I started this blog to share our fun adventures, found my creative voice along the way, put in a lot of hours “treating our blog like a business” and found that I have taken myself way to seriously way too often.
The truth is, although we would love to, we don’t go on adventures all of the time so I can’t make every post about our adventures. I aim to make our blog informative but always informing doesn’t give me a lot of room to write about regular, daily stuff that goes on in our lives. I do take our blog seriously but, like most businesses, I sometimes struggle to emotionally connect with our audience.
Recently, through my small business coach, I learned about a blogging challenge called “30 Days if Imperfection”. It’s about writing every day for 30 days without the attachment of getting it right “in hopes of allowing you to find your own voice and connect with your right people in a deeper, more connected way”.
Ok…so the challenge was really started for soloprenuers and “real writers” – both categories of which I think I only loosely fit into. It was also started 4 days ago so I am late to the party. But like I said, we (and I) am imperfect. I like this idea so much that I am going to bend the “rules” to make it work for us….again, letting go of the need to be perfect.
I am deciding to give myself a holiday vacation of sorts. For the next 30 days I am going to write a blog post every day and not worry about “being perfect”. I will share adventures where we have them and share the everyday stuff when we don’t. I will talk about being active and health stuff when the mood strikes and maybe just about the funny way Gretel is sleeping on the couch when it doesn’t. Some days I might just share a picture.
So my “vacation” is from writing with a goal in mind every day. It’s from always needing to have something profound to say (not that I have accomplished that anyway). It’s from always needing to do my best work. It’s from putting expectations on myself, my writing and our blog.
We will always stay true to our roots but this challenge may allow us to branch out a little more. Thanks for joining us on this adventure by coming back to read our post every day.
If you are a pet blog writer and you would like to join us in the challenge, just start off with a post on your blog telling the world why this challenge matters to you and provide a link to this post. Leave a comment here letting us know you are taking the challenge too and we will be sure to follow you along your journey.
Lore says
Sounds like a good idea! The picture on this post is awesome! Two of my favorite things in the world….Dachshunds and the mountains!
Dachshund Nola and Her Mom says
Sounds like a fun challenge! Good luck 🙂
Amanda
Gizmo (@GizmoGeodog) says
I am so tempted to commit to the challenge…I know it would be good for me to write every day…but then the nagging thought says “you’ll never do it…you know you’ll miss a couple of days here and there and then you’ll feel like a failure”…but the other voice says “failing is part of being imperfect, so maybe it’s OK to do your best and if you miss a day or so, so be it” So I won’t commit right now, tonight…but i’m saving this post and will think about it overnight…and if the “good” voice wins out I’ll be back tomorrow
AdventureJess says
Well, part of being imperfect is not writing every day even if you said you would 🙂
Beth & 4Doxies says
Good luck and enjoy your writing! We’ll enjoy reading!
Roxy the traveling dog says
That seems like a great idea. I think too many bloggers want to be perfect all the time, and I also think that’s unrealistic.
And I love that picture.
AdventureJess says
Finding myself more and more crunched for time I am trying to loosen up a little so I don’t spend so much time on one aspect of my blog or kick myself for not doing something 🙂
Julie says
I love this idea, and I’d love to commit – I have been in a funk and haven’t been writing at all. It’s frustrating 🙁 Somewhere along the way I lost my mojo 🙂 Looking forward to reading your posts!!
AdventureJess says
Well, I am hoping that this challenge help me to get some more mojo 🙂
Melissa says
I think this is a great idea, and I look forward to having a daily dose! I am not a fellow blogger, just a fellow adventurous small dog owner who stumbled upon your blog (I don’t even remember how) and who enjoys hearing your stories and advice…but mostly just your stories. They don’t all have to be adventures, they don’t all have to tell me something new that I didn’t already know; the number one reason I read your blog because I like your style and your dogs have pizazz. 🙂 So enjoy your holiday, and I’m sure your readers will enjoy it too!
AdventureJess says
Thanks so much for your comment Melissa! I remember when I sent you and Leeloo that backpack and still think of you guys often. I appreciate that it is US and our stories that bring you back again and again – our uniqueness 🙂 It helps take some of the pressure off that I don’t always have to be so serious about my posts. That is something I struggle with because I find I am naturally low on humor and high on technical information. I am hoping this challenge will be a practice in not taking myself and the blog so seriously.
Kristine says
Good for you! I like to think I do this with every post I write. ;-P
I’ve been participating in NaBloPoMo again this November and it’s been tough slogging so I don’t know if I am up for another 30 days on top of that. The ideas just aren’t coming like they used to and I find myself struggling to get something, anything, up at 11:30 each night. However, I do think writing for writing’s sake is good practice and I will be cheering you on even if I don’t participate!
AdventureJess says
Yeah, that is a lot. I think I am going to be lucky to lat the the whole 30 days – especially since it is during the holiday season.
Robert says
Looking forward to reading your posts daily now. Forget about that perfection stuff and just let it go!
AdventureJess says
Thanks Robert. I look forward to hearing what you think about my “new style”.
Molly The Wally says
Just go with the flow and enjoy. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Best wishes Molly
Spoiled Doxie says
Like the wise oatmeal guy once said, “if you don’t have anything to write about, don’t write!” (http://theoatmeal.com/comics/making_things). That’s why we only do 2-3 posts a week. Only when there is something worth writing about. You’ll do great!
De Cunningham @skye613 says
One thing I am trying to learn from my dogs is to live in the moment. That’s one way to lighten up and just enjoy. But also much easier said than done. Looking forward to the next 29 days. Mini herd says WooF!
snoopy@snoopysdogblog says
Hi Jessica,
Wow, 30 days in a row, not sure we could manage that…. good luck and I look forward to your posts 🙂
I hope you’re having a fun day,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
Dalton says
Hee hee I look forward to reading them, I fink everyone is a little imperfect and that’s what makes us all so great!
Kolchak & Jodi says
Jessica – I love this post! We are if anything over at Kol’s Notes imperfect, but there’s a certain freedom in knowing that you can be silly and goofy and fun *and still professional*. I can’t wait to see what you keep sharing (and I’m going to check out this whole 30 days of imperfection thing!)
Roberta says
I followed your link to Jac’s page – wow, she is very interesting and I wish I could afford a consultation. However, I did find her idea about a winter sabbatical which, for me, sounds just right; I’m having major surgery this month and, instead of feeling bad about not posting as well as I would like, taking time off and away may be the ticket while I focus on getting well and back to work. Thanks for the link, thanks for the idea of 30 days of imperfection (to be started later) and thanks for your wonderful posts.
AdventureJess says
I think major surgery qualifies as a VERY justified reason for taking some time off. I took a break for a little over a month this summer for my wedding and honeymoon. When I started writing again all of my loyal readers came back. Things did not fall apart! Ha, ha. Time goes so fast for people these days, especially around the holidays. While you are counting the days you don’t write a month seems like a quick blip for everyone else. If you DO start the 30 day challenge after I will be interested to see where you go with it.
Gizmo (@GizmoGeodog) says
After a lot of thought (perhaps too much) I’m going for it…Starting today, December 1st, I commit to writing and publishing every day for the month of December…Good luck to you on your challenge…I think I’m going to learn a lot on mine
AdventureJess says
Good for you! Glad to have you join us 🙂