ONE YEAR!!!

One year of blogs.

And as promised, dear readers, I will stop for seven days beginning tomorrow.

After seven days I will either post amended rules for the blog and/or retreat for seven more days, before coming all the way back to the page.

What began as an impromptu creative attempt at motivating myself to practice writing everyday has led to (at its peak) forty readers a day, a few published narratives, some new contacts, and almost 400 pages single-spaced of new creative material. I was even dubbed “e-woman” by a local regional publication for the blog – a label that I find occasionally flattering and always humorous, given the fact that I’m on dial-up and pee in a bucket. But really, this has all led to much more than I expected – and what can I say?

I can say this: I have finally begun to understand the notion of practice for a writer. I have dug my heels into the notion of an audience – that’s you – and seen how important, inspiring, and encouraging that can be. I have discovered inspiring threads in my life that I want to write essays about: my former students, healing and Chinese medicine, friendship, my physical surroundings, matters of the heart, to name a few.

To recap, the structure was thus: 250-1,000 words per night every night no matter what, post first drafts only, never blog about blogging, and be honest.

Suggestions for new rules, new topics, new themes, new anythings will be highly appreciated! Post comments or email. What worked? What didn’t? What’s boring? What’s compelling? Stop now or keep going?

Thank you so much for reading!!!!!