From Natalie Dee
I am a quitter.
I quit.
I am quitting!
You may notice a missing button on my blog today because I am officially quitting the Post A Day 2011 challenge.
Call me quitter if you want, but I think it is the right thing to do.
Why, you ask? For a number of reasons which I will now share:
- Sure it has helped me commit to daily writing. But about the only daily writing I am doing is the posts. Have I started any new projects? No. Have I focused on any of the projects I already started? No. Have I gotten my book published? No. Have I written query letters or books proposals? No. (Although I have done some letter writing and other writing for work).
- If you look at my Tag cloud, the tag that stands out is Postaday2011. I don’t really want to be a blog known for posting. I want to be someone who posts about art and education, about life and people, about creativity and imagination, about concerns and dreams. I want people to visit me because they think I have interesting things to say; and that I say things in interesting ways.
- As I read comments on other people’s posts who seem to be struggling with Post a Day, I’ve come to question the commitment. Was this challenge started to help us find our voices or to help WordPress boost its numbers? I don’t want to obsess about numbers anymore. Yes, I would like to be able to, someday, make a living with my writing. But the chances of me being discovered because I have a zillion hits on my blog (which I don’t but I actually am approaching 10,000) are probably a zillion to one. The only way I am ever going to get published and paid for that work is to actually work on projects that people want to pay for.
- That doesn’t mean I’m giving up blogging. I’ve discovered something wonderful here. I’ve discovered a group of friends. I’ve discovered a joy in the diversity of ideas and the exchange of support. I want to continue to build those relationships and grow from this sharing of ideas, thoughts, memories and dreams. But I don’t want to do this because I committed to a challenge that I’ve moved beyond. I want this relationship to grow because it is really a relationship, and because I have something to say that someone wants to read, and vice versa.
- I may even quit the A to Z challenge, but there are only 9 letters left, so I may consider that a writing assignment and keep going. It depends on how I feel tomorrow.
So there you have it folks. I am officially a quitter, but I’m okay with that.
Anyone care to join me?
Apr 20, 2011 @ 07:01:12
Good news you’re not quitting altogther, I was worried for a moment. I think that’s fine – I try and post everyday but haven’t signed up to the postaday because of the pressure and that I want to try and write quality not quantity. I think you should put your time into what gives you the most pleasure and if you want to focus on a creative project and get that book published (finger’s crossed!) you should just go for it.
Apr 20, 2011 @ 07:16:12
Thanks Vix.
Apr 20, 2011 @ 07:13:49
“Q” is also for QUALITY OF LIFE, my friend! You are my hero!!!!!!!!!!!
Kathy
Apr 20, 2011 @ 07:16:49
Your post yesterday helped me do this!
Apr 20, 2011 @ 07:23:04
Your image is from Natalie Dee. That’s the artist who has a web comic:
http://www.nataliedee.com/archives/2011/Apr/
Apr 20, 2011 @ 08:33:16
I admire you not only for making this decision but for embracing it!
I’m not going to join you in quitting the challenge myself, but that’s just because I think it really has helped me keep writing. The only thing that’s distracting me from my work is reading blogs, lol. So, I’m going to have to ease up on reading and commenting on blogs…I kind of spend a LOT of time doing that, so….
It’s only temporary, though! If my comments seem to drop off in general, please don’t take it personally. You are welcome, however, to despise my dissertation. Believe me, I’ll be hating it too!
In the meantime, though, I hope that you are able to reclaim the purpose of your blog as well as the enjoyment you used to have for posting! 
Apr 20, 2011 @ 08:39:50
I probably will still blog almost daily, but because I choose to not because of the Challenge. I completely understand that you need to focus, and I won’t take it personally. I spend lots of time reading and responding as well, which doesn’t seem to get me anywhere on anything else. I refuse to despise your dissertation because I am sure it is 1) brilliant and 2) something I actually would like to read. (I don’t say that about many dissertations)
Apr 20, 2011 @ 10:18:41
Welcome back to the rational world! Sort of.
