Pre-Writing Challenge Updates: Week 2 + Darren Rowse Message To Challenge Participants

Good night, the past month has flown by! It’s almost been 4 weeks since the first conversation about the Pre-Writing Challenge happened. At this point, we are 2 weeks into the official challenge, and things are heating up.  Progress is being made, people are falling behind, joy and frustration abound.  Some authors have noticed an improvement in the quality of their work.  Some are already experiencing the relief of having a small buffer of posts built up.  Some have barely gotten started, but will hacking away at the last 2 weeks with intensity.  Check out our second round of updates and even give a dose of encouragement to the author of your choice.

A Message From Darren Rowse, the ProBlogger, On The Pre-Writing Challenge

Before we get to the updates, however, it is my pleasure to share with you a few words from Darren Rowse, the genius behind ProBlogger and Digital Photography School. He’s a hugely influential blogger who has taught a lot to the blogging masses, including myself.

Having trouble seeing the video? Click here to view original.

Darren was kind enough to record this message for the Pre-Writing Challenge participants. Thanks Darren! It’s been a real motivator to hear a blogger I have a lot of respect for, and who’s met with a lot of success, validating the work we’re doing on this challenge.

It’s been intense so far, and even overwhelming to try to fit this extra work into an already tight schedule, but the benefits have been enormous. After the challenge is over, I’ll be running some guest posts from participants who are writing a review of the challenge and will be publishing at least one of my own as well to share the benefits I’m taking away from the challenge. I can’t wait!

Unofficial Participant(s)

I 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 encouragement for her challenge.

Here’s her vitals:

Author: Heather CraikPre-Writing Challenge Page: The 3D Student | Tutorials, Reviews, and advice for 3D Students

Bio: Heather is currently a 2nd year 3D student in Scotland with aspirations to become a kick-ass VFX artist. She started her blog to reach out to other 3D students and build a community of smart, talented, inspired, and (dare I say it) ambitious individuals that’d do the industry proud. The blog provides tutorials, reviews, advice, and entertainment (in the form of a webcomic) for the beginner/intermediate 3D-er.

Goal: I usually post 4 times a week, one of which is a webcomic. My goal for the challenge is to have 3 weeks worth of posts pre-written (apart from Tuesday posts), 3 guest posts, and a finished ebook by the end of the Easter Holidays. Suddenly looking like very deep water… ah well, it’ll be fun.

Any other unofficial participants out there? Let me know, I’d be happy to link you in. Be sure to stop by the forum too and say hi or check out our Twitter Pre-Writing Challenge list to connect with us on Twitter.

OK, now let’s see where we stand at the close of week 2…

Pre-Writing Challenge Updates for Week 2

Bert Padilla: Cite-Technologian

It’s late in the evening here, so I’ll just make a quick update for Week 2 before I wake up tomorrow and realize that you are already asleep. I set a goal to make 10 posts per week, but due to some pressure on my part- I’ll just write 5 pre-written articles per week. I completed 9 rough drafts and started 2 other drafts. It’s a series of articles, or guide for new bloggers using Blogger.

Regards,

Bert Padilla

Eleanor Edwards: Give A Brick

Given that I joined the game a week late I determined I had to make this one really count. I’ve been fortunate that this week my part time job as a supply teacher has given me some time with pen, paper and less distractions. As a result I’ve been able to write titles and short teasers for all 28 posts. Hopefully by the time you read this, I will have added these to my update page. I’m also delighted to announce that I’ve finished writing one of the 28. One down, 27 to go

Eleanor

Deacon – Bad Deacon Design

I have been very busy with my day job, working evenings and weekends, and it has put a damper so far on the pre-writing challenge. I should finally get a good start this weekend. I’ll be using these posts to do some technical “how to” and “what is” type articles about various printmaking methods.

~Deacon

Aaron Pogue – Unstressed Syllables

I’m working on building pillar content — deliberately structured advice on writing well, so that requires some careful coordination. Because of that, even though I reached two full weeks of buffer during week two (with eight articles written and scheduled to post), I’ve still got a way to go on my challenge.

That’s because my official challenge commitment was to complete the final eight posts, and only one of those is totally done. I have started drafts on all of them now, though, and finished rough drafts on three more. I’m definitely getting closer, and it gets a little easier every day.

- Aaron

Megan Potter – Limitless Living

I’ve written 9 of my 18 posts (6 pre-written, 12 posted during the challenge); I updated my Pre-Writing Challenge page with all 18 post ideas/titles and linked to the six of those that have already gone up on my blog. Three more are in draft format waiting to be edited and I have three more with intros and outlines done just waiting to be typed. I’m not actually following a theme or purpose for the challenge this time around (I’m so not organized enough for that) I’m just plugging away at pure content. I’ve been really enjoying getting to know all the contestents and am looking forward to being able to get to know our newest victims .

Sincerely,

Megan Potter

Justin Matthews – Catharsis of the Bogue

This has been a slow week for me but I have managed to get 1 post almost finished. That is all with the PWC but the idea has inspired me to get my posts written each day for the next day. I have found that writing the post and scheduling it to run in the mornings before I am even up has increased traffic and lets me be more regular in my posting. Before I would just write and try to get something out before noon. This works better now, and I think it helps with international traffic as well dealing with time zones.

Talk to you later!

Justin

Carlos Velez – Conscious Me

Oy vey, I felt like I was massively behind all this week. I’ve been staying up late and sleeping through my writing time in the morning. I failed to put out my February Newsletter on time (I’m still working on it). I thought I had dropped the ball a bit on this challenge too.

I just spent a couple of hours restructuring this page though, and adding in the drafts I have in WriteRoom and suddenly I realize I’ve been a writing badass these past two weeks.

I am ending week 2 with 5 published posts since the start of the challenge (all written during the challenge), 3 drafts completed or mostly completed, and 2 drafts for guest posts. A few hours time should wrap those all up, and I’ll be right where I need to be, plus 2 guest posts to submit to other blogs.

-Carlos

Antti Kokkonen – The Blog of Antti Kokkonen

For the second week I worked on my content strategy, and decided to push for a full series of posts about SEO (search engine optimization). I have the content outline drafted, and it looks like I might end up with more than the 8 posts I originally planned, but we’ll see.

In addition to having 6 nearly done posts on drafts, I have 3 posts ready to be published at the moment, so I’m well on my way to the target of 8 posts I set myself.

-Antti

That wraps up week 2. Go visit at least one of these guys and check out their blog, leave them a comment, give them a thumbs up for a job well done. It’s a stellar group we have here, committed to producing quality material while going through a difficult challenge like this one. Give them a thumbs up and a high five.

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Conscious Me is now on Facebook.
Visit the new page and add me as your friend!

Thanks,
Carlos

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Related posts:

1. How I Got Darren Rowse, ProBlogger, To Record A Video Message For The Pre-Writing Challenge
2. Pre-Writing Challenge Updates: Week 3 + E-Book And Future Event
3. Pre-Writing Challenge Update: Week 1
4. The Pre-Writing Challenge: Conscious Me Updates
5. About The Pre-Writing Challenge: This Will Greatly Benefit You Bloggers