I'm planning to do 31 Quick Wins to become less overwhelmed as an entrepreneur. It complements the courses I'm developing and I'll either be able to use it as a Pocket Product or lead magnet when it's done.
I feel like overwhelm is the default setting for most entrepreneurs these days, especially during a launch!
A Pocket Product is an inexpensive product that you use to get leads - so almost like a paid lead magnet. It's usually something small that solves a pain point for your audience and leads toward your bigger offering.
Kirstin, I see ways to monetize these blogs too (on your own website). My daughter is big into this and is constantly recommending products to me. You might as well make an affiliate commission if you're going to be suggesting specific products to use (I can think of half a dozen right now). I think this would be a very hot topic!
Yes, I am hoping to get that all up and running to do something with it, but as of now, I don't have a blog yet (I know... this is a BLOG your own book challenge... gotta get that going haha!) Thank you for the input and encouragement!
Oh good! I was a bit worried that maybe no one would be interested but it's good to know maybe there are people out there looking for this sort of content!
I'm a chef and have been working at a vegetable farm for the past 8 years, trying to get people to eat more vegetables. I am going to write a cooking guide for using fresh produce. I want to divide up the posts by vegetables by season and have a few posts about using equipment and helpful cooking tips.
Please write it so that people in different latitudes can figure out what season your plants are being harvested. Around here (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) we have about half the growing season of another part of Ontario on the north shore of Lake Erie. In fact, I grew up only 100 miles from the north shore of Lake Erie, and the climate and growing season was very similar to Ottawa. A little altitude makes a difference, especially when it creates much cloudier weather!
I adore this idea! We're always trying to incorporate more plants into our meals and eat more locally, and I'll take all the guides I can get on the subject!
I think this is timely—seasonal eating and during quarantine more people have been planting gardens and now need to know what to do with all that produce.
I want to blog my own book on the topic of starting a career in writing online. I had a few friends a while back tell me that I should write an eBook on the topic!
great topic. If you're a club or Academy member or doing the paid substack subscription, you can submit a blog post on writing online to our Ninja Writers Pub. It could be a good fit for the Work column
I just started eating a Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet and chronicling my weight loss. This month will be researching the WFPB Diet and the Engine 2 Diet and building out the structure of those 31 days.
I'm really excited about it, my first post got some good eyeballs. And I registered for Medium's partner program so maybe can make a couple pennies too!
I also follow the WFPB & Engine 2 eating plan. I think that a lot of people are interested in this lifestyle, but are overwhelmed by learning a new way of preparing food. Anything that offers SIMPLE, and easy to implement ideas will be a winner!
My heart hit a topic, but my head freaked out... 31 questions to ask yourself before taking your life.
My heart is gung ho. I worked as a crisis counselor on the national suicide prevention hotline for a time. While they do the best the can and I'm happy they exist, as an organization it has its limits. I often found myself wanting to ask questions of the callers that I wasn't allowed to, but I felt would be valuable to explore.
My head wants to stop me before I start though, because I know at least some of it will be controversial... But then again I've heard it said that if you aren't pissing at least a few people off, you probably aren't doing anything important... We'll see what I decide.
Please write this book. I would buy it even if I weren't contemplating taking my own life. Because those have to be important questions. I've come as close as writing my letter and cleaning my house. So write the book. You don't know whose life you might save, or what families you might get to start talking. Very important idea, PLUS the title grabs you right away.
LOL, I love it. I was a crisis line volunteer for years. There is a range of things one thinks. These change through the years your volunteering or working. One important use could be in training for new workers.
how great -- this seems like a great opportunity to write about "taboo" subjects, and this is one (the meaning of life, and death itself) that we often just steer clear of in our society. good luck!
We traveled for 3 years with our kids, mostly in Mexico. When the pandemic struck we were surprised how much those years of travel and change and homeschooling and remote work prepared us for living in quarantine and dealing with the current state of affairs.
I was considering making this my focus, 31 ways that full time travel prepared us for the global pandemic. Some of it would be skills, like home schooling and working from home, and some of it is mind set, like the ability to adapt to change and being comfortable with just our family instead of a full community. There is also the aspect of knowing that we can leave the U.S. if conditions here become too unstable (assuming any borders remain open,) the awareness of possibilities beyond what is considered normal life in the U.S.
What I would really like to do is blog about mental health and suicide prevention, as I've always wanted to do a book about that ( I have bipolar disorder and have had my own struggles in the past, and was a suicidal teenager and young adult. The suicide rate among young people, particularly teens, has skyrocketed and since I have "been there" and know what it is like to feel that way, I thought I might be able to reach some of those struggling teens. I also have advice from a lifetime of learning how to manage depression and suicidal feelings, which are now mainly a thing of the past, fortunately. I thought I might have some valuable things to say,and I would love to be able to help people who are where I was 20 years ago.)
The only problem is, I don't know if I will have time this challenge. I am also doing my regular writing job, which is about 5 articles a week; I'm working on a nonfiction book I want to finish by October (I'm about a quarter of the way through) and I'm working on short stories and doing the novel workshop, which is also time consuming. (Plus I have other non-writing work related projects) And I have several speaking engagements coming up in August and have to prepare for those.
So I thought I might save that idea and just do a series of poems. I have always wanted to publish a book of poetry and it would be good to get me back in the habit of writing poetry. I haven't written a poem in over 6 months and I can do a poem in an hour every day without much of a problem. A book of poetry would really be nice to do, even though I know I won't make money doing it. That's not really my main priority anyway. Hopefully enough friends and people who know me for my nonfiction will buy it that I will break even from what I spend on the cover. But I just want to do it for the sake of a personal goal.
So I'm a bit torn. I think given all the other work I'm doing I should save the mental health stuff for a future challenge or just do it on my own after I'm done with some of the other projects I'm working on.