Apr 20, 2011 @ 10:31:30
Apr 20, 2011 @ 11:03:58
Love Kathy’s comment. I don’t see how anyone can keep up with that strict of a writing schedule. Take a deep breath and write when you WANT to! Welcome to The Freedom Party, Miss Thang!
Apr 20, 2011 @ 11:08:07
I never officially joined either challenge . . . so I can’t quit.
Since I started SLTW in 2010, I’ve posted when I had something to say . . . not just because I wanted to say something.
Apr 20, 2011 @ 11:10:58
You’re right. Completely right. I’ve had the same thoughts myself. I’ll probably be behind you.
Keep up the good work.
Apr 20, 2011 @ 12:33:11
I am amazed you kept it going this long. It is not something I would commit to because then blogging becomes work. I want it to remain pleasure.
Not that you asked, but I’ll tell you anyway…
If you quit the A to Z on this Q day also, I’ll applaud the reclaimation to your creative freedom. Of course we know you can write 9 more letters, but if it’s not important to you, why bother? After all, you have all those blogging awards to continue to live up to. I’d jump to “V” and be “Versatile”!
Apr 20, 2011 @ 16:33:58
Wise words. Note the new missing link on the side of my blog.
Apr 20, 2011 @ 14:30:58
I only signed up for the A to Z challenge, and it has already become a chore in some ways. For me it was a way to commit myself to actually writing regularly, even when I did not think I could. Now that I know I can, it has kind of lost it’s point. I will finish the challenge simply because it IS only a month. But I would never actually do the post a day challenge for the very reasons you are leaving. Something that is a joy to you should never lose its charm because now you HAVE to do it! Good decision on your part. Write because you want to and have something to say. Not because you feel you are required to!
Apr 20, 2011 @ 15:59:48
When blogging stops being fun and then starts feeling like homework and takes you away from other things that should take precedent (i.e. you life). Then it’s time to dial it back. I never thought of how wordpress is pushing for people to write with these 365 posts, and I guess the freshly pressed promotions are really a promotion for wordpress in a way too. You’ve got me thinking, in a way we’re being used and maybe that’s why so many people are feeling tired, and sort of forced to blog.
Apr 20, 2011 @ 16:43:29
Hey you are not a quitter you have just recognised what is important to you.
The PAD challenge just helped me connect with other bloggers – as far as writing posts is concerned I go my own merry way and write about what interests me.
PiP 8)
Apr 20, 2011 @ 17:47:57
It helped me connect as well, and has definitely helped me commit. But now I need to write with more focus and less, I don’t, desperation.
Apr 20, 2011 @ 17:35:48
This connects with with writing, otherwise I just might quit writing altogether if I quit blogging; besides I need to get use from my computer.
Apr 20, 2011 @ 17:48:40
Don’t worry, I’m not quitting blogging. I’m just quitting the idea that failure to blog for a day is failure.
Apr 20, 2011 @ 23:52:07
Bravo. Didn’t see this post before commenting on the last one.
I read somewhere that postaday is only really for people who want to blog but have no idea what to blog about because they haven’t connected with their topics yet… Can see their point. It’s an excellent way of building the technical skills, knowledge and experience though.
So quitting, who’s quitting? This is positive growth. Am really excited for you. This is a breakthrough
Apr 21, 2011 @ 08:43:26
Good for you! I was running into the same problem. Sure, I was writing everyday, but it was for my blogs, not my ms. It turned out to be a chore instead of a way for me to explore ideas, thoughts and feelings I’ve experienced.
I don’t look at it as just quitting but as prioritizing. Congratulations for putting your writing first.
Apr 21, 2011 @ 09:39:10
Thanks Karen. It feels like a good choice. Last night as I was lying in bed reading some words started forming in my head. I grabbed something to write on and with, and my next project has begun. I just needed to give myself permission to find that next project.
Lisa