NaBloPoMo

November is the big month for writers to take part in the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) challenge. I tried NaNo a number of times and on the (few) years I made it past the what-to-write-about-idea stage, I lasted for a day. I tried it again last year because I sort of liked the idea I came up with and I liked the person who coordinated a NaNo team that I joined and last year, armed with an idea and a team, I made it to four days.

<insert uncomfortable applause here>

It’s not an easy task to write 1,666 words every day for 30 consecutive days. Especially a short month like November that has two holidays. Like why not have it in April when people are doing nothing but watching the showers that lead to May’s flowers? Or even in the summer when the days are long and people have nothing better to do than sit by a pool or in a hammock. I guess writing in a hammock would be difficult, maybe impossible, but a lawn chair or beach blanket would certainly be doable.

Anyway, in 2011 I discovered an alternative to NaNoWriMo and it was NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). I liked that challenge because the level of commitment and determination to making writing a daily habit was there, but without the pressure to write 1,666 words every lousy day. I don’t know if NaBloPoMo exists in any official capacity any longer. I know the host site that I knew back then (Blogher) left and then came back, but they don’t appear to have any mention of NaBloPoMo. As a matter of fact, no one does. It’s almost spooky.

It’s almost like… it never was.

But it’s ok because I wasn’t that happy with Blogher anyway.

I decided to try NaBlo again this year and who cares if there’s no host site to connect to, I’ll just go it alone. That’s right, I’m making the commitment. I’m putting pen to paper. I’m resolute in my resolve. I’m vowing. Pledging. Promising. I’m like the guy in the Eagles’ song Desperado (but only when Linda Ronstadt is singing it). I’m sure there’s a profound quote about there somewhere about being along or working alone or thinking alone, but I’m not going to take the time to look for it, so I’ll just make one up.

“Being alone is being. Only alone, while being. At the same time.“

“Pledging” sounds like someone who is dusting furniture.

So much for day two. I think I’ll start ending these posts with a hashtag in case there are any other lone NaBloPoMo mavericks out there. If you’re one of them please let me know so I can stop by and read you. And if you’re reading this and thinking that you’d like to try NaBloPoMo it’s not too late. Do it! Please? I don’t want to be here all alone!

#NaBloPoMo