I have bipolar disorder, too, and I write poetry to help me cope. I'd love to read more poetry about mental illness. Even if you don't BYOB about mental illness (poetry or a book), I hope you write it someday. The world needs to hear voices like yours. Take care. :)
Your insights about suicide would be timely whenever it's best for you to write them. Once we go through BYOB, we can keep doing it...or do it later. the teaching materials will be there for us!!! it's one of those wash...rinse...repeat thingies!!! all the best, Sarah!
Hi Sarah. I think this is wonderful. If I can support you in any way please let me know. I'm on FB and in the Ninja group there too. Whichever topic you decide, I wish you all the best! I'll come clap your blogs if you post on Medium and follow you as well.
I remember Shaunta saying it's ok to write about something you're learning. I wanted to do 31 Day Organization Challenge and Apply it to myself and use it for my BYOB-
What a great idea! You could invite your readers to join you on your challenge (like Shaunta has done with us). I think we all could benefit from an organization challenge!
I have a couple of film-related ideas: the women of sci-fi, what sci-fi taught me, or looking at Generation X films and filmmakers (a "movies that made us" kind of thing). Although I write content for businesses, film is my passion, and I'd like to highlight my film and culture writing. (I've written about Ellen Ripley, Gattaca, Jurassic Park, A Quiet Place...) I feel like I should mention that I was a crime journalist for 10 years and previously wrote an ebook on "The Closer" for HyperInk, which went absolutely nowhere. I've had a slim thread of an idea before about fictional female detectives, and I still enjoy a good thriller, but after writing about real crimes for so long, I like to say I prefer fictional mayhem.
I appreciate the support. Just to be clear, I wasn't thinking of female superheroes specifically, although I suppose there could be some crossover. Women of sci-fi to me meant female science fiction characters in film, so Ripley (of course), Furiosa, Leia, Rey, Gamora, several portrayed by Scarlett Johansson -- but also characters like Scully, Amy Adams's linguist in Arrival, and the women of Annihilation.
HI Tamera. The first idea would resonate with a lot of people. It could relate to drugs, alcohol, diet, sex, or anxiety. Really pretty well anything. Having accountability to this post would be great especially when starting, a lot of people are uncomfortable in the company of others. Listening to someone that has gone through this makes it real. Also when you publish you could sell this as something to have in your pocket all the time as you need it! You go girl.
I have no idea. My current obsessions are minimalism, poetry, and mental illness. (I have bipolar disorder.) I don't know if I can think of 31 posts about minimalism, but I am interested in exploring how minimalism helps people (me) cope with mental illness. I started writing a memoir about growing up and living with bipolar, but I haven't made a decision about publication, so it might not be the best idea to post on Medium.
Becky, this is a great idea!! My son has bi-polar disorder and I know from him that a calm, clutter-free environment is very important to his well being. Worth exploring!
Minimalism can include where you made mistakes, and how you overcame them. Small incidents. Those things can help you reach 31 topics.
Have you joined a group of minimalists? Or an email list about it?
Maybe you can post your reaction to things you heard and read about. "No, trading in a large 5 seater pickup for a 7 seater minivan is not minimalism. Now if you traded in your other two cars and only kept the minivan, that might be becoming more minimalist. I know you can't get Uber where you live."
I don't belong to a group of minimalists, but I follow several on YouTube, listen to podcasts, read books, and sign up for newsletters. I like the idea of reacting to things I've heard and read, because people have so many misconceptions. Even now, many people think minimalists have all-white homes with black and chrome furniture, or they think Marie Kondo told them to throw out all their books. (She didn't, and she's not a minimalist anyway, so...) Thanks for the ideas, Rob. I appreciate it!
I think I'd go with the minimalism topic. That's an intriguing one with wide appeal and then you can take your time deciding about publication for the memoir.
I am hoping to create a mini-book that will tie into a memoir I am writing. My memoir the inspiring of six kids growing up off-grid on an Alaskan homestead—with a seriously mentally ill mother. The focus is on how the relationships of myself and my siblings and our love of nature, created resilience to help us survive and thrive.
It is a hopeful book for our times that celebrates the traits homestead requires. SO- all that said to ask, which would be more interesting to you:
#1. 31 essential steps to self-sufficiency (finding a home, starting a garden, raising animals, water, off-grid, etc.
#2. 31 Pioneer traits of toughness (and how to develop them in your life)
#3. 31 Alaskan stories of bears, berries, and adventure. Growing up on a real homestead.
So so lost with this. The idea that keeps circling around is "31 Mirrors of Awakening (The world is showing us who we are. Let's do something about it.) Each day would be a short story about that happening.
One example is my having said to my wife, "I can't believe 'they'--you know, the people over there on the other side--have just swallowed that point of view whole, without even questioning it!" And then seeing on one of 'their' Facebook pages say the EXACT SAME WORDS about me and my people. Wow. So what to do, when we see how deeply entrenched we are in our beliefs? We could start by seeing them as beliefs. Not as the truth. This gradually gets ideas out of the way so we can experience one another as human beings.
I love your idea. Even the 'fact-checkers' aren't checking facts. We are bombarded with words and Parrott back those words --but with anger. I think we need your blogs!
Seriously have no idea how this is going to work, but I'm going to write 31 pieces of flash fiction all based around a teen spy (I write YA fiction) ... I have 30 of the 31 prompts figured out ... now I'm just trying to stay out of the "this is a dumb idea and totally won't work" part of my brain. LOL!
I'm very excited about BYOB and have at least two ideas. My first was How to Bring Poetry into your Life. this could include both poetry appreciation and beginning writing suggestions. I would have a lot of fun doing that. AND, I've written a humorous novel with some adorable and quirky characters. Last year wrote three blog posts as if I were my main character and one as if I were his wife. They tend to disagree on just about everything so it's lots of fun. So my latest idea is 31 blog posts as if written by several of my characters...which can include some point-counterpoint back and forth. I got very excited about this one and have an idea list ready to go!!! wanted to share this here as other fiction writers could do this. I haven't patterned it yet. Also, it can be a marketing tool for the book and get readers introduced to and involved with my characters ahead of reading the actual novel. This will also support my website in progress!!! would love any comments folks have about either idea! thanks!
