Needing reader suggestions: to blog or not to blog(athon)?
written by Julie R. Neidlinger 4 comments link this post
Well, Eric gently reminded me via email about the Blogathon. It's not as if I had forgotten but I had been kind of purposefully forgetting.
Don't get me wrong - I love the Blogathon and the entire concept of it. And I do enjoy doing it most of the time, except between 2 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. I've done it the past two times it's been held. My problem is that I am like Scott Adams' "Topper" character in Dilbert, except I am my own Topper. I just gotta top what I did before, I just gotta do something creative and unusual that no one else is. Being competitive like this, on a creative level, is very draining. I am fully aware I'm missing the point.
Last year was a success, with a good bit of money going to Angel Tree, my chosen charity. Blogathon 2005 even spawned Bob. I turned my Blogathon entries into a book and the rest is history. I even won a reader's choice award from Blogathon. But last year's Blogathon was incredibly stressful and tiring and even though I know the point of the Blogathon is for charity I still feel like I simply must give my readers something really cool and have something awesome for the people who sponsor me. I mean, sure, I could post something like "hi" for every blog post. But that would be wrong. And anyway, I'm kind of late getting into the game and therefore am not going to be able to raise a ton of money for my charity, which is my own dawdling fault.
So.
Should I do the Blogathon or not? If I do, I think I want to pick a more regional charity than something so national. The kicker for the Blogathon is that they have to be able to take online donations and the local charities I'm aware of most don't seem to do that. However, I am considering this one, out of Bismarck.
And, what should I do if I decide to participate? I do want your opinion. I want it to be something worth coming back for a visit to. And in that vein...I made a poll. Do you want me to do something with Bob again, like last year except not like last year because I don't do repeats? Or maybe just pure writing, such as a fiction story, that builds across the 24 hours? I could also share writing prompt cards which are handmade playing cards I need to make for a writing board game I've been working on since the beginning of time. Or something else. Thoughts?
And one last thing: is anyone out there willing to sponsor me at such a late date? The Blogathon is July 29, with registration closing on the 21st. Let me hear from you.
UPDATE: OK, I just got an email from someone saying they'd sponsor me, which will bring me very near the minimum pledge amount needed to even participate. I confess to being most concerned that I started too late and won't get many sponsors. So, it's official; I'm going to participate. I'm going to need sponsors, so consider sponsoring me! (Thanks for the kick in the pants, Eric. It was necessary.) I'm looking forward to the event, but still consider the poll above for ideas.
| tag: blogathon |
Labels: blogathon
Copyright (c) Julie R. Neidlinger 7/10/2006 08:19:00 PM
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4 Comments:
I am fully aware I'm missing the point.
Heh. ;-)
I think you should do whatever interests you, without causing undue stress...I'm not sure exactly what the writing prompt cards are, but from the sounds of 'em, I think this would be a good way to be spontaneous and offer up plenty of variety for your readers (and perhaps yourself).
Yes, go for it (easier said than done, I realize). :-)
By 
Gwynne, at
10/7/06 22:08
I'm in (I will never kick pants without subjecting myself to pants kicking as well).
You already know my answer as to what you should do, but I'll say it again: pick something fun and as stress-free as you're willing to make it. Really. Your readers don't want a lot of stress either. ;-)
By Eric, at
11/7/06 08:51
I'm with Eric and Gwynne. Low stress.
Maybe you could post pictures of miscellaneous stuff lying around your house, and environs, and give a brief history of those objects.
By Jim, at
11/7/06 10:32
I like BOB!
By 
, at
14/7/06 13:27
