Who Is Up for a Challenge?
Posted by February 3rd 10
Last week, we talked about the Creative Copy Challenge, a blog that was born to help people hurdle writer's block(s). Each post is simply a list of ten words and phrases, and your assignment is to use them all in a short story, or even just a few sentences.
Judging by the level of participation (138 comments on the latest post), it's catching on – and once you've done a few of the exercises to rev up your writing, you might starting thinking, "How can I get a project like this going to rev up my blogging?"
Call it what you want: a project, challenge, assignment – it's a great way to bring a new level of energy, participation and community to your blog.
If you saw the movie Julie and Julia, you're familiar with the story of blogger Julie Powell, who signed herself up to try all the recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking within 365 days. The self-described "government drone" with a "crappy outer borough kitchen" developed an audience and turned her blog into a book and a movie.
No, this won't happen for everyone ... but Powell did something right (in case you're interested, she has written a second book, called Cleaving, about her adventures in butchering meat).
She went on a journey, and made it so fun – and informative – that people wanted to go along with her. Is there a project or assignment that you can get yourself and others in on?
Whether it's a challenge/assignment/project to do with design, fitness, or any other topic, here are some things to think about:
- Be clear about your goals and how your audience can get involved.
- Setting a time limit for the project will add a sense of relevance and drama. If Julie Powell had said she was going to try a Julia Child recipe "every week or so", the concept would have been much less appealing.
- Make it useful: Creative Copy Challenge has found a way to bring people together with a fun, helpful exercise. What process or problem can you help others simplify?
- Be enthusiastic and honest about the process: Showing the ups and downs of your journey is what will keep people interested.
- Be visual about the project: Showing photographs or video along the way will help demonstrate your openness. In the Self magazine blog Eat Like Me, registered dietitian Christin Dillon-Jones photographs every meal she eats throughout the day, providing a nutritional breakdown as well, so that people can see how a nutritionist/working mother really eats
We all like a challenge, so figure out yours, and get other people in on it.
posted in Tips and Techniques
March 2010