I have herd of authors creating social media accounts for their characters and post as if they are the character. What you are doing sounds very similar to this. It's interesting.
Originally I was going to blog about my relationship book, but realized that book will probably end up being more than 60,000 words.
This morning I decided to do a scripting prompt challenge to manifest a specific person for the 31 days. I even have the title of this book already. Making good progress.
The scripting prompt challenge sounds interesting. You could also blog about just one topic from your relationship book. Take that one subject and go deeper.
The scripting challenge is coming from the relationship book. But as I think deeper and and deeper about it, I have come to realized that it can be a stand alone book separate from the original relationship book.
I like this idea of tackling one subject for 31 days. I have a binder full of ideas but have never been able to corral my brain long enough to focus on one subject and finish it. I'm more of an idea generator, never-finisher, so this will force me to focus on one thing. In 31 days, I can let my right brain out to run amuck again. Or maybe, this might set me on the path to really learning and establishing the "habit" of writing. and ultimately finishing every single idea in that binder. That would be something!! =)
I have a few ideas that I have too much experience in, but would/could be helpful to others who may be experiencing the same thing.
1. 31 Things to Consider When You're Contemplating Divorce.
2. If you can't leave your difficult relationship, here are 31 ways to deal with staying.
3. When you quit drinking and he won't, 31 ways to deal with that Bull$hit.
Then, I have less traumatic more vanilla ideas:
1. 31 Days of Handmade Gifts to Get a Jumpstart on the Holidays
2. 31 Days to Starting Your Garden. A Complete but Simple Planning Guide.
3. 31 Meditation Prompts for Self Evaluation and Awareness
Would love any feedback to help me decide which would be most relevant and interesting.
I'd go non-vanilla, be brave! If you're posting on Medium, Relationships and Addiction are very popular topics so those first three are great ideas for that.
Def go non-vanilla. I can empathise strongly with your topic and think they would be popular. Its such a difficult time there will be lots of people looking for perspectives from those who have been through it.
I had thought about doing a series on my journey through depression and anxiety but I'm having second thoughts. I don't want the series to come across as a month-long pity party.
Do it, Dave! I'm writing mine on my journey through Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I'm having a hard time figuring out how to organize it, tbh. If you move forward with this topic, I'd love to hear how you're going to organize your posts. And for what it's worth, your story is so much more than your story. Not everyone can put words to their struggle. Those who can (like you, hopefully!), help validate and comfort others who are suffering in silence. Your story will help people feel not so alone. It will help others feel understood, and I don't know about you, but for me, if I can do that, it will be worth it.
And also for what it's worth, it seems far fewer men speak up about depression and anxiety than women do. Your voice is much needed.
Software! I saw that it had dumped two copies of my words onto the screen, so I tried to delete one. And both of them were deleted. (sigh) That was disgusting computer behaviour. I always expect better, but I am often disappointed. Naughty software!
maybe honing it down into specific aspects for daily entries would help you avoid the trap of feeling like it's a pity party. and remembering why you're writing about it, what your goal is. "journey" doesn't sound like "pity" to me -- it sounds like you're traveling through something and reflecting on it. good luck!
I am torn. I want to blog about being a queer Jewish convert in exile from the South. Identity, basically. Shaunta has encouraged me that people would find it interesting. I'm not sure. I don't want to be too self-referential.
Cynthia, think about your reader, remember to "interview" them - what are they struggling with that you have experienced and can shed some light on. And - is it enough to fill a month of posts? I like to start my brainstorming by saying "Something I want to tell you is..."
I want to write something about my relationship with my late father. I love him, I miss him, but I don't want to be anything like him. He was a miserable person, but I think I can learn something from his sadness. Thoughts?
This is an intriguing topic Lindsay. I lost my father in 2011 and we weren't always close because he was raised when racism was unbelievably still seen as just the way it was. My youngest two girls' father was a POC and it took Dad awhile to come around to that. He was a good man but unbeknownst to me he was depressed and didn't take medication until those last few years. Perhaps your dad had undiagnosed depression? It was common with that generation--they were too proud to seek help, especially the men. So maybe looking at your father, not as your father, but as a man struggling to survive during his generation, might give some additional insight to your posts?
I'm currently planning on writing about The Road to Data Driven Decisions. I essentially address the most common hurdles a company faces in its transition to making data driven decisions and how to overcome them.
I'm a little late to the game, playing catch up. I'm thinking of 31 Reflections on Following Jesus through an Anxiety Disorder. Might be a bit wordy. I'm planning to base it on the book I've been writing for the past 1.5 years, which I'm titling, *Anxious with Jesus.* I'm totally stuck on my book's structure (despite the 100 pages I've written), so I'm hopeful that this BYOB challenge can help me see things from a new angle and get unstuck!
Hi Christine! Thanks for taking the time to help me brainstorm! To clarify, my book is moreso about giving my readers freedom to *not* overcome their anxiety disorders. God has done a lot of healing in my journey, but I certainly have not been cured. I think people of faith need freedom and permission to *not* overcome their disorders, because, well, some disorders stick. I am presenting a new paradigm for mental illness in the Church--not as deficiencies of faith--but as thorns God allows us to bear in order to draw us closer in relationship with Him. That may be TMI on my book, but there it is! Hope it makes some sense, and thanks again for commenting! <3
I'm thinking 31 steps towards contentment. Encompassing looking at various aspects that hold us back, (finance, confidence, self esteem, relationships, health, nutrition, work life balance). But don't want it to be a how to.... more of an exploration of ideas to get people thinking. Not sure if there's already too much of this out there??
My initial reaction is to pick one of these. Maybe it's a 31 day action plan to achieve financial contentment. How can your reader be content with what they have? What is their drive to spend? How can they find satisfaction from something else? (just brainstorming here) Of course, it also depends on what you want to use this for (A book? A lead magnet?) And who your audience is.
