I was listening to Chris Guillebeau speak at a blogging conference last year when he said something that struck me quite hard. He was talking about his life before his blogging really hit its straps; the phrase he used was “convergence”. He lacked it, therefore things felt quite orbital, haphazard. However, when his goals and plans – after much work! – did finally come together he had a greater clarity about where he was, and where he needed to go.
I, too, felt that about blogging, and I’ve discussed this many times in the past.
Now, historically, while I’m pretty well put together when I need to be I’ve also needed to keep the part of my brain that writes – that batty, creative side that wishes she was Margaret Atwood – on a pretty loose leash. Up to a point, anyway, I’ve discovered. Because ideas are all very well, but when they stay inside my head, what good are they?
I discovered this yet again after I went back to writing my novel on-and-off during nanowrimo. Concentrating on that has been fruitful, and has whetted my interest in blogging after going through a few slumps this year. And I put down an extra 10K words-ish on the novel, so yay for that!
All this is to say that my main blogging word in 2014 won’t be “convergence” (although that is a very good one, and I’ll certainly keep it in mind); my word will be “congruence”.
Congruence means “the state achieved by coming together, the state of agreement”. It’s taken years, but I almost feel like that’s finally happening between this tug-of-war between blogging and writing.
I’ve asked some friends of mine who’ve also been thinking about this subject to give me their thoughts about the year to come. Blogging, personal, health, writing – they’re all connected.
Faith Hunter – Editor of Treadlie Magazine and presenter on 3Cr’s Yarra BUG Radio Show, blogging (kind of) since 2001. postcardsfromthenorth.com
Two goals I’m setting myself in 2014 are; firstly, to go snowboarding again. I’ve spent 2013 regaining a lot of the strength I lost due to an enduring thyroid issue, now I want to join my ten year old on the slopes. I also resurrected my blog and plan to get more consistent about posting.
Dorothy Krajewski – blogging for over five years, most recently at www.ablogofherown.com and www.dorothyk.com.au
My goals for 2014 are all about numbers. I want to increase my page views and my Facebook likes and engagement. The how will be all about playing around with blog content and SEO. I want to try different types of posts, different topics and different styles of writing, all while being true to myself and my voice.
Anna Sparg0-Ryan – blogger at Anna Spargo-Ryan and One Woman Digital
I thought about making a big list of goals: get a real job, go to the gym, be a good parent. A do-over of 2013, in which I did none of those things. But as it happens, there’s just one thing on it.
Write every day.
As long as I’m doing that, the others will follow, light of heart.
Lily Mae Martin – artist, writer and blogger at www.lilymaemartin.com
Most of my goals are already set in motion, but there’s something solid about moving into a new year and continuing and finalizing said goals:
No drinking: I have had long periods of time without alcohol, but I’ve also had long periods with it. I find that when I am not consuming alcohol my productivity is stronger, as is my sense of self worth as is my happiness. It’s hard to not drink as it is entwined with so much of our culture and social activities. But it just means I have to make some changes and I’m ready for that.
Learn to drive: I’ve never had the opportunity to learn how to drive, but now the time is right. I’ve been bound to public transport for all of my life. I’ve mostly lived inner city so I told myself it was because I didn’t need to, then I told myself I didn’t need to because cars are so bad for the environment, then it was because I lived in different countries, because I was pregnant, because I have a small child and now I’m a public transport mumma and I am sick of it.
Work and training: I want – I need – to get some more regular, paid work. Something that supplements what I already do but also occupying a different space in life helps. Having money that is regular, dependable and mine really helps.
Drawing by Lily Mae Martin
What are your goals for 2014?