Par-tay!
Today I’m celebrating having blogged every day (OK, weekday) for a straight month. I started mid-August, but then I took a vacation, so I’m only counting since after the vacation. Because I’m that tough on myself. I’m my own tiger mom. No praise for you! Get back to your piano scales! Four more hours and then you get an organic carrot stick!
When I announced to the world (the “world” being the low-4-figure number of people aware of this blog) that I’d be writing every day, a prominent blogger whose very site name has the promise of delivering something every day built right in — hint: The Daily ____ — said to me, “Are you out of your mind?”
Yes, I was out of my mind. He was right.
This shit’s hard.
But I’m not sorry I took it on.
So, today, because I have to write something, and this is all I can think of, here’s what I’ve learned from writing every day for a month.
1) The more you write, the more you write
Studies I don’t feel like googling show, the physical act of writing stimulates neurons and generates ideas. I think for it to really work, you’re supposed to write by hand, with pen and paper. But that hurts my hand. And who the hell has a working pen? Not this household, that’s for sure. Woe to the delivery man who shows up with no pen. I’ll have to sign that Grand Sichuan receipt with our one functioning writing utensil, the pencil I keep in the toolbox with the stuff for hanging paintings.
When I wasn’t writing, I kept not writing, because I couldn’t think of anything new to say. All I had to talk about, as far as I was concerned, was the fact that I had nothing to say. What I’ve realized is…
2) “I’ve got nothing” is a legitimate topic.
I wrote about having nothing to say recently, and I’ll write about it again. You’ve been warned.
3) The stress of having to write every day is equal to but way better than the stress of not having written for months.
One is the “oy, so much to-do” kind, which I’ll take any day over the “I’m a fuck-up” kind.
4) Having a daily blog is kind of like having a baby.
{Ducks as actual parents throw tomatoes, molotov cocktails, and diapers full of fresh baby shit at head}
But it’s true, it’s true! It wakes me up several times a night, I get up earlier than is natural for my late-sleeping self to take care of it, sometimes I feel a cold-hearted lack of love for it and wonder if I was meant to have it, but then it smiles at me and suddenly it’s all worth it. Until I realize that’s just gas.
5) Having a daily blog is a “one day at a time” endeavor.
[UPDATED] This lesson used to have a joke about being in recovery, but we no longer joke about recovery. So instead of referencing the 12-step tenet, let’s make this about the title of the 1970s sitcom starring Valerie Bertinelli, Mackenzie Phillips, and Bonnie Franklin. (The recent remake was a huge hit, but I haven’t seen it.) Anyway. When I think about writing every single weekday for eternity, I want to eat my own face. I can’t handle that idea. But just today. That’s all I have to deal with. Just write it today, and then tomorrow, we’ll see. No promises. One day at a time.
6) It doesn’t have to be long.
It can be a single thought, like this. (Dammit, this line could’ve been its own blog post.)
7) If Seth Godin can do it, I can do it.
Seth Godin is the person who inspired me to do this. He’s been writing his blog every single day for over 10 years. I listened to him talking about it on a podcast and his take is: a) Who goes a day without having something to say? Writing is just talking, and nobody has talker’s block. b) “Shipping” — what he calls the act of putting something out there for other people to consume — is way more important than making the thing perfect.
If Seth can do it every day, I can do it. Because who is he? Just a normal person, like me, right? Actually, no, he’s genius who never says anything less than brilliant. But so what, I can still follow his example.
8) When you produce a lot, the failures mean a lot less.
When I was putting out one post a week, or, sometimes, a season, if it didn’t get a lot of comments and likes and shares, I was crushed. Now, when I put out a post that barely gets a shrug, so what, who cares? There’s always the next day’s. And there’s always yesterday’s. They can’t all be gems.
9) I am an approval whore and a liar.
What I said in #8? Not entirely true. (That’s the liar part.) When a post doesn’t get attention, I never really say “so what?” I want to not care, but I spend all day checking Facebook and refreshing the post to see how many likes and comments it got. And then, if the answer is “very few,” I say, “so what?” and shut the browser window. And then I open it again and check 2 seconds later. I believe the “so what,” I just haven’t quite internalized it yet. It’ll happen, though.
And, I do get over the disappointment way faster. Because the next day, I’m on to the next post. Peace out, yesterday!
10) The sucky ones are part of the process.