Thanks for taking the time to comment Christine you made me think about what I want to use the book for. I’m not sure which of these is the main driver really??
a. Putting out there some tips to help move towards the life u want. I’ve thought about this so much having recently separated.
b. I’m training as a nutrition coach and it has become clear that there are so many conflicting drivers that control our behaviour towards food, financial, psychological, relationships etc.
I think writing about emotional and/or spiritual growth is timely because COVID-19 has forced me (and some of my friends & family) to reevaluate what's important in my life. Many are struggling to get by as best as we can, and we (general "we") don't have the same support systems/coping mechanisms in place. I'm just spitballing here, but examining our lives through an emotional or spiritual lens could benefit a lot of us. (General "we/us", I'm not pointing fingers, preaching to myself, etc.)
What would suggestions for your spiritual path look like? I think this is an interesting topic depending on what you want to cover. (ie 31 Days to a Closer Walk with God, or 31 Spiritual Practices for a Deeper Connection with...?) Are you comfortable writing about this topic if it's deeply personal to you? Are you planning to be transparent? Or just offer advice?
Offer advice - some of the things I want to say are out of my experience and I have already learned them, so just being transparent about my daily round is not enough.
My actual writing (not 31 in August, maybe 4 or 10) will be about spirit in my daily life, where that is, where I am taking it.
There will likely be some training about basic skills.
My writing is limited by my ability to write at Medium-curatable levels in small gaps between the other stuff.
Maybe I should rephrase that? My personal path has been "mine", very different from other people that I know.
Deities:
I went for 30 years following "The Goddess".
(Me = cis-male)
Then, in a meditation trance, Artemis took me to the tropics and gave me an animal spirit I had never seen before. I had to look it up on the interwebs.
Skipping stories: I now have Artemis, Kali, Brigid, and White Buffalo with me.
Healing modalities:
At age 17, I asked my preacher why our adult class didn't cover the "adult" stuff, like laying on of hands.
I now practice and teach several healing modalities such as energy healing (like Reiki), aura massage (like Therapeutic Touch - some nurses use that in Canada), asking spirit guides to do the healing, I once did past-life regression when it was needed. (I think I missed a few)
I am learning Mindfulness, and others.
I have asked spirit world for help/training that is specific to to where I am in life, what I need.
And I am now figuring out how to make spiritual stuff more useful in my everyday life.
That's important, and I am only now starting (again) to learn it.
I had not realized that I actually have some superfans, but I have 4:
Two of them are people who were in my spiritualism classes in the 90's, and the other 2 are friends who dance with them in a Dance/meditation group once a week.
I asked for their opinion of the topics above and then added another:
For the benefit of other people who, like me, may not be able to write 31 blogs in August:
- I can't do that.
I am falling back on the higher goal - "make a teeny tiny goal that you can succeed at!"
- I will write a little bit almost every day.
- I expect to finish and publish 4 blogs in August.
My stretch goal is 10.
Why?
I write fast enough, sometimes, but to get something that is all-on-one-topic, and has a story and a takeaway, and some humor (I want to always have humor!), have to re-write and get feedback.
And I don't have a lot of time with a full-time job and family stuff. Some days, no time, or I choose to take that time with some family members who want/need to relax with me.
The time required to write a post will become shorter as I get more experience - thanks to all the reviews! the wonderful feedback is very helpful!
my 30-day challenge feeds my 9,000 sq. ft. challenge so the BYOBs will be the JOURNEY from Post-Fire to The Finish Line [whatever the heck that looks like]! thanks ninja warriors for being so inspirational. :-) from my 9,000 LOLs and Happy Monday!
Hi Everyone! I'm new here and just catching up on all the BYOB emails and posts and instructions. There are so many amazing ideas here and I'm excited to be a part of it! I've had a fictional character called Maddy who has popped up randomly in my free-writes for years now and she writes all these funny little snippets - sort of along the lines of Bridget Jones/Amelia Bedelia - and yes, a little autobiographical if I'm totally honest! And I love her but never knew what to do with her. Then I saw Shaunta's email about BYOB! So here I am! My other great love is London, so I am doing something a little untraditional and combining my love for this fictional character with my Love for the very real places and things in London. The idea is 31 little vignettes of sorts that have Maddy exploring London - she is fictional, but the London facts and information will be totally FACT! So it could be a fun way for people to read about/visit London from their armchairs - and for me to live vicariously through my character. :) I don't know if we're supposed to post our blogs here and I haven't even started anything yet, but I'll go ahead and post my blog in case anyone wants to follow - I'm excited to build a community of writers following their creative dreams! https://annielizabergen.wordpress.com/
I am currently an out-of-work travel writer so this is my pivot. I am diving into the deep end with my first short novel for Amazon, while writing about the process as I go. I'm not sure if the novel will make it in 31 posts but it's a fun target to aim at. I have found that working on it has inspired a deluge of how-to post ideas for first-timers. The goal is to essentially create two eBooks a few months apart-- the novel and the how-I-did-it. The story is a short beach mystery featuring a kleptomaniac travel writer who gets involved in a murder on an exotic island by stealing the wrong damn thing. The lead is female.
OMG! You have to do two-- promise that you will. I would read your story of growing up a Lear in a heartbeat and I think millions would. But the title that struck a deep chord with me is the Mirrors of Awakening option. I think we need it right now.
Ok. I'll do both :-) Was kinda planning that anyway... But I'll get my feet wet with the Lear one, while letting the other get its roots firmly in the ground.
I like them both! How about the benefits to your reader for developing creative freedom? Or emotional freedom? What would that provide them that they don't currently have? Focus on the results.
Also thinking 31 Lessons from a Late Bloomer but not sure I have 32 things to say about that one. I should add here that I’m a coach and thinking of using what I write as a potential lead magnet.
