What’s all this about?
The Pre-Writing challenge has invaded my blogosphere. Both Eleanor from Give a Brick and Ralph have already taken up the challenge. What can I say? It looks like a lot of fun, so naturally I had to take part too.
However, I’m going to do it slightly differently (just to be awkward really). As you know, I post four times a week; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Most of these can be written ahead of time and scheduled, however Monday posts are very much about what I’ve been thinking that week and how I can relate it to something useful for everyone else. Also I’m in the middle of writing an ebook that I’m already running a little late on, and I have a couple of guest posts due that I’m still writing.
Therefore, instead of creating a blanket ‘I’ll have x amount of weeks prewritten by x date’ I’m going to add some conditions. Mostly for my sanity. If anyone wants to take a similar adaptation feel free, though I’d suggest you check out the main post on Carlos’ blog first.
My rules:
- All challenge stuff to be completed by the April Holidays (end of).
- Tuesday posts are exempt from pre-writing.
- The rest of the posts will have three weeks pre-written by April.
- Three guest posts will be finished and submitted by the third week in March.
- My ebook will be finished and formatted by the end of the challenge.
- Draft Titles will be posted on a separate page along with their level of completion and date finished (to keep me on track). Comments will be allowed on that page.
I think that’s pretty much all I needed to say today; we’ll be back with our regularly scheduled posts tomorrow. Best of luck to everyone else taking part in the challenge!
Also if there’s anything you really want to see a post/tutorial/review about then let me know in the comments below. Thanks, and take care everyone!
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[...] had a recent visitor who has taken on the challenge, but within her own parameters. Heather at Shades of a Dream wrote about it recently and has some cool plans. Go stop by and say hi, and give her a bit of [...]
Hey, just checking in. How’s the pre-writing going? I hope to publish this week’s update tomorrow, and I hope to add your status update into it. I may end up posting it Sunday, because I am waiting to hear back about a little surprise I want to include in the post.
Also, if you want to connect to the other challenge participants, you can go to the Pre-Writing Challenge Forum or the Twitter list.
Carlos Velez´s last blog ..Conscious Me vs. TheInfoPreneur: The $10 Prize
Ooops, for some reason you got flagged as spam Carlos, just had to approve you! Sorry about that.
So far I have ideas for about 15 posts written up with a quick synopsis; was planning to write a couple properly today but the week’s just been hectic! You could say I’m in the planning stage, deciding which of my short posts I’m going to take and develop further. If you’re posting Sunday I could email you once I’ve done today’s work?
Also that surprise sounds very promising… can’t wait to hear.
I’ll have to check in on the forum, should be fun meeting everyone else.
How’s your own challenge going?
I have been behind on a lot of things this week, but on Friday I updated my personal challenge page and found that I’m actually doing quite well in the challenge. I’ve kept up normal posting and written the right amount of drafts, though they still need polishing and prep before publishing. I also wrote 2 posts that I will use as guest posts as well, so I’m pretty satisfied.
This weekend I’m catching up on my newsletter and a few other things.
I have plans for an ebook about the challenge. I’ll email you the details in case you’d like to contribute.
Carlos Velez´s last blog ..Pre-Writing Challenge Updates: Week 2 + Darren Rowse Message To Challenge Participants
Well done
I think I had the same issue, I thought I was really behind but now that I’ve updated by page I’m a lot further ahead than I thought. Should really take off next week though now that I’ve less in the way of other pressures too. Btw, as I said on your blog, seeing Darren there to offer encouragement was excellent; kudos for calling it to his attention!
An ebook would be really interesting; by all means send it along and I’ll see if there’s any way I could contribute (in a meaningful way of course). Quick note though, if you email me using my contact form and don’t hear back by (at the latest) the next day it means I haven’t received it so just give me a shout if that happens. Thanks Carlos, and good luck with your next week.
Hi Heather,
I’ve been hidden away for the last couple of days in school so this is the first opportunity I’ve had. Even now, I’m sending this via my phone so depending upon how savage your spam filter is, I may end up in the trash!
Just a quickie to welcome you to the challenge
Anyway, glad to have you on board. It’s always good to see a friendly face
El
Eleanor Edwards´s last blog ..Legislation for a weapon? You can help!
Hey El!
Thanks for stopping by, especially taking the time to do so on your phone! Feel really honoured now.
Nice to see you, and I’m really looking forward to cheering you and the others on in this challenge.
Hope you have a great day, and good luck
First time to comment here… First, I want to say Hi! Secondly, goodluck for the challenge. Carlos is really a brilliant guy that even myself was convinced to join the challenge!
Cebu Tech Blogger´s last blog ..SSS Text Service from Social Security System
Welcome Cebu! Nice to meet you
Good luck in your challenge as well.
Wow! I must say it’s a strange feeling seeing my name thrown around so much in these comments. It looks like you’ve got a cool community of readers here.
