My Write52 year
In July 2019, a few posts on Twitter had caught my attention. #Write52 had just started so I decided to take the plunge and join in.
What is Write52?
Write52 is an accountability pact. A challenge. A pledge.
“If you’ve ever found yourself agonising over the tiniest bits of copy on your website, lost for words when writing a profile, or guiltily neglecting a list of potential blog topics scrawled on a napkin, then Write52 might be for you.
One post every week for a year, with a gang of talented writers backing you up and keeping you accountable.”
Simple. All you need to do is write a new blog post every week, for a whole year. Then, they’re collected each week under the #Write52 hashtag on Twitter and shared in a weekly newsletter.
Even if you don’t write, sign up to the newsletter here. It’s an incredible mix of content each week, curated and woven together by Ed Callow + guest editors. There really is something for everyone and always something to take away when you read in.
Why did I sign up?
My second post in the year dived into why I’d signed up. It’s a little bit cringe when I read back, but that’s ok. Here’s an excerpt…
“Write 52 is an opportunity to scratch that creative itch that’s niggling away; to self-prescribe a writing regimen; to explore where my words might take me in a way that’s not defined by a brief or a client. I can write about what the hell I like, as mood and inspiration take without fear of working out where these words should fit or how I should present them or under which social media sobriquet to share them.
At best, some weeks it will be straightforward. At worst, there’ll be weeks when I write utter drivel and I’m directionless or the words won’t come at all, but to coin a phrase of ol’ Henry David Thoreau, “Not until we are lost, do we begin to understand ourselves.”
I’m looking forward to getting lost along the way.”
Basically, I had a just started writing my foodish blog, I also have my work website that needs regular content, I thought I’d also like to write a bit more for me.
Did I complete the challenge?
In short, yes… and no.
I should have reached the end of my 52 last week, but this is post 50. So, I’m a bit behind. Well, life gets in the way sometimes. The remaining two will come. And then there will be more to follow as surely a regular commitment to writing like this every week doesn’t just go away.
What did I get out of it?
The first post I wrote was on by foodish blog and since then I’ve fluctuated between writing posts with my work hat on, to create relevant content for this site, and writing posts about food-ish related topics for the other one.
And of course, I’ve wandered off course, I expected that at the start. I had a brief detour into sharing posts on Medium if they didn’t fit anywhere else. I’ve since taken a few posts down. I’ve also restructured my website. So, I leave in my wake a few dead-end links and page-404-not-founds. But I have those posts still, they might be useful one day.
Looking back, for me, it’s been more than writing and creating new content.
- I created 50 (fifty!) new blog posts so far and counting
- Plus, I stepped in as guest editor for issue 23, which pushed me out of my comfort zone (let’s not speak of the dodgy illustration)
- I learnt heaps from the other Write52-ers about writing, blogging and content, but also about music, food, gaming, podcasting, photography, and more…
- I got quicker at getting my ideas down with less faffing and reworking
- And better at harnessing those ideas when inspiration stuck
- I made new connections through the Write52 community of readers and writers
- And got new clients through these connections
If you need a push to create regular content or to flex your writing skills, then sign up. Do it now!
I’ll end this with a big THANK YOU to Ed Callow! Check out the rest of the writers on Twitter #Write52
Connect with me on the socials. I share food spam @susanne_wakefield and insights about VA life @WriteCloud and a bit of both on Twitter.