I'm a high school English teacher, too! Well, minus this year, because San Diego has too many English teachers, apparently. If you go forward with your memoir idea, I'd love to hear more about it! Exchange war stories... you know... ;)
Wow! There are so many amazing ideas on this thread. I've been struggling with making a final decision for my own BYOB. I think I've landed on it though now.
31 Essays on Loving My Transgender Son
I'm hoping I'll have a very personal story by the end to turn into a nonfiction book. I've written personal stuff before, but I feel like this might be laying it all out there. I hope I can do it.
I'm struggling to figure out if my idea for a book will work for this format. Before finding this challenge, I was starting to plan out an e-book for those, particularly women, who have gone through a huge life upset, with ideas for how to take control and get through a massive, often upsetting change. I had also planned to do some cartoons for each chapter to bring some humor to the situation. I'm not sure that works with blogging it or not. I'm not even sure if I want to blog the posts before I make the book. I'm torn.
I think that’s a great idea and love the thought of the cartoons bringing humour to a difficult time. I think people (Particularly women) need humour to keep them going through tough times. What have u got to loose by testing the content through blogging? You can still write the book after but would have help with the editing. 😁
Came up with several possibilities. And now I'm on the Tech Call with Meg to learn how to create a survey so I can post it to Facebook (and insta?) But here are my possibilites:
1) PRAYERS AND FEVER DREAMS: 31 Poems of Impossible Outcomes to Start Taking Seriously
2) CONFESSIONS OF A FAILING BUDDHIST: 31 Days of Compassion
3) 31 STORIES FROM AN UNTRAINED HEIRESS: Snapshots Through a Child's Eyes--Growing up in a Learjet
4) 31 MOMENTS OF AWAKENING: The World Is Showing Us Who We Are. Now what?
5) "31 DAYS OF RIGHT SPEECH: A Deep Dive Into Listening (What Motivates Us When We Talk?)"
#2 sounds intriguing!!! But #3 caught my attention! My dad worked for Lear when he first moved to Michigan back in the 50's. He designed cockpits. And I remember him saying that they had a daughter they named Shanda. Any relation to you?
#5 is probably the most relatable to everyone, but I like the uniqueness of some of your other ones. You bring a different perspective that I'd be curious to read just because they're unique!
I've been circling around lots of ideas related to small business processes, editing and proofreading but the one thing I keep coming back to is:
31 ways to improve your written communications
Broad enough for me to be able to write 31 decent-sized posts - and also one of the stated aims of my business: to help improve written communications.
I am torn between two ideas, writing 31 poems for my poetry book or writing a series of posts about decisions I have made in my past and how they might have been different if I knew then what I know now. What advice I'd give my younger self.
Love the decisions theme. I spent so long in destructive dithering, until I discovered Susan Jeffers. Only caution I would add is to give it a positive slant so it doesn’t become a book of regrets.
Hey Ninjas - I'm crazy late to the party, but intrigued by the BYOB project!
My reader is Jen, late 40's, her kids are teens or grown, and she finds herself with much more time to pursue her own passions..except it's been so long, she struggles with the guilt of taking time to explore her writing and art, and she struggles with self-doubt: is her creative work any good? what's the point, what's the purpose?
So, here are some themes I'm considering. Any jump out at you, especially if you're my "Jen?" 😉
#1 31 days to self-love through self-expressive art
#2 31 steps to create a daily art-making habit
#3 31 mini creative projects you can start + finish in less than 30/60/90 minutes a day
#4 31 days to reconnect with your inner artistic child
#5 31 ways to unblock as a writer by playing with other art mediums
#6 31 ways to express your creativity daily and reconnect with your inner silly spirit
They all sound like something I'd like to read. Because she has a wonder about God's plan for her I'd go with #5. Looks like a big book in the works so the devotional could be a gift with pre-order. Well done!
No. 4 resonates. I have moved twice in the last 5 years - not far, but far enough so that I can't just pop in to see old friends or do any of the activities I used to. I wish I'd had a book on that.
And isn't it also possible to go deep enough into the principles of gardening that you could see the racial/social troubles and the way through them to a better place --by looking through the prism of how the earth works?
Catherine. We need this book so badly. I am so inspired by reading all these ideas. And yours has certainly hit a nerve with me. "While at the same time not internalizing personal attacks." WOW. Nobody is talking about that one. Please write this book.
Catherine, I'm very moved by your post and your ideas. Of course I want you to offer whatever you can to those women in trauma, without losing your bearings of course! and of course we have to be gentle if we want people to explore how the racial issues impact their lives. The point of books like White Fragility I hope is to take the shame and attack out of the conversations and we have a ways to go. I'm stuck by what I am hearing as how gardening is very grounding and restorative for you. this may be a crazy idea but I picture a book that alternates between looking at our issues in a deep way and then you turn the page and get a gardening/nature restorative break to regroup and ground between the harder stuff. sort of a both/and. self care and going deep. anyway, we get to do more than one book. oh, you could do half and half and end up with two books as well. anyway, my main point it to take my hat off and honor you for the work you do and for taking care of yourself and others!!! all the best!
All the brainstorming happening here is AMAZING! Keep it up!
Thanks.
I'm planning to do 31 Quick Wins to become less overwhelmed as an entrepreneur. It complements the courses I'm developing and I'll either be able to use it as a Pocket Product or lead magnet when it's done.
I’m a big YES for this, Dani!
Yep, sign me up too. Fab idea.
Oh, sign me up!! I'm launching this month and I'm in total overwhelm mode!
(What is a Pocket Product? I've never heard that term before.)
I feel like overwhelm is the default setting for most entrepreneurs these days, especially during a launch!
A Pocket Product is an inexpensive product that you use to get leads - so almost like a paid lead magnet. It's usually something small that solves a pain point for your audience and leads toward your bigger offering.
Great idea! I think it's easy to become overwhelmed as an entrepreneur.