Thanks for the link and for doing the challenge! I suggest downloading WriteRoom if you’re a Mac user or DarkRoom if you’re a PC. They have been helpful, distraction-free-writing tools. DarkRoom is free, WriteRoom has a free 30-day trial.
If you send me a short status update by Friday, I’d be happy to note your progress and link to your Challenge Page in the weekly Challenge Update. I’ll make a note of your unofficial participation and hopefully send some traffic your way.
The next update will publish on Saturday (unless I fail utterly).
Carlos Velez´s last blog ..Pre-Writing Challenge Update: Week 1
Tch, you’re not allowed to say ‘unless I fail utterly’
But ok, I’ll send along a quick update around then. 
Thank you!
Also it was a great idea, must be doing wonders for your blog too. Best of luck with your own challenge Carlos, I’m sure we’ll get there though.
Thanks for the tip about DarkRoom, I’ll try that once I get home from college.
I’m sure that it will be a fantastic motivator, especially since all of us are backing you up, Heather
Good luck!
Karen
Karen´s last blog ..Garbage In = Garbage Out: Why You Need To Control What You Allow Into Your Life
Yep, NOW it’s daunting lol.
Nice to have the support though, thanks Karen!
Good luck to everyone taking part!
Maria´s last blog ..Social Networks Have No Backbone
Thanks Maria
Hmm I will have to check this out.
Ryan Hanzel´s last blog ..Still here
Let me know if you decide to take part Ryan!
Good luck with the challenge! For me, I find it difficult to pre-write posts – find it easier (although I have no idea why) writing them 5-10 minutes before I publish them. That’s probably the reason I have so few guest posts out.
Jason @ Make Money At Home´s last blog ..How I Plan To Take This Blog To 10,000 Subscribers
Hey Jason, welcome
Seems to be a few people that prefer writing them right before publishing… to a point I do as well, but for most of them it’s better for me to have them done ahead of time (because they take longer. Talking about tutorials, reviews, and the webcomic here).
Still think it can’t hurt though.
That said, I struggle with getting guest posts done as well… can definitely relate (that’s why they’re in the rules)
Sounds interesting. Waiting for more information from you.
Eric´s last blog ..Build Your Blog With Fire In Mind
What sort of information are you looking for Eric?
Well, this is the first time I heard of the pre-writing challenge. I think I need to go figure out what’s going on here, and come back to you! (Sounds like a lot of fun, though!)
Only heard of it in the last day or so myself Christine! Let me know if you decide to join too though.
Good for you Heather, really good way to go and get it
TheInfoPreneur´s last blog ..Interview For EscapingThe9to5.com
Thanks James, appreciated
Heather,
Welcome aboard. I am afraid that I may have bent Carlos’ rules because I didn’t actually read the details. I just jumped in. I think I am in close conformance by now.
Thanks Ralph! I think I just bent the rules to suit myself anyway really, since I’m doing it more unofficially… should be great though; cheering for you and El all the way!
Nice idea that, and thanks for the pointer to Carlos’s blog, hadn’t seen it before.
Go for it, good luck with it and I am sure you will nail it.
Should be interesting to watch all these blogs doing this.
Rob Sellen´s last blog ..Dump the IM bullshitters and hype if you want to make money online
Thanks Rob
Thinking of taking part?
Not at the moment, I got so much on my plate at the minute…
But will definitely be keeping my eye on how you all get on.
Rob Sellen´s last blog ..Dump the IM bullshitters and hype if you want to make money online
All right, thanks for the support
Best of luck with what you need to do.
Welcome…
Rob Sellen´s last blog ..Dump the IM bullshitters and hype if you want to make money online
Whoa… I see what you mean now. The comment on my blog was referencing this for sure. whew. I like the short term goals. Be kind to yourself. I’m going to have to take a look , quick look, as I think I checked carlos’ site about this already. Didn’t start so must have been something. I did see I think that I was late.. no? Guess you can start anytime…I don’t know, you go girl. I know you can do it.
As they say on Saturday Morns. after these messages, I’ll be right back.
Lees Shizzle´s last blog ..The Google of Oz – Topeka, Kansas Hopes to Bring in Googles Ultra Fast Internet Connection
Haha, thanks Lee
Support is definitely appreciated!
Have a look and let me know if you decide to join in (or adapt for that matter), I’m assuming you can start at any point… managed to overlook it the first few times before it (literally) invaded my RSS feed. lol. Up to you though, definitely no pressure from me.
That sounds like a challenge to me in anybody’s language. Good luck to you, I hope you achieve everything in your challenge. I’ve had a look at Carlos’ challenge, which looks very interesting is something I’m giving thought to.
Regards
Paul
Paul´s last blog ..Rocky Road
Thanks Paul
I think that taking on Carlos’ challenge is probably a good idea (though I did adapt mine); depends how much time you have to spare really. Good luck if you do decide to take it on!