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Today is day 30 and this is my 30th article published on StreetArticles!
I am so happy to have completed this journey, and I am very pleased with all I have accomplished. I have learned a ton. As others have said who have been on this adventure, it becomes an obsession but what a delightful way to spend my free time.
My first article I wrote on StreetArticles took me two days to write. I wanted the article to be perfect and so I wrote it and rewrote it and rewrote it. Since I was still learning, it took me many hours of research just to find a website with photos that I could use for my articles.
I wrote one or two more articles before joining 30 in 30 and I got to the point where it took 2-3 hours for me to write an article. I thought this was a tremendous improvement!
Enter the 30 in 30 challenge. I joined the challenge because I wanted to become more proficient at writing. I also wanted to learn how to identify with my audience, create a following, and fulfill the needs of those who follow me.
There were times during the 30 in 30 challenge where I was pushed outside my comfort zone. I was a little nervous, but as I wrote and read more articles by some of the other fantastic writers here on StreetArticles, I realized that this was exactly what I needed.
Through this process, I learned how to express myself more clearly. I used to write a paragraph, stop, reread it, edit it and then figure out where I should go with the next paragraph.
Now, I sit down for about 5 minutes before I start an article and figure out what the main points of my article are and then I write. I write in continuous thought now and only stop to reread if I've gotten interrupted along the way (which with two little ones in the house happens from time to time).
If I'm writing an article that required some research, it used to take me an hour or two of reading and note taking before I could start writing.
Today, I will spend about thirty minutes skimming related expert pieces before I write. Then I start. Once I hit a spot where I need a statistic or quote from a reputable source, then I search the internet for what I need and move on. My research articles went from 3 hours to write to 1 hour by learning through the 30 in 30 how to research while you write.
Last night (Day 29), I submitted 4 articles in 2 hours! Each article took about 15 or 20 minutes to write, the rest of the time was spent finding the pictures to go with them.
I went from taking 2-3 hours to write an article to 15-20 minutes to write an article all in 30 days!
I have to say I have learned a ton, both about writing, social media, and my tribe. I find it amazing that there are people literally from all over the world in my tribe. StreetArticles is a fantastic media for sharing ideas world wide and I have learned so much from them.
This experience has been a blessing. I look forward to many more articles here, both reading them and writing them. And a note to Kyle and Carson - is there a phase 2 to 30 in 30? What is our next challenge?
I'm just starting the 30 in 30 so thanks for the encouragement! It takes me a while to write as well so I'm already a little behind. But I figure I'll get fast enough by the end so I can write more than one a day and make up for lost time.
That's awesome Tallulah! You will get faster the more you write. Although that does depend on how many facts you need in the article and how much prep work you do before you start on those higher research articles. The timed article requirements in the 30 in 30 really are crucial to getting faster, so make sure you do them. I know I was tempted to skip the first one, but did it and it was a great learning experience. Good luck and I look forward to reading your work!
I'm in day 27, with 27 articles behind me. The challenge is a really motivating experience! :)
Great article thanks. I am right at the beginning at the moment and the thought of writing so many articles is very daunting! My main worry is being tied up at work and not having the time to produce the amount of articles needed. Your article is very encouraging and I hope I have the courage to just get on with it and give it my best.
It is very great inspiration article, I am also planning like you to write 4 -5 article per day and than I will get the speed of writing the article and follow of it.. as writing content in street article is really a worth while..thanks for sharing it..
That's great. I know exactly what you mean about getting better at this process. I have only written about 5 articles but it really does get easier once you get into the swing of things!
Dear AJ , An excellent article outlining your journey on your 30 days challenge, and the growth in your writing developement. Keep up the good work.
Hi AJ I know you wrote this almost a month ago but I've only just read it. Some really helpful information here and very well written. There's just as much to learn from all the comments as there is in your article!
Hi AJ, no not yet, it's something I'd like to try though when I have a little more time. Actually it's the research part that seems to take up most of the time for me, the article writing itself I can do fairly quickly.. You said that you search the internet as you go along and this seems to work better for you, do you not find that this interrupts your train of thought or is this something you would recommend doing. Thanks Penny
Great question, Penny. At first, I thought it would interrupt my train of thought. What I found is it depends on what I'm searching for. If I need a definition of a term or a quote, it doesn't interrupt me as I can find what I need pretty quick and get back into writing. But, if the topic is not my expertise and I need to research to understand more about what I'm writing, then I do get derailed. But, as with everything, practice makes perfect. The more I write, the better I get. Good luck, I hope you try the 30 in 30. It's time consuming but very educational.
Hi AJ, thank you for the tips, I'll try to research as I'm going along next time and see if this makes a difference. I still can't get over your 4 articles in 2 hours, that's some achievement, well done! Penny
What a great achievement! I started my own challenge, but didn't make the 30 in 30. Only 12 in 30 :( So I started again. I am going the repeat the process each month until I get there and then double it. Who knows maybe a year from now I can even triple it 90 in 30?? What do you think for your next challenge...60 in 30? Congrats and keep going ;)
Thanks, Merrily Kelley! 30 in 30 takes a lot of discipline and it can be hard to keep life at bay to complete the challenge. I was lucky to have a supportive husband who took the kids out of the house when I was behind so I can achieve my goals. Since the challenge, I have added more articles, but not at the pace I was. Once my garden is on it's own, I hope to do the 30 in 30 again! There was so much information provided daily to learn from that I think I could benefit from a second round! Good luck in your next 30 in 30, Merrily Kelley. I look forward to reading your journey!
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