I'm hoping to do a 31 days to reduce plastic and start on a more eco-friendly lifestyle!
YES!
Kirstin, I see ways to monetize these blogs too (on your own website). My daughter is big into this and is constantly recommending products to me. You might as well make an affiliate commission if you're going to be suggesting specific products to use (I can think of half a dozen right now). I think this would be a very hot topic!
Yes, I am hoping to get that all up and running to do something with it, but as of now, I don't have a blog yet (I know... this is a BLOG your own book challenge... gotta get that going haha!) Thank you for the input and encouragement!
You can use Medium.com for now. Or create a Blogger blog.
Yes. And Medium pays you!
Only if you can sign up for a Stripe account which I can't do from Antigua.
Love this one.
Thanks! That's really encouraging that someone might find it useful!
Fantastic topic! And one that's deceptively complex. A series with actionable daily actions would be amazing.
Oh good! I was a bit worried that maybe no one would be interested but it's good to know maybe there are people out there looking for this sort of content!
I'm a chef and have been working at a vegetable farm for the past 8 years, trying to get people to eat more vegetables. I am going to write a cooking guide for using fresh produce. I want to divide up the posts by vegetables by season and have a few posts about using equipment and helpful cooking tips.
Please write it so that people in different latitudes can figure out what season your plants are being harvested. Around here (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) we have about half the growing season of another part of Ontario on the north shore of Lake Erie. In fact, I grew up only 100 miles from the north shore of Lake Erie, and the climate and growing season was very similar to Ottawa. A little altitude makes a difference, especially when it creates much cloudier weather!
Thanks Rob, yes I'm going to try to focus on cooking and not the seasons. I wanted to create sections by groups of vegetables instead.
Love this idea!
Wonderful, I definitely want to read that!
This sounds so wonderful. Can't wait to see it.
I love this!
Yes, please!
I adore this idea! We're always trying to incorporate more plants into our meals and eat more locally, and I'll take all the guides I can get on the subject!
I think this is timely—seasonal eating and during quarantine more people have been planting gardens and now need to know what to do with all that produce.
31 Days to Healthier Eating with Farm Fresh Produce
31 Days to Turning Your Fall Harvest into Mouth-Watering Dishes
31 Ways to Create Meals Your Family Will Love with Seasonal Produce
I'm a vegan. I'm totally intrigued by this!!
I want to blog my own book on the topic of starting a career in writing online. I had a few friends a while back tell me that I should write an eBook on the topic!
I think there's a huge market for that, especially because millions of people are unemployed right now because of COVID-19.
Yeah for sure. Thanks!
great topic. If you're a club or Academy member or doing the paid substack subscription, you can submit a blog post on writing online to our Ninja Writers Pub. It could be a good fit for the Work column
No, not a member yet but maybe one day soon!
Sounds really cool to me.
Thank you!
I just started eating a Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet and chronicling my weight loss. This month will be researching the WFPB Diet and the Engine 2 Diet and building out the structure of those 31 days.
I'm really excited about it, my first post got some good eyeballs. And I registered for Medium's partner program so maybe can make a couple pennies too!
Yay! That's how I eat, too, and I love it.
I also follow the WFPB & Engine 2 eating plan. I think that a lot of people are interested in this lifestyle, but are overwhelmed by learning a new way of preparing food. Anything that offers SIMPLE, and easy to implement ideas will be a winner!
I was planning on writing about fantasy world building.
I'm in for this Chip. I would love to get better at world-building.
i'd settle for a one-bedroom nirvana but indeed. let's take over the GD World :-)
I'd follow this Chip. I'm writing fantasy and I sometimes struggle with world building.
Is there anything specific y'all struggle with that you'd like to see addressed?
My heart hit a topic, but my head freaked out... 31 questions to ask yourself before taking your life.
My heart is gung ho. I worked as a crisis counselor on the national suicide prevention hotline for a time. While they do the best the can and I'm happy they exist, as an organization it has its limits. I often found myself wanting to ask questions of the callers that I wasn't allowed to, but I felt would be valuable to explore.
My head wants to stop me before I start though, because I know at least some of it will be controversial... But then again I've heard it said that if you aren't pissing at least a few people off, you probably aren't doing anything important... We'll see what I decide.
Please write this book. I would buy it even if I weren't contemplating taking my own life. Because those have to be important questions. I've come as close as writing my letter and cleaning my house. So write the book. You don't know whose life you might save, or what families you might get to start talking. Very important idea, PLUS the title grabs you right away.
Thank you. After I posted this I just wrote down some ideas, some of the questions, and my head is more on board :) I think I'll be writing it.
Clicking on a heart is usually a good way to say "Yeah!", but these hearts are so small...
This is a heart trick. Take a deep breath and thank your mind for its irrelevant opinion.
This sounds so powerful. Do it!
I say go for it.
LOL, I love it. I was a crisis line volunteer for years. There is a range of things one thinks. These change through the years your volunteering or working. One important use could be in training for new workers.
how great -- this seems like a great opportunity to write about "taboo" subjects, and this is one (the meaning of life, and death itself) that we often just steer clear of in our society. good luck!
We traveled for 3 years with our kids, mostly in Mexico. When the pandemic struck we were surprised how much those years of travel and change and homeschooling and remote work prepared us for living in quarantine and dealing with the current state of affairs.
I was considering making this my focus, 31 ways that full time travel prepared us for the global pandemic. Some of it would be skills, like home schooling and working from home, and some of it is mind set, like the ability to adapt to change and being comfortable with just our family instead of a full community. There is also the aspect of knowing that we can leave the U.S. if conditions here become too unstable (assuming any borders remain open,) the awareness of possibilities beyond what is considered normal life in the U.S.
Would you read this?
I would totally read this! Huge life lessons baked in, especially appealing , I think, to those of us with kids.
More important than if I'd read it is that I have a long list of people I'd recommend it to. I like it!
Absolutely!
