I Wrote 77 Articles for 45 Publications in 60 Days

A 30-day writing challenge that just kept going

Continuing the “To Be Continued”

I started with a 30-day writing challenge but when those 30 days were over, I felt like I had some unfinished business.

Publications that I’d submitted drafts to but hadn’t yet made it past the solid line of the editor’s defence. Ideas in my head that I’d yet to fully explore in my writing. Personal milestones and achievements that were still left to attain.

I knew I had more potential to discover in myself and, more importantly, I was feeling energetic and excited. Ready to go another round— and so I did.

Welcome to Month 2

My first 30-day challenge helped me find my identity as a writer. It helped me believe in my own abilities to write and it allowed me to prove to myself that I could stick with writing.

All very important in building your foundation as a writer.

In this second 30-day writing challenge, I wanted to continue searching for my voice as a writer and to further explore the writing community.

Currently, my identity — and my confidence — as a writer is like a delicate pea blossom. Pretty, fragile, and easily overcome.

At this stage, it’s important to nurture it carefully. I thought of two steadfast ways to nurture it — writing more and finding a community. And so, these became my two main objectives going into Month 2 of my writing.

And We’re Off!

I started off strong, carried by the momentum and energy of having successfully finished my first 30-day challenge.

I continued to explore even more genres — everything from humor and fiction to creative non-fiction and money finances. If I could explore a topic through my writing and a bit of research, I did.

I embraced — rather than feared — my lack of a niche. I was pleasantly surprised by my own range of knowledge and ability to adjust writing styles as required.

Except with poetry.

I haven’t had much success with poetry, unfortunately. If anything, I might even be able to correlate my daily drops in views with the days my “poetry” was published.

Will You Be My Friend?

Shouldn’t the camaraderie of writing be enough common ground to form new relationships?

Unfortunately, not always.

I didn’t know how to ask fellow writers, “Will you be my friend?” Moments like these make me miss the simplicity of the childhood playground.

So instead, I lurked — in a useful and hopefully not creepy fashion. I invested time in reading and commenting on other readers’ work.

It was my own tentative version of asking, “Will you be my friend?”

Signing up for the Extracurriculars

Just like I found friends in school through extracurricular activities (orchestra, band, computer science — yes, I was and still am a total nerd!), I sought to meet and explore others in the writing community through writing prompts and other writing challenges.

I enjoyed exploring the writing prompts from Dennett’s Weeds & Wildflower (home) and Sh*t Happens - Lost Girl Travel’s World Travel Blog (local delicacies). Completely different prompts and completely different genres — which turns out is completely what my own personal style is.

I also participated in the May Writing Experience — a collaboration between Samantha Lazar’s Sky Collection and Christina M. Ward’s Fiddleheads & Floss Poetry. Five weeks focused on five topics exploring your own personal growth as a writer. Talk about a timely challenge in my attempts to grow into my identity as a writer!

Flirting With Burnout

Like I said — I started Month 2 off strong. But I’ve spent the latter half of the month flirting with burnout.

Or maybe it’s denial about burnout. Either way, I’m semi-acknowledging it — or am I semi-denying it?

Some days, writing feels more like a chore than an interest. It’s becoming an obligation. My mind feels foggy and my wrists hurt from spending too much time at the computer.

Lots of writers have shared their own struggles with burnout. I’ve mostly seen it described as a mental condition — feeling drained, no longer energized, and not knowing what to write about.

I agree with them and feel those symptoms to some degree, but what about the physical impact of hours spent typing away at the computer?

In my younger days, I was a classically trained pianist, so I’ve had my close calls with carpal tunnel. I’m familiar with the ache in the wrists and it’s no fun.

While I used to scoff at ergonomics, with age, I’m realizing it’s not just because we office folks are soft. It’s chronic and when we spend hours day after day doing the same repetitive actions, the injuries are real.

A Habit or An Addiction?

I’ve read lots of other writers advocate the importance of writing regularly, if not every day. They talk about the importance of finding a writing routine so you can make it a habit.

I was fully on board with this mindset — hence, why I so eagerly threw myself into a 30-day writing challenge without any upfront preparation other than a “Let’s do this!” thought to myself.

But now, I find myself feeling antsy when I don’t have something in the hopper waiting for an editor’s review. I feel this sense of urgency like an unwelcomed house guest that I can’t get to leave.

Once I have a draft or two submitted, I can feel those unsettled feelings begin to fade. When I have a handful of drafts waiting to be published, I feel satisfied and sated.

I can’t help but connect these feelings to that of an addiction rather than a habit.

Will There Be a Month 3?

Maybe — I haven’t decided yet.

I’ve accomplished a lot more than I thought I could achieve when I first set out writing, and it’s not something that I’m ready to set aside yet. To stop now feels like quitting before I’ve given it my all.

Maybe it’s my background as a classically trained competition pianist coming to the forefront.

You practice every day even when you don’t feel like it or want to. You continue honing your skills and you push through the grind. Winning the competition is a bonus but the real objective is knowing that you did the best you could and you gave it your all.

I’m not finished giving it my all yet, so I take it back. There will be a Month 3. See y’all in 30 days!

Selections from the writing prompts:

Top 3 performers:

Top 3 underdogs: