Thirty straight days of blogging?! You can do it — with a few post ideas, a couple of tips, and the support of thousands of other bloggers.
It’s almost November, the biggest month of the year for daily writing and blogging challenges — you know, the ones with names that sound like chemical formulas. There’s National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), National Non-Fiction Writing Month (NaNonFiWriMo), National Playwriting Month (NaPlWriMo), a month-long drawing challenge, (NaNoDrawMo), and their blogging counterpart, National Blog Posting Month, or NaBloPoMo.
NaBloPoMo challenges you to publish a blog post every single day in November. There’s a huge community of participating bloggers, and the event’s organizers, BlogHer, maintain a blogroll and offer support, motivation, and prizes. It’s a great way to meet new bloggers, create a blogging habit, and try new things…
… but we know it’s daunting, and the excitement of Day One seems to wane a bit by Day Seventeen. That’s what we’re here for! The post ideas, resources, and tips below will have your fingers flying over the keyboard on Day Thirty and beyond.
When you need a boost for the day
- Do a bit of advance planning — make yourself a prompt box, a box (or a jar, or a hat) filled with slips of paper on which you’ve written post ideas, words, and quotes. When you need a jolt, pull out a slip and see where it takes you.
- Try something new — use a new post format, insert a new kind of media, or write in a different style. Normally write non-fiction? Try a poem or a short story. Use Instagram? Embed some of your shots into a post. Take the opportunity to push yourself, and you’ll learn things that will help you blog more and better in the longer run.
- Plagiarize yourself! Revisit comments you’ve made on other blogs — you can find them right in your Reader. Something about the post you read inspired you to say something, so build on that.
- Find creative ways to use drafts you’ve abandoned. Finish a post you started months ago and forgot about. Create poetry with phrases pulled from drafts. Give old ideas new life.
When the well of inspiration is dry as a bone
Writing in response to a prompt doesn’t have to feel formulaic, or like homework. Make every writing prompt personal! Learn to bend writing prompts to your will.
- BlogHer has a wealth of post ideas — they’ll offer a set for November as NaBloPoMo begins, but also have a huge archive of prompts from past challenges.
- We’ve got our own daily prompt here, and you can browse all our past prompts as well. And no one says a post needs to have words! Photo posts are totally fine — let our library of past Weekly Photo Challenges inspire you.
- Our Community Event Listings collect blogger-run events on every subject imaginable. Even if you don’t join in the events themselves, you’ll find tons of post ideas.
When you think you can’t do this any more
- Melisa from Suburban Scrawl, a NaBloPoMo regular, has a great list of tips for making it through 30 days of posting that will help any blogger post more consistently, challenge or not.
- To get the most out of your month-long effort, go right to the source — BlogHer tells you how to have a NaBloPoMo that’s personally fulfilling and helps grow your blog.
- Blogging is a marathon, not a sprint. Take a tip from marathon runners and use schedules, community support, and built-in breaks to keep you going.
- Finding time to blog can be a huge part of the stress of NaBloPoMo — BlogHer has tips on how to keep writing when you think you don’t have time, and so do we.
- Stop judging yourself! Often, writer’s block is our own overzealous internal editor — personally, I think you (almost) never have nothing to write about.
Do you have tips for getting through longer blogging challenges? Share ’em!
If you’re ready to commit to NaBloPoMo, you can add yourself to the official blogroll here.
Currently blogless? You’re a click away from sharing your story.
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I think I’m going to try this!…….GULP!!
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I’m definitely doing this. Already have the badge up. Blogging every day during the beginning of the holiday season and just starting a home renovation project……am I crazy or what? Scary but exciting!!
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It sounds like both the home reno and holiday season prep will give you content for your posts. đŸ™‚ Good luck!
I need to do some pre-planning and I’ll sign up to kickstart my writing again.
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Great, look forward to reading and you’re right about the content. In fact, writing may be my solace.