What I would really like to do is blog about mental health and suicide prevention, as I've always wanted to do a book about that ( I have bipolar disorder and have had my own struggles in the past, and was a suicidal teenager and young adult. The suicide rate among young people, particularly teens, has skyrocketed and since I have "been there" and know what it is like to feel that way, I thought I might be able to reach some of those struggling teens. I also have advice from a lifetime of learning how to manage depression and suicidal feelings, which are now mainly a thing of the past, fortunately. I thought I might have some valuable things to say,and I would love to be able to help people who are where I was 20 years ago.)
The only problem is, I don't know if I will have time this challenge. I am also doing my regular writing job, which is about 5 articles a week; I'm working on a nonfiction book I want to finish by October (I'm about a quarter of the way through) and I'm working on short stories and doing the novel workshop, which is also time consuming. (Plus I have other non-writing work related projects) And I have several speaking engagements coming up in August and have to prepare for those.
So I thought I might save that idea and just do a series of poems. I have always wanted to publish a book of poetry and it would be good to get me back in the habit of writing poetry. I haven't written a poem in over 6 months and I can do a poem in an hour every day without much of a problem. A book of poetry would really be nice to do, even though I know I won't make money doing it. That's not really my main priority anyway. Hopefully enough friends and people who know me for my nonfiction will buy it that I will break even from what I spend on the cover. But I just want to do it for the sake of a personal goal.
So I'm a bit torn. I think given all the other work I'm doing I should save the mental health stuff for a future challenge or just do it on my own after I'm done with some of the other projects I'm working on.
I have bipolar disorder, too, and I write poetry to help me cope. I'd love to read more poetry about mental illness. Even if you don't BYOB about mental illness (poetry or a book), I hope you write it someday. The world needs to hear voices like yours. Take care. :)
Your insights about suicide would be timely whenever it's best for you to write them. Once we go through BYOB, we can keep doing it...or do it later. the teaching materials will be there for us!!! it's one of those wash...rinse...repeat thingies!!! all the best, Sarah!
This is such an important topic! Hope you can find the time.
Hi Sarah. I think this is wonderful. If I can support you in any way please let me know. I'm on FB and in the Ninja group there too. Whichever topic you decide, I wish you all the best! I'll come clap your blogs if you post on Medium and follow you as well.
Thank you so much!
I remember Shaunta saying it's ok to write about something you're learning. I wanted to do 31 Day Organization Challenge and Apply it to myself and use it for my BYOB-
What a great idea! You could invite your readers to join you on your challenge (like Shaunta has done with us). I think we all could benefit from an organization challenge!
I really like this idea. Each day could be something that we could tackle. I do so much better with a deadline. Would definitely follow.
I have a couple of film-related ideas: the women of sci-fi, what sci-fi taught me, or looking at Generation X films and filmmakers (a "movies that made us" kind of thing). Although I write content for businesses, film is my passion, and I'd like to highlight my film and culture writing. (I've written about Ellen Ripley, Gattaca, Jurassic Park, A Quiet Place...) I feel like I should mention that I was a crime journalist for 10 years and previously wrote an ebook on "The Closer" for HyperInk, which went absolutely nowhere. I've had a slim thread of an idea before about fictional female detectives, and I still enjoy a good thriller, but after writing about real crimes for so long, I like to say I prefer fictional mayhem.
Female superheroes is a definite read by me
I love the idea of writing about female supeheroes. That's what I imagine I would be in another life or in a parallel universe.
I appreciate the support. Just to be clear, I wasn't thinking of female superheroes specifically, although I suppose there could be some crossover. Women of sci-fi to me meant female science fiction characters in film, so Ripley (of course), Furiosa, Leia, Rey, Gamora, several portrayed by Scarlett Johansson -- but also characters like Scully, Amy Adams's linguist in Arrival, and the women of Annihilation.
I have a couple ideas:
1. I will likely do something about the first 31 days of sobriety or the first year of sobriety.
2. My other idea is to do 31 days about deciding to have bariatric surgery and the first year post-surgery.
HI Tamera. The first idea would resonate with a lot of people. It could relate to drugs, alcohol, diet, sex, or anxiety. Really pretty well anything. Having accountability to this post would be great especially when starting, a lot of people are uncomfortable in the company of others. Listening to someone that has gone through this makes it real. Also when you publish you could sell this as something to have in your pocket all the time as you need it! You go girl.
I have no idea. My current obsessions are minimalism, poetry, and mental illness. (I have bipolar disorder.) I don't know if I can think of 31 posts about minimalism, but I am interested in exploring how minimalism helps people (me) cope with mental illness. I started writing a memoir about growing up and living with bipolar, but I haven't made a decision about publication, so it might not be the best idea to post on Medium.
Becky, this is a great idea!! My son has bi-polar disorder and I know from him that a calm, clutter-free environment is very important to his well being. Worth exploring!
Minimalism can include where you made mistakes, and how you overcame them. Small incidents. Those things can help you reach 31 topics.
Have you joined a group of minimalists? Or an email list about it?
Maybe you can post your reaction to things you heard and read about. "No, trading in a large 5 seater pickup for a 7 seater minivan is not minimalism. Now if you traded in your other two cars and only kept the minivan, that might be becoming more minimalist. I know you can't get Uber where you live."
I don't belong to a group of minimalists, but I follow several on YouTube, listen to podcasts, read books, and sign up for newsletters. I like the idea of reacting to things I've heard and read, because people have so many misconceptions. Even now, many people think minimalists have all-white homes with black and chrome furniture, or they think Marie Kondo told them to throw out all their books. (She didn't, and she's not a minimalist anyway, so...) Thanks for the ideas, Rob. I appreciate it!
I think I'd go with the minimalism topic. That's an intriguing one with wide appeal and then you can take your time deciding about publication for the memoir.
Thanks for the feedback, Meg!
