It’s the last day of November, which means it’s the last day of NaBloPoMo!
It’s always bittersweet to say goodbye to NaBloPoMo because it’s so fun writing posts every day and connecting with others who are doing the same. But I am also ready for a break from blogging every day! And I really need to catch up on blog reading.
This year, I felt like I wasn’t as structured with my editorial calendar as usual. Typically, I plan out the entire month’s worth of posts and stick to the schedule I’ve created. And I did that but then I kind of… didn’t follow my plan. Sometimes, it was because I had a busy day and didn’t have enough time to write the blog post I had planned. Sometimes, I felt the need to write something else (like, “We’re Supposed to Be Upset.”)
I didn’t keep up with blog reading like I had hoped. I’m still a few days behind on my feed and I know I won’t get to everyone’s posts before I leave for my cruise on Monday. It’s hard to balance it all – the blog reading, the blog writing, the commenting… alongside my other hobbies and work and life happenings. I tried my best, but sometimes I just wanted to veg on the couch after a long day of sitting at my desk working. It’s hard to get myself motivated to sit at my personal laptop at the end of a workday and read blogs.
I was apprehensive about tackling NaBloPoMo again because it’s a lot of work, but I’m really glad I did. I think it’s a good exercise for me that not every blog post I write needs to be long and perfect. Sometimes I can write something short and sweet and that’s fine. It may even get more engagement than my longer posts!
I’ll probably do the same thing next year – hem and haw, and ultimately, do it again. And it’s about more than the challenge of writing 30 blog posts in 30 days. It’s also about community and finding new voices in our personal blogging space, people I’ll continue to follow and who made this experience that much sweeter.
So, that’s a wrap on NaBloPoMo 2024. The blog will be dormant next week while I’m on my birthday cruise, but I’ll be back on December 9th with a trip recap!
I hope you have a wonderful time on your cruise.
About a week ago I was like: “I’m not doing NaBloPoMo again next year” – not because I don’t like it but because it really is a lot!!! And now I’m more like “Hmmmm. I think I want to do NaBloPoMo again next year.
I suppose I can decide in a few months, but I am already mulling this over!
Have fun on your cruise! It has been fun following along with you again for NBPM this year! I can’t wait to hear your recap. I think that the posting is not hard, but the commenting and replying to comments does get a little overwhelming and I think that I had to focus on the relationships that were working well and not worry as much about ones that felt like more work, if that makes sense. For example, I did not want to ignore Lisa, who was not posting every day, just because I was keeping up with 15 new people who I had no track record with. So I prioritized a little in order to stay sane!
I am so glad to have met you via NaBloPoMo Stephany! I dropped the ball just yesterday missing one post, and just realized with your post that we are at the end of November today. I so enjoy your blog, and like you I feel like I have not done enough visiting all the blogs I discovered.
Have a wonderful break and lovely. birthday cruise! I will look forward to your next posts whenever they land 🙂
Have the best time on your cruise! And congrats on another successful NaBloPoMo!!
Congrats! I know NaBloPoMo is a big commitment and you did it with style. I admire anyone who can stick with it.
Congrats on NaBloPo! Yes it’s a lot of work, and I’m so glad that you did it.
Enjoy your cruise and we’ll see you on the other side!
Have fun on your cruise! I can’t wait to hear all about it!!! And… I’m glad you did NaBloPoMo this year and I hope you continue to do it for many more years.
Wooo! Congratulations on completing NaBloPoMo! That is huge, and I applaud you! I hope you have a wonderful time on your cruise!
Congratulations on “winning” National blog posting month, ie. SUCCEEDING!
I will look forward to reading about the cruise adventures next.
Merry December!
I think it’s normal to feel a little “burned out” at the end of NaBloPoMo… I was behind on reading the whole time but I think I am catching up today 🙂 I didn’t read and comment on every single post but I tried to get through as many posts as possible… however, it should be fun and not a chore, so if you end up skipping some posts, so be it. I think you’re right – it’s about the practice of writing and just finding new voices!
Have a great break and a fun time on your cruise!
Congratulations on completing the month’s challenge! I admire that so much! It takes a lot of dedication, but so cool. Have a great cruise!
You took the words out of my mouth. I could write daily but getting to everyone else’s posts was a challenge. I don’t think it’s ever expected to leave comments for everybody, people just do what they can. I’m glad to finish NaBloPoMo as well and will be taking a break next week, too.
Happy cruising!!!!!
Have fun on your cruise, Stephany! I look forward to hearing all about it when you’re back.
Have a wonderful birthday cruise and enjoy your time.
I’ll be looking forward to your recap posts.
NaBloPoMo was fun again. I loved your blog posts and I am amazed, that you plan the entire month before hand – always – and then stick to it. I usually only have a rough idea of posts that are reoccurring and everything else happens when it happens. No structure here other than that.
I also love NaBloPoMo for the connection a community. It is such an integral part of the whole inexperience.