I’m trying to look at the stuff that’s not as good as an essential part of the stuff that’s great. It’s a warm up. A batting-average kind of thing. The strip of fat around the steak. Actually, not really, because I like that part and I’ll eat it when no one’s looking.
There are plenty of nature metaphors and/or song lyrics for this idea. Every rose has its thorn. Every wheat stalk has its chaff. (Is that right? Does wheat come in stalks? I only see it once it’s made its way into the bread or spaghetti). Every banana has its peel, along with the black thing at the bottom and those stringy things on the inside of the peel that stick to the banana. They are awful, and the banana itself isn’t that great, and makes a horrible noise when you eat it, but you get what I’m trying to say here.
11) If you write a list, don’t number the items till the end.
You’re a fool to think you won’t re-order them. A fool.
12) People really can change.
I’ve helped a lot of life coaches with their website copy. “Close the gap between your sad-sack self and the person you want to be” is the essence of most of it. And often, I can’t help thinking, What you do sounds great. But does it work? Because does anyone really ever change?
And now, I’m thinking, yes. Because I changed into someone who writes every day.
Next up: changing into someone who’s neat.
13) It’s all about one friend.
When I don’t feel like writing, or don’t think I have anything worth writing, I think about one friend who’s said she (or he) loves reading my posts and has made it part of the morning routine. OK, today I’ll write just for that friend. And if no one else reads it or likes it, so what, who cares?
No, really, WHO CARES?
One day, I’ll believe that.
Now you.
Have you developed any kind of new habit or discipline lately? Have you thought about it? Is there anything you have to deal with doing every day because you promised you would?
Or have you learned anything new about anything?
Or, do you have nothing to say? You can talk about that, too.
TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS.
I love that talking shrimp! I really enjoyed your month of daily blogs. I hope you’ll keep doing it? (No pressure… Ok maybe a little.)
God I hate hearing people eat bananas! I love your post and I hope you continue because time is not guaranteed, you don’t know what’s up ahead and so you need to write so that we know that none of this is a dream and that’s what I’ve learned this week!
BTW I read them too. So now you have 2 friends.
Yes! 2 friends! Now that’s a number I can brag about.
hey Laura!
when you started all this craziness I was only reading every few days, not really keeping up. now I have to agree with the friend you mentioned – I look forward to reading the sh*t you say, and appreciate how hard it is to write every day, let alone publish it for the (albeit truncated) world to see. thanks and keep it up!
Yes! A convert. Albeit Truncated might be a good band name. Thank you.
Congratulations Laura! Everything I’ve read in this series is stellar. “Close the gap between your sad-sack self and the person you want to be” is the best tagline I’ve ever read!
Thanks, Dawn! I’m not using that tagline. Go ahead, take it. Your clients will love it.
Congratulations on your month of blogs! I look forward to them every day and admire your discipline. Look how many people you’ve inspired. That’s a wonderful reward for your hard work. You’re right to go with a loud “toot toot,” the blowing your horn type. I’m very proud.
Thanks, Mom! It is nice to have a built in audience – something I’ve always considered you. And more, of course.
So seriously just yesterday I was thinking, “does she do this EVERY DAY?” (I’m not at all sure about that punctuation I just used, btw.) Anyway, I was thinking “I mean, I like reading these a lot, but that really seems like quite a bit of time/work.” I was wondering if someone was somehow financing them. So now I know.
Hey I really like reading your blog! Keep it up! Did you notice I failed to even respond to your challenge to list my top 10 books? It was too much for me. So I admire you.
Laura,
Victoria turned me on to your blog and I look forward to reading it daily! Agree with the physical act of writing stimulating neurons. Same with reading. As an avid reader I end one book, start another IMMEDIATELY but if not IMMEDIATELY I get in a non-reading rut which I am suffering from right now. Same with exercise, dieting, anything that is good for the soul…….if it is not consistent, then it loses its pleasure. Anyway, keep staying in the day, that is a great way to live :)!
I, too, would like to write every day. But then, because I also like comparing myself to other people, I compare myself with Charles Dickens who, before he died at age 58, wrote fifteen novels (many of them really long), plus hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles and tons of letters, and did it all in longhand. And then I get depressed and ask myself “What’s the point? Who reads anymore?” And then I watch Judge Judy.
Still trying to get my butt in gear and get back to songwriting. I do believe that if I wrote every day it would be easier than ‘when the mood hits me’. Really great piece.
I just started to stick to a regimented work and play schedule. So far so good.
