Right now it’s still October, but you know November is coming up – and quicker than we think – and that means it’s time for NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) again.
In case you are new here and are wondering what this NaBloPoMo thing is, I’ll give you a quick history. National Blog Posting Month is a 30-day blogging challenge first launched by Eden Kennedy in 2006. You can read more about it here.
The blogging challenge used to have a strong following with hundreds of participants, but most people eventually moved on to other platforms or stopped blogging altogether. But I’ve been writing and participating every year in November. 30 blog posts in 30 days.
I know that posting every day for 30 days straight can feel daunting, even stressful. Why would anyone want to do that? Well, I think it’s a great writing practice and a wonderful community event. I am counting on a bunch of (Cool) Bloggers this year to make NaBloPoMo a thriving success again. You can’t let me down, peeps. I’ve seen some of you mention NaBloPoMo in blog posts and comments in recent weeks, so I know it’s on your radar. If you wanna join us, please ‘sign up’ at the link below.
There are no official prompts, but to make things a lot easier this year, Engie – with the help of others – has compiled and shared an official NaBloPoMo2024 Blog Post Ideas list with me, of which I hope you’ll take full advantage! What a great crowd-sourcing idea. The list already has more blog post ideas than there are days in November and more ideas can still be added, so feel free to do so! This should be a great resource for the upcoming challenge if you’re lacking post ideas! I will also link to this list on the NaBloPoMo page.
Also, I previously shared a post about NaBloPoMo best practices, a list of tips and tricks to make participation more successful and fun. I thought I’d share these tips again, so you can get organized. I suggest – no, encourage! – you to plan ahead. Remember, this is about connections. Not every blog post has to be a deep, long, elaborate piece of writing. Sometimes sharing a picture or some random thoughts is all it takes to engage your readers!
GET ORGANIZED IN ADVANCE
I’ve been planning out my November blogging month a bit in advance. I will be posting every day in November, but not every word has been written on the day that it will be posted. I usually prepare a little outline for the month and jot down post ideas for as many days as possible in advance. Drafts are your friends. This leads me to my next tip…
KEEP A RUNNING LIST OF BLOG IDEAS
If you’ve been blogging for a while, you probably have had ideas for blog ideas at the most unexpected moments and in the strangest places. My best tip is to write them down immediately (I keep a list on my phone, as I usually have that with me.)
WRITE WHEN YOU CAN
If you have a few minutes to work on your draft, write a few sentences. If you sit down and feel like you can knock out a couple of blog posts because the words are pouring out of you, do it. If you’re on a roll, you have to take advantage. Get it all on (digital) paper while you can. You don’t have to wait until the next day. As a writer/blogger, you know that writing happens naturally most of the time and can’t necessarily be forced.
KEEP A BUFFER
Another thing that works for me: I try to stay ahead of NaBloPoMo by keeping one or two ready-to-post blog posts in my drafts folder for “emergencies” (hence the ‘write when you can ” advice). While I try to sit down and write/post every day in November, I know that some days will be so busy that I won’t have a lot of time to spend on blogging. For these moments, it’s good to have a blog post waiting in your draft folder.
USE YOUR REGULAR FEATURE POSTS
I have a few regular post formats that I use every month, (e.g. Monthly Link List, Currently, Weekly Run Down, etc.) and of course, I’ll keep up with these posts during NaBloPoMo.
BORROW FROM OTHER BLOGGERS
If you come across a great post idea on someone else’s blog – borrow the idea (and give credit when appropriate) and post your own version. Because this is what bloggers do – we inspire each other and share great post ideas!
KEEP IT FLEXIBLE
Leave a little flexibility in your blogging schedule for days when you feel inspired to write something spontaneously. I never know when exactly that is going to happen, but I usually come up with a handful of posts in November that I hadn’t planned/thought of in advance.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: IT’S OK IF YOU MISS A DAY
This is something I should definitely keep in mind. While it’s my goal to meet the challenge, the world is not going to end if I skip a day. Nobody is keeping score and you’re not going to be punished. After all, NaBloPoMo is just an opportunity to get into a blogging habit, have fun, and connect with other people
I hope you’re excited to come here a little more often in November and I’d be super-stoked if you decided to join us. Please spread the word and invite others. Or, if you just want to be the support squad this year – that’s fine, too!