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I agree with “I on food drink and life” that the home reno could provide a great amount of material for your blog, and by blogging about it might help with the challenges, and you can post pictures throughout the process to see the before and after changes!
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Thanks I might try it!!
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What I have to say about this is that bloggers first have to set up their blog on things that they have interest in and can talk about all day even in their dreams!!! Blogging challenges do come but have you ever tried lifting an old post on facebook into your blog, that works 10% of the time. If that doesn’t work then read your past blog posts and comments, you will laugh and find yourself more motivated than ever. So simply look back at the past to gain momentum for the future.
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Same, good luck đŸ™‚ It sounds challenging but exciting, do you know what happens after you have registered? and I always knew November was the best month since that is my birthday (ha,no bias).
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I’ve just registered and I have no idea what I’m doing. I will figure it out as I go but I think there’s a survival guide for NaBloPoMo at the Daily Post. I will try to find it.
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It’s right here:
https://wordpress.com/dailypost/blog-event-survival-guide/
But we’ve put our favorite bits of advice and links right into this post đŸ™‚
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Thanks Michelle!
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Yeah you’re right there is. You just register for the competition on the blog her website and then post on their website from 1st November all the way through. đŸ™‚
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Sign me up! I find I work well with a goal/under pressure. Thanks for posting!
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Hi Areneewallis! What are the topics of your blog?
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I am chronicling mental health treatment and awareness, as the major focus currently, mixing in some prose writing mostly about everyday things, from literature to tv to science to holistic lifestyle to childbirth and Midwifery to whatever catches my attention. đŸ™‚
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I was waiting for this announcement! Last year I did 26/30.. This year i want 30/30! It’s a marathon right? Super excited and looking forward to NaBloPoMo 😄
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what did you write about the last year? đŸ™‚
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So I teamed NaBloPoMo with Daily Post’s Photography 101 and wrote on the pictures I clicked. It was fun and easier. Here are the posts if you wanna check out đŸ™‚ http://happinessandfood.com/tag/nablopomo/
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I actually didn’t know this was a thing! I already blog everyday but this is great for people who find it difficult to.
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Thank God somebody else who had no idea! I don’t feel all that bad now! My posts are usually very long and with lots of pictures…. This will help me to make them shorter.
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Lol I only knew of NaNoWriMo so I was really surprised my all of these of NaNos. It’s hard to find a balance between entertaining content and too many words but I think I’m just striking that balance now đŸ™‚
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I’ve heard of NaNoWriMo, (which I’ll be doing), but not this. I’m definitely signing up! Thank you and great post!
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This sounds great and seems like a fun challenge! I’m definitely going to give this a try.
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These are awesome tips, thanks!
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Hello, my name is Samina and I just started blogging last week! I have some content and I would love it if you could and check me out and like my page! I’m a 23 year old young adult living with spina bifida and my blog is about the things I go through daily living with this defect. My life is a crazy roller coaster ride and I would like to take you guys along with me on this ride in hopes that maybe someone somewhere can gain some motivation and positivity. I would like to teach my readers not to give any type of pain or problem the power to become an obstacle also, that you have the power to do anything you want to do if you just put your mind into it. Thanks for your time!
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how to get registered?
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If you want to add yourself to the official blogroll, you can do that here:
http://www.blogher.com/are-you-posting-every-day-november-nablopomo-add-your-blog-blogroll-now/
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This is the form to register correct? Is this the only form that I need to fill out? Thank you!
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You don’t need to register at all; you can just blog. But if you’d like to join the official blogroll, use the link at the end of the post.
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Thank you!
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I’m definitely trying this! I’ve found a couple “30 Day Blog Challenge[s]” that I think I’ll combine. That way I should be able to make a list of 30 topics that I can write about and make interesting. I’m completely new to blogging so I hope this will bring me some followers and get me into the habit. If any of you seasoned bloggers are willing, please check my blog out and leave any constructive criticism you can come up with! Click the follow button while you’re there! đŸ˜‰
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It’s official, I’ll be participating! https://beautifullyflawed1012.wordpress.com/
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Love it!
