Like many people who have a blog, I started off with the intention of writing regularly. Like many bloggers, life and intentions collide and I have found myself, at times, slacking off. Happily, there is the annual Freelance Success/Word Count Blogathon to get me back on track. Usually, though, I don’t go seven months without writing.
I think I have a reasonable couple of excuses this time. In December, my dad had a stroke, from which he recovered very quickly, but which left many others in the family in a tizzy. Because I write about healthcare, I became the point person to investigate treatments and doctors and outcomes. A tizzy of phone calls and emails greeted me daily for more than a month. But that only gets me through January. Why didn’t I start writing again immediately?
Gentle reader, I have been writing. I’ve been workshopping an essay and the first three chapters of my memoir. Thanks to the wonderful classes available through Hugo House, I’ve submitted an essay to the New York Times Modern Love column (cross your fingers) and have nearly completed a book proposal for my memoir.
But the time for daily writing has returned, and the Blogathon is the impetus to start. A lot of what I’ll be writing about is reading and books, and writing, and books about writing. And also turning 50 because I do that in 11 more days.
So welcome back. As always, feel free to ask questions and leave opinions.
I also decided this year’s Freelance Success/Word Count Blogathon was going to be my motivation to start blogging on a regular basis again. I had begun writing again last month after dropping the blog for more than a year. During that time it’s unchanging pages mocked me. After churning out posts for several months, I just stopped. No pressing family reasons like you had. I just got busy and quit. This time I’m determined to meet the daily goal for June and perhaps by the time it’s over I’ll still be blogging regularly. I wish you luck with yours.
We all have legitimate reasons for not getting stuff done. Just because mine involved a family illness doesn’t mean it’s more legit than whatever yours was. My page mocked me, too. The important thing, I tell myself, is that we are writing again. Every day.
Good luck Randy! And keep checking in with me. I’ll do the same with you!
I admire your tenacity in keeping up with the grueling post-a-day schedule. I’ve considered, but rejected the idea of doing blogathon – not merely because I’m busy (I can shuffle priorities when needed), but because both of my blogs are topical, not personal, and that restricts my potential range. I look forward to reading you over the remainder of the month!
I believe the requirements of “boyfriend of the writer” state that you have to read me for the remainder of the relationship. And I may amend the agreement to state that you have to read me forever.