article, not a post); offer them up for someone else’s blog — that’s a #guestpost #FTW — or publish them on Medium.
- Publicly share your content-creation commitment. Add your name to this Google Sheet (request access) I set up for us.
- When you finish a post, add the URL to the sheet. You’ll find four columns for your links.
- Enjoy the writing process and group accountability with our blogging buds. If you can find some time to share someone else’s article on LinkedIn, Twitter or elsewhere, please do!
ANY QUESTIONS?
Let me know, and I do hope you join in! And, no surprise, I’m counting this is as my first post of the month. Only three more to go.
*This is the first time I realized Mark Twain came up with the “no original idea” quote. According to Goodreads, here’s what he said.
“There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations. We keep on turning and making new combinations indefinitely; but they are the same old pieces of colored glass that have been in use through all the ages.”
I love the kaleidoscope with colored glass comparison, don’t you?
This sounds like a great challenge to help me return to my writing camp! I am interested .. so where do I sign up!
I’m sorry I missed your comment, Marian, and am reaching out to you on LinkedIn to connect!