If you do participate, please use the hashtag #NaBloPoMo2024 on social media, so I can find you (and promote your posts!). I’ll keep a running list of participants on my NaBloPoMo page. Please also feel free to use the NaBloPoMo image (at the top) for your blog posts or in your blog sidebar to promote our community and link back to the NaBloPoMo page , if you want.
J
October 22, 2024 at 7:45 pmI’m totally cheating this year by writing ALL of my posts ahead of time. My daughter has told me that this is not in keeping with the idea of it, that the idea is to write every day, but I’m going to focus that on reading and commenting. It’s a big task when you have so many participants! I feel like I spend hours every day reading and commenting, which is definitely fun, but also a LOT of commitment. So while I will post every day, I likely will not be able to read every post. And I think that’s OK.
Thank you for hosting again, you are the glue to this community.
San
October 23, 2024 at 9:15 pmI am excited that you’ll be joining again… and no shame in planning ahead. Yeah, maybe Maya is right that the idea is to write every day, but we also have to plan for unforeseen situations and I know that I will have at least a few blogs posts ready to go (because I know that November will be another busy month for me). You did write these posts at one point, just maybe not IN November ;)
iHanna
October 28, 2024 at 5:47 amI blogged about the event once when it was on BlogHer but never even dared to participate… but oh you make it sounds SO fun and doable! 💕
Rachel
October 22, 2024 at 10:14 pmOh man I am so excited! This means I’m at about my two year anniversary of blogging because I remember finding you all two years ago from NABLOPOMO. I love all your suggestions… but also can just accept that I will also write some terribly formatted and misspelled posts and use those in the month? So basically… like normal for me. Thank you for hosting, I will definitely participate this month. September and October have been crazy (not in a totally bad way) but I think it would be great to use NABLOPOMO as a bit of a life anchor at a hopefully quieter month! Thank you for keeping it going San – you’re a bloggo rockstar.
San
October 23, 2024 at 9:15 pmRachel, I am so happy that you found this community through NaBloPoMo and for starting a blog and being a part of it for two years now. I am thrilled you’re participating again this year!
Elisabeth
October 23, 2024 at 1:48 amBreaking my week of commenting silence to chime in that I have decided to do NaBloPoMo this year as well, but I’ll be taking each Sunday off. It seems very in keeping with my Year of Shmita. Also, going in with the plan of a weekly break – while technically not in the official “rules” – makes me feel like that break is more structured and reliable. Plus, it’s good for me to learn to take arbitrary guidelines and let them fit MY best interests. That’s a lot of thoughts about how I’m going to do NaBloPoMo, but I’m excited.
The last two years I had so many posts planned and scheduled. This year? Not a single one. Life has been busy in October, so I have absolutely no idea what I will be writing about, but I’m sure it will sort itself out. Right?
ALSO, re. commenting. I know I need to scale back. I want NaBloPoMo to be fun, so I need to be careful of it not starting to feel like a slog. I want to comment on posts where I genuinely have something to say and think I’ll add a disclaimer to the top of each of my posts, too? Commenting started to feel overwhelming last year, so I need to taper that back. I don’t have to comment on every single post by every single person (back to those arbitrary rules again, right?).
Thanks for hosting this San!
J
October 23, 2024 at 9:11 pmI was looking at SAN’s lists from prior years, and from 2021 to 2023, the number of participants really grew! Which is great, but it does mean that maybe we can’t comment on every post every day. I’ve decided to keep my post pretty brief, since I know folks will be busy trying to read as many posts as they can.
Good for you for making it yours, and taking Sundays off. :-)
San
October 23, 2024 at 9:17 pmYay, Elisabeth. I love that you’re joining again and that you’re making it work for YOU! :) I think it absolutely fits with your year of Shmita to take Sundays off ;) And I totally understand about commenting… November will be a busy month for me and will try my hardest to keep up with everyone, but leaving thoughtful comments when you have something to say > comments on every single post.
Jenny
October 23, 2024 at 6:30 amOh, you know I’m in! NaBloPoMo is my favorite time of the whole year. I would encourage everyone to participate if possible. It’s such a fun challenge, and every year I find new blogs and blogging friends. Thanks for organizing as always, San!!!
San
October 23, 2024 at 9:18 pmSo thrilled you’ll be participating again, Jenny, and about your enthusiasm!