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i just finished a 90 day blogging challenge i am not sure if i am up for this…but maybe…check out my blog a day challenge on my page!
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Gosh, IF I decide to, I hope I can keep up the quality of my blogs! I don’t want to simply end up posting frivolous blogs, just for the sake of getting through the challenge! Need to find where to register quick before I change my mind! đŸ™‚
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I know what you mean đŸ™‚
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Actually, could do with a bit of advice…I’ve signed up for the Writing 101 course, which is also in Nov, so would it be possible to do both? Should I do both?
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You can use your Writing 101 posts; there’s no need to do them as two separate challenges.
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Thank you! I should have thought of that! Silly me! đŸ™‚
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Yes you can do it what you learn from your class may be an inspiration for your blog
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What is writing 101? Where do I find it?! Oh boy… It seems I need a lot of advise …
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Here’s the link! I too just came across it after I started following The Daily Post! đŸ™‚ There are several different courses, so you can read up and choose the one you want! Good luck! đŸ™‚ https://wordpress.com/dailypost/2015/10/21/november-bu-registration/
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Thank you! You are great 🙏🏻🍁🍂🌻
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Just keep posting what you believe in and what truly interest you. Don’t let the challenge keep you away from your original goal when you started blogging. I find that if people stay true to themselves there will be no problem with maintaining quality.
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Thanks so much for the encouragement! A great reminder, to keep your original goal in mind! So true! đŸ™‚
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I have just signed in. Not the best month – time-wise to be doing this but what the hell!
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Okay, I’m in. Why not? Where do I sign up? I should know this, but I don’t. Please don’t judge me haha!
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There’s no need to sign up at all; you can just post. But if you want to join the official blogroll, there’s a link at the bottom of the post.
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Thank you!!
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I’m in!
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As someone who tried and did this in March. It is possible – what your word counts, use the schedule feature and plan anywhere between a week to the full month in advance. It did take more additional time, but it was worth it to test how much I could actually do.
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All those challenges with all those acronyms but I still haven’t found the one I’m looking for: NaMuCoMo (National Music Composing Month). đŸ™‚
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Maybe you should start it!
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I’m in! It’s exciting!
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I blog everyday already so, it is not so much a challenge for me. NaNo, that’s another thing. I registered but have yet to start a sentence and I’m not even sure if I am up to it with my busy schedule this coming months. I have been meaning to do it since I started blogging last year but though the idea is already fully formed in my head, putting it on paper seems a real challenge.
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I’m doing NaNoWriMo for the first time this year so doing the blogging equivalent as well would probably kill me! Maybe next year. đŸ™‚
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Ok. I guess I can give this a try.
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what if i cannot post for every day of the month? it’ll be a rather busy time for me, but i’m totally interested. đŸ™‚
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It’s a voluntary challenge; it means you won’t be eligible for BlogHer’s prizes, but you’re still totally free to participate.
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I’m in, can’t wait!
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Sounds like an amazing challenge that I am totally excited for! Just concerned about the everyday part, I mean, I couldn’t commit to the 30 day ab challenge and so don’t want this to be the case. đŸ™‚
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Amazing tips! Super excited to take part đŸ™‚ Thanks for the encouragement đŸ™‚
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I am so excited! I am BRAND NEW to the blogosphere, and I’ve managed to write everyday for little over a week now. I’m looking forward to this đŸ˜€
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I just started 2 days ago so I’m in the same boat as you. I’ve made 3 posts so far (1 for each day) and only feel like I’m progressing so I’m really looking forward to this challenge!
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Hey! Welcome and congratulations on getting your blog off the ground đŸ™‚ I find the Daily Prompts very helpful on days when I don’t really know what I want to write about. Good luck, and hope we can share success stories on day-30 đŸ˜€
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I’m in!
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