avatarCarmellita

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Challenge Accepted?

A friend presented me with a writing challenge, but should I accept it?

“Challenging the Writer” Image Designed by Carmellita (Author) in Canva Pro

March 29, 2024, 8:00 p.m. Green Room at The Concourse (Vertical Village) after the Resident Artist Talk Meeting.

“You challenged me last month so now I have a challenge for you,” she said.

“Are you serious?” I asked thinking she wasn’t.

“As serious as you were last month,” she laughed.

“Well, I only challenged you because you wanted to be challenged,” I said hoping to wiggle my way out.

No wiggle room. My neighbor had challenged me and yeah, I accepted.

What’s the Challenge, Carm?

“So, what was the challenge?” Roslyn asked.

“She challenged me to write and publish 150 minutes of read time in 30 days. Pretty much, the month of April,” I shook my head.

“And you accepted?”

“Yep.”

Why was she laughing?

Challenge Accepted?

Perhaps, I was out of my mind or reacting like a prideful Scorpion Queen. Yes, I accepted a writing challenge from one of my neighbors. I’d challenged her to something last month that related to her job.

For confidential reasons, I can’t disclose the challenge without revealing details about her work, but the number 150 was related to the challenge I gave her.

Now, it’s my turn. I know she’ll be watching — I mean, reading.

Writing the equivalent of a literary marathon is not an easy feat. But hey, I’ve navigated these waters before. It happened Summer of 2022 when I wrote and published a story every day for 42 days (6 weeks). My commitment was to write and publish daily without sacrificing the quality of my work.

I believe I accomplished that goal.

I’ll take it as an opportunity to refocus

Admittedly, for the past two months, I haven’t been laser-focused on writing or social media. The new Google updates frustrated my joy of blogging. Therefore, I stepped away to reorganize and check in with my Mastermind group.

And though I continued my daily writing practice, I wasn’t publishing much in February and March. With this in mind, I suppose a writing challenge is what I need to get back into the flow. That’s why I accepted.

Am I tripping? Goodness help me.

What was I doing the past two months? Unlike previous publishing hiatuses where illness sidelined me, during the past two months, my focus was sort of purposefully scattered.

I needed some long-overdue self-care after learning that my feminine health issues, weight gain, and extreme fatigue were the side effects of estrogen dominance.

Hence, in February and March, my days were filled with exploring healthy living food recipes, rediscovering the joy of movement with regular exercise, and decluttering my living and workspace.

Tiny victories and a clear mind

And let me tell you, each toss-out was a tiny victory. It felt like I was clearing space in my home, clearing mental clutter, and creating a space for inspiration to flow simultaneously.

Sure, some might say this wasn’t exactly “productive” in the traditional sense. But here’s the thing:

A healthy body and a clear mind are the best tools for creative output.

It wasn’t a distraction. It was a strategic investment.

Now, with a sharper mind, a stronger body, and a workspace that sparks joy (not anxiety!), I’m more prepared than ever to tackle a writing challenge of this magnitude.

Now Let’s Break This Bad Boy Down

I’ve learned from past challenges that every challenge requires a plan. And no, it isn’t about sustainability. When you take on a challenge, you know it has a time limit, yet you want to make the most of your time.

To succeed you must understand your challenge

I take on challenges to learn something new about myself, my strengths and weaknesses, and my ability to recover from setbacks and missteps.

Also, such endeavors are a way to gauge my overall mindset and personal growth. It’s more than just pushing myself outside of my comfort zone or exacting discipline. It’s an opportunity to grow and expand as a writer and storyteller.

The challenge isn’t to churn out two hours of content without purpose or reason. I want to explore new writing styles, experiment with different topics, and maybe even surprise myself.

Wouldn’t that be grand?

Furthermore, I want to stretch my creative muscles and see what resonates with readers. Hopefully, in thirty days, I won’t just have hours of reading for audiences; I’ll have a deeper understanding of myself as a writer and a renewed appreciation for the power of writing courageously.

Four features for quality assurance

In the vein of other writing challenges I’ve completed, I will not sacrifice quality for quantity. Therefore, here are some important features of my plan and strategy:

Brainstorming

When I brainstorm, I brain dump too by writing in a stream of consciousness. As the saying goes, there is more room out than in. I get the “stuff” out of my head, examine it, and decide if there’s a story.

Research is also a part of my brainstorming process. For example, about two days ago, I did a bit of research to find out why Tennessee is banning Bradford pear trees. Turns out the trees are invasive and they stink. So, many ideas sprung from that!

I know a few stinky and invasive personalities I’d like to ban.

A Content Calendar

In the past, I’ve made content calendars that were more of a suggestion than a schedule. With this challenge, like NaNoWriMo, I’m making a plan and sticking with it.

Repurposing

Repurposing is my secret weapon. Those killer pillar blog posts I wrote last year? Yes, some older blog posts from my website will get a makeover with fresh insights and a new spin.

No shame in my game.

Moreover, poems and essays in my drafts that want to shine in front of an audience will get their day in the sun.

4: Exciting Experiments

I’ve had so many styles and literary devices I’ve wanted to try. However, because I had specific stories I wanted to share each month; unfortunately, I didn’t make time to complete those pieces.

I’ve got time today and tomorrow and the whole month of April.

Wish Me Luck!

Wish me luck, fam. Thirty days and 150 minutes may seem daunting.

Because it is.

But with my plan, I’ll succeed. Besides, this isn’t my first rodeo.

So buckle up buttercups! And take this ride with me.

Okay, maybe I’ve been listening to too much Cowboy Carter. Darn it, Beyonce!

Fam, I’m curious. Have you taken on a challenge recently?

Tell me all about it in the comments.

👏Yes, I’m in the middle of a challenge, so please subscribe to get my stories sent straight to your inbox each time I click publish.

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