Since I’m a teacher, I write more words in a day than I care for. I’m especially more a writer hog on my social media. Maybe I’m already aligned with this.
I write 5 times a day on my facebook posts and they’re no more than 1 or 2 sentences. Does that count? Every Saturday, I blog psychic lessons on my website.
I can relate to Licia. Writing needs to be done daily for it really start flowing….especially if we’re tuned in the other side.
I love this post, lovely brain Laura!
Laura, thanks for writing everyday. I look forward to it much much more than Banana Republic having a sale on a “sweater I can’t live without this season”! Great post as always.
This is one I am going to copy & paste to my evernote and save happily ever after. (And hope that I don’t forget it is there …so I could read it again).
I was going to ask you a few days ago about the blogging-everyday-thing but it seemed so off-topic. You answered my question today and I didn’t even have to ask. And I laughed out loud (but that is nothing new.)
I signed up for a 21 day blog challenge (someone else’s) that started two days ago. I skipped the first day….
Off to write a post now!
You won me over with the watermelon. That’s all I have for now. Oh, and, thanks.
This is a great post Laura — I particularly appreciate all of the “shits” thrown in there, because that tends to be my favorite go to word.
In fact, if you’re ever lacking a topic and want to “write for a friend”, you can write for me, or…even about me. (It’s ok, I know the post will be titled “Something, Something Stalker Something”, but I’ll know it’s me.)
If you do write FOR me, please be sure to throw in as many damn and shits as you want, because even though some people get offended, I say, “Fuck ’em!”
Congrats on your month long blog anniversary. I like what Seth says about writing, because I NEVER have talker’s block, so what’s my excuse?
By the way, successful intro with the “Toot Toot”. Got my attention. I’m pretty sure I’ve been a male in recent past lives, because fart humor is always good times. Only, really, it should have said, “Did you smell that, Lane?” and not “Did you hear that, Lane?” But that’s for another time and possibly another blog topic. See?…I’m here to help.
I’m just going to respond to your blog posts everyday and that’ll be my writing for the day! L-A-Z-Y!
Since you don’t write them on weekends, I’m forced to keep responding to the same damn post!
All you need to do when you’re not feeling the love with how many people respond is to post something about growing up in NYC. Holy MOTHER OF GOD! Apparently, people love to talk about that! That post of yours got a shitload of replies.
I was just thinking yesterday how amazing it is that you’ve been writing every day. I’ve totally stopped reading any of the other “promo” emails that come in but I almost always read yours even if I don’t comment. As your creepiest super fan you writing every day has been such a treat. Vee Eye Peeeee indeed!
Ox
Cecilia
I am so proud of you for having the courage to do this EVERYDAY! I love this post. Lord knows I look forward to seeing your take on EVERYTHING.
Some mornings I read you first thing and weep silently because your genius is so great. Sometimes I save it for night, before bed, after my kids are a sleep. I use your blog as an excuse to laugh out loud and wake my husband from the snore-coma that is his sleeping.
You are saving marriages. You are like Dr. Joyce Brothers…with snark. *PRAISE*
I love number 12.
Thank you for making my days brighter 🙂
Laura!
There is so much profundity in this post, I love it!
Friend and daily guru.
I have taken a cue from you and started writing in my journal everyday for 15 minutes each morning. (Oh no. I sound like an 8th grade girl right now.) This practice has actually given me a lot of space in my brain.
I’m not writing flowery prose I’m writing exactly whatever pops into my brain and not judging it.
One sentence I wrote this morning literally went “In Boston and the sun is shining I haven’t slept this great since oh no wait I can’t forget that I have to get to Whole Foods before 8 ugh how am I going to make that happen?” And so on for 15 minutes.
It’s been great and I feel like I have less monkey mind and that’s a good thing.
Thanks for this today!
SO GOOD.
I like the advice about not numbering your points until after you’ve finished the piece. Wise counsel, indeed. Don’t you hate it when a writer says “the following three points demonstrate…” and then they list four points because they forgot when they added one to go back and edit?
When I retired four years ago, I told myself that all those excuses about not having time to exercise were officially no longer valid. I am a self-professed non-athlete. However, nearly every weekday morning, I boot my butt out of the house to go swimming for at least an hour OR take a walk of at least three miles. One or the other. My motivation? No coffee or food until I get back. Sometimes the promise of coffee is all that keeps me going, stroke after stroke or step after step. (Sometimes I actually enjoy it.)