NGS
October 23, 2024 at 7:07 amOkay, I’m going to do it. Jenny reminded me that there is no NaBloPoMo police and if I have to skip a day it’s okay. So I’m going to do it!!
Thanks for linking to my list of post ideas. I hope it’s helpful to people to jumpstart some ideas!
San
October 23, 2024 at 9:19 pmYES! There is no NaBloPoMo police… if you skip a day, you skip a day… but you’re so consistent with your posting, Engie, I have no doubt you’ll be just fine :) And thank you again for getting this post idea list set up… such a great resource for everyone!
Sak
October 23, 2024 at 1:49 pmI don’t have a blog and am usually a blog lurker. I’m going to use November as blog commenting month and aim to comment on one or more blogs everyday.
San
October 23, 2024 at 9:19 pmThat’s wonderful – thank you for the support :)
Ernie
October 24, 2024 at 4:03 amI’m gearing up for NaBloPoMo. My blog isn’t linked to social media, but I’ll be participating. Thanks for organizing. I enjoyed doing it last year and I’m excited to do it again. Appreciate all of the tips.
San
October 28, 2024 at 5:39 pmYay, so glad you’re joining :)
Weekly recap + what we ate: Haikus not photos – Life Off Headset
October 24, 2024 at 4:15 am[…] been thinking about NaBloWriMo. (Thanks, San, for organizing!). November is legit bonkers busy for me, but I love the idea of a […]
sarah
October 24, 2024 at 9:36 amYAY! I can’t wait!
San
October 28, 2024 at 5:39 pmYippie!
Tobia | craftaliciousme
October 26, 2024 at 5:06 amDepp into NabloPoMo planning mode over here. Outlining posts, writing drafts but most of all I will need to clear my Feedly reader of all the unread posts this weekend otherwise I will drown on day one.
San
October 28, 2024 at 5:40 pmSo happy you’re joining again, Tobia. You were my only companion for a few years and I love that you’re still committed :)
Stephany
October 26, 2024 at 8:16 amI was on the fence about participating this year but FOMO will get me every time. I’m excited to do it for my fourth year running and can’t wait to join everyone again!
San
October 28, 2024 at 5:41 pmHooray Stephany! So glad you’lll be part of it again this year!
Sara
October 27, 2024 at 6:41 pmI always say I’m going to do this, but I never seem to bring it to fruition. I’m going to look back through my drafts and see if I have enough to get me started and try though!
San
October 28, 2024 at 5:41 pmYay Sara, so happy you’ll give it a shot this year… you gotta at least try! :)
coco
October 28, 2024 at 4:31 pmI love this challenge and will definitely join you again this year. thanks for organizing it San.
San
October 28, 2024 at 5:42 pmYay Coco, so happy you’ll be joining again!
Tina
October 29, 2024 at 3:21 pmI will be participating again this year. Last year was pretty successful for me, I don’t know how it will go this year, I’ve been rather quiet for the past few months so am hoping I can come up with some sort of content. I really enjoy reading everyone’s blogs and try to comment where I can.
Steve
October 29, 2024 at 4:13 pmIt was fun last year, and I’m ready to give it another go this year! I won’t talk about how I was foolishly thinking the momentum from last year would catapult me into posting regularly all year again, though, because, well, Hey, it’s time for NaBloPoMo again! Yay! Time to get revved up to post every day for a month!
Kyria @ Travel Spot
October 31, 2024 at 6:14 amBetter late than never, but I think I am going to do it. I have actually never done it before, even in the years when I was already posting 4-5 x per week! However, I have such a long list of ideas and draft posts that I think I am going to jump on board.
SHU
October 31, 2024 at 9:08 amI have never participated bc I post most days anyway so it never felt like it mattered! But I guess you can say I’m in :) :)
First ever try to blog Every Day for a Month | NaBloPoMo - iHannas Blog
November 1, 2024 at 4:15 am[…] when I googled NaBloPoMo a few days ago I clicked over to read this blog post called Who’s ready for NaBloPoMo 2024? by San, and there I found out how she had taken on this challenge for years. Her stamina was […]
Daria
November 1, 2024 at 6:15 amI will do a modified version of NaBloPoMo so that I don’t get overwhelmed. Happy blogging everyone!