Reflections on Writing in May
All writers should take time out to reflect on their writing from time to time. It recharges the writing batteries and helps writers understand why they are writing.
We all have things in our lives that annoy us and it seems that currently Triond is annoying many online writers. Like others on this site, I struggled to come to terms with what the whole challenge was about. I’d returned from holiday excited, believing my writing soul had been refreshed. I was eager to get back to my computer and tap away, producing words that turned into sentences, sentences that turned into paragraphs and paragraphs that turned into articles.
That enthusiasm quickly ran dry. I was seeing articles of questionable quality making it onto the new challenge list. I was seeing occasional articles from excellent prolific writers and I was failing to see any work of some very talented people make an appearance at all. And I started worrying about it, to the extent that I lost all interest in writing. Now, having written on a daily basis in one way or another for many years, I wondered if my time had come. Was this the end of the road? I decided to take time out and reflect on what I really wanted from my writing and what I wanted in particular from Triond.
After a week away from the key board, I came back refreshed today. I also had some much clearer ideas of what I wanted to write and why. By coincidence one of the first articles I read on return was Jimmy Shilaho’s article on doing a SWOT analysis and know now this is what I need to do. I also read Jimmy’s article on his thoughts about the May Triond Challenge, and felt better that I was not the only person feeling a little disappointed in what constituted quality.
I am getting closer to returning to understanding why I write after my week’s absence, as well as where I want to focus my energy. I had strayed away from my major project, that being the 1950s memoir I hope to complete by the beginning of 2013. I had strayed away from the education and parenting articles I write for another site. I had stopped writing in my daily journal. In other words I was drifting aimlessly, not being true to my writing self.
Today I began writing again and it felt good. I first wrote a parenting article, my first for some time. Then I logged on to Triond and remembered why I’m here. Like others I get disillusioned from time to time and wish things were more the way I’d like them. But, it’s no use worrying about things you can’t change. I realise I’ve spent a lot of energy over the last couple of weeks worrying about something I can’t change. I’d have been far better off thinking about my reasons for writing and just getting on with it.
In the last day or two I’ve resumed daily journal writing, exploring thoughts and feelings on many things. This has been useful for me to reaffirm my interest in writing and recharging my writing batteries. I am pleased to be sitting here with a smile on my face, knowing I am still a writer.
I had a boss once who allowed me to try new ideas, even when he was afraid I may hang myself in the process. But, he stood by me and supported me, and do you know what, because of that I always got there in the end.
So, to all my fellow writers on Triond. May has not turned out the way we would have liked it to. But that has not made any of us lesser writers. We know there are many writers who write quality material here and we need to continue supporting them. Hopefully Triond is reflecting on the new idea it had. Hopefully it has not lost too many supporters in the process. And, guess what, a new month will be here soon. Let’s all just get on with writing.
Liked it
Tags: challenge, reflection, triond, Writing
Click the icon to the left to subscribe to Writinghood with your favorite RSS reader.
- The Do's and Don'ts of College Essay Writing
- Attract The Audience You Want
- Why We Should Wish for The Way Things Were
- How Many Posts Do You Write Each Day
- 5 Ways for College Students to Improve Their Writing Skills
- College Application Essay Do's and Don'ts
- Love of Oneself
- Freelance Writing (Making $)
- Writing is Healthy
- Truth is That Each Time You Rewrite Article You Increase Your Online Presence
May 30th, 2011 at 3:10 am
Hi Val, I must have missed the May challenge? know nothing about it but I was in hospital for 8 days again! burst stomach ulcer this time! Yes Triond has gone very much down hill in my lowley opinion. Google putting content farms at the bottom of their lists has not helped the situation. Many good qyality writers are writing sensastionistic articles as ” Bin Laden lives” just to get hits! not for me I write on the same subjects as always. My hits have halved since April 250 a day to 100 a day since Google spat the dummy out. I write on Triond now for practise pure and simple and for my friends like you Val. I need to re-send my work to publishers once more and try the old fashioned getting published in print route, its a dream but a good one. Keep writing Val there are a few of us here left that really do try to turn out quality work. LB
May 30th, 2011 at 7:01 am
I’m totally confused with this May challenge and did not bother to understand what’s going on. Let’s hope 2 days later Triond offer writers something more simple and easier.
Hope nobody complain anymore about quality, quality, quality…
May 30th, 2011 at 7:23 am
I saw the challenge. I thought, “Oh, goody!” Then promptly became immersed in my usual May round of completing the school year. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the greatest benefit of Triond is its role as a writer support group. The pay is insufficient to do anything but whet your appetite for more. The comments, friends and opportunity to practice writing are pure gold.
May 30th, 2011 at 8:40 am
Good to see you back Val, I am currently waiting for may to be over and done with so that the dashboard can be less crowded than it is at the moment.
May 30th, 2011 at 9:59 am
I chose not to participate in the May challenge. As a poet I know I would not get views that last 10 minutes. Some of the work was really good. But some were disapointing. I support all the writers as much as I can. I love the stories that interest me. A poet does not get the traffic the writers do and the writers hardly ever comment on the poems. Why is that? I know they say that the poets are not writers but, isn’t it the same concept. A poem is a story with a twist. Most people don’t get that. Why? Because they don’t take the time to try to understand. Thanks
May 30th, 2011 at 10:29 am
It is more to do with business than with passion. The payment is not for quality but the quantity of attraction, at times. I would nto say all that made to that list is pathetic or awesome. There is a mix! Welcome back Val!
May 30th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
I am one of those who did not quite understand what the May challenge was really all about. Hopefully things will be more clear next month.
May 30th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
While Triond’s challenges are sometimes fun and a great way to encourage more content I also felt that they missed the mark on this challenge and said so. Not many if any of the quality writers I know made this list so I just quit looking. I am glad you didn’t let the challenge and the small stuff stiffle you for long you are someone whose work I look forward to reading.
May 30th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
I am just waiting for May to be over, Val.
May 30th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
I have to agree this one I really didn’t understand, so I did what I always do, just write what I want when I can.
May 31st, 2011 at 1:03 am
I too am a bit confused abt May challenge and didn’t worry much about it.
May 31st, 2011 at 2:39 am
Nice to hear that you will continue on your writing career, Hinestly, I too was disappointed with the turn of events this May. Good to see new qualified writer on the list but there are those very poor ones, even having wrong spellings on the title that made the grade. This disillusioned me for a while, but what the heck, I’m here to pass on some good quality articles which my fellow writers are following.
May 31st, 2011 at 8:43 am
Good idea, I’m planning to get on with my writing as soon as I finish reading my friends’ articles