I am hoping to create a mini-book that will tie into a memoir I am writing. My memoir the inspiring of six kids growing up off-grid on an Alaskan homestead—with a seriously mentally ill mother. The focus is on how the relationships of myself and my siblings and our love of nature, created resilience to help us survive and thrive.
It is a hopeful book for our times that celebrates the traits homestead requires. SO- all that said to ask, which would be more interesting to you:
#1. 31 essential steps to self-sufficiency (finding a home, starting a garden, raising animals, water, off-grid, etc.
#2. 31 Pioneer traits of toughness (and how to develop them in your life)
#3. 31 Alaskan stories of bears, berries, and adventure. Growing up on a real homestead.
Thank you for your input.
I'd say number one!
#1 seems so timely. Many people are beginning to think seriously about food security and related issues right now.
#1 sounds fantastic!
I'd be down for #1 - been thinking about this a lot
So so lost with this. The idea that keeps circling around is "31 Mirrors of Awakening (The world is showing us who we are. Let's do something about it.) Each day would be a short story about that happening.
One example is my having said to my wife, "I can't believe 'they'--you know, the people over there on the other side--have just swallowed that point of view whole, without even questioning it!" And then seeing on one of 'their' Facebook pages say the EXACT SAME WORDS about me and my people. Wow. So what to do, when we see how deeply entrenched we are in our beliefs? We could start by seeing them as beliefs. Not as the truth. This gradually gets ideas out of the way so we can experience one another as human beings.
May be I called it "31 Moments of Awakening." For some reason, "mirrors" made it sound too claustraphobic, too "hall of mirrors".
I love your idea. Even the 'fact-checkers' aren't checking facts. We are bombarded with words and Parrott back those words --but with anger. I think we need your blogs!
Seriously have no idea how this is going to work, but I'm going to write 31 pieces of flash fiction all based around a teen spy (I write YA fiction) ... I have 30 of the 31 prompts figured out ... now I'm just trying to stay out of the "this is a dumb idea and totally won't work" part of my brain. LOL!
Me too--on keeping my brain thinking this will work. Glad to see that someone else is writing fiction. I was feeling a bit lonely or crazy.
Yes!!! You can follow along here >> HTTP://christenkrumm.com ... where will you be posting? I'll be sure to read!!
LOL. I am thinking about this, too.
Even if it is dumb, it could still work. LOL!!!
Shane, that sounds like a fun blog post!
I'm very excited about BYOB and have at least two ideas. My first was How to Bring Poetry into your Life. this could include both poetry appreciation and beginning writing suggestions. I would have a lot of fun doing that. AND, I've written a humorous novel with some adorable and quirky characters. Last year wrote three blog posts as if I were my main character and one as if I were his wife. They tend to disagree on just about everything so it's lots of fun. So my latest idea is 31 blog posts as if written by several of my characters...which can include some point-counterpoint back and forth. I got very excited about this one and have an idea list ready to go!!! wanted to share this here as other fiction writers could do this. I haven't patterned it yet. Also, it can be a marketing tool for the book and get readers introduced to and involved with my characters ahead of reading the actual novel. This will also support my website in progress!!! would love any comments folks have about either idea! thanks!
I have herd of authors creating social media accounts for their characters and post as if they are the character. What you are doing sounds very similar to this. It's interesting.
Originally I was going to blog about my relationship book, but realized that book will probably end up being more than 60,000 words.
This morning I decided to do a scripting prompt challenge to manifest a specific person for the 31 days. I even have the title of this book already. Making good progress.
The scripting prompt challenge sounds interesting. You could also blog about just one topic from your relationship book. Take that one subject and go deeper.
The scripting challenge is coming from the relationship book. But as I think deeper and and deeper about it, I have come to realized that it can be a stand alone book separate from the original relationship book.
Thanks for your idea.
I have a couple of ideas--How To Thrive on a Small Farm--31 Ways to Persevere or The Food of My Ancestors--31 Dishes that Mean Home and Family
I love these ideas! I am interested in Micro-Farming! :) I believe it's a pretty hot topic
Thanks. Since so many people were home and gardening this spring, it feels like the next step for some could be a market business.
Love "How To Thrive on a Small Farm" - I would read it!!
Thank you. Good to have a reader right from the gate.
I like this idea of tackling one subject for 31 days. I have a binder full of ideas but have never been able to corral my brain long enough to focus on one subject and finish it. I'm more of an idea generator, never-finisher, so this will force me to focus on one thing. In 31 days, I can let my right brain out to run amuck again. Or maybe, this might set me on the path to really learning and establishing the "habit" of writing. and ultimately finishing every single idea in that binder. That would be something!! =)
I have a few ideas that I have too much experience in, but would/could be helpful to others who may be experiencing the same thing.
1. 31 Things to Consider When You're Contemplating Divorce.
2. If you can't leave your difficult relationship, here are 31 ways to deal with staying.
3. When you quit drinking and he won't, 31 ways to deal with that Bull$hit.
Then, I have less traumatic more vanilla ideas:
1. 31 Days of Handmade Gifts to Get a Jumpstart on the Holidays
2. 31 Days to Starting Your Garden. A Complete but Simple Planning Guide.
3. 31 Meditation Prompts for Self Evaluation and Awareness
Would love any feedback to help me decide which would be most relevant and interesting.
Thanks for reading.
Titles aren't set in stone, but you get the gist.
Have a great day everyone!!
I'd go non-vanilla, be brave! If you're posting on Medium, Relationships and Addiction are very popular topics so those first three are great ideas for that.
I agree! The more vulnerable a writer is, the more popular the topic/posts seem to be!
I agree...go for the deeper stuff! You want to identify your readers' pain if possible. I think you've nailed it with these first three!
Def go non-vanilla. I can empathise strongly with your topic and think they would be popular. Its such a difficult time there will be lots of people looking for perspectives from those who have been through it.
I had thought about doing a series on my journey through depression and anxiety but I'm having second thoughts. I don't want the series to come across as a month-long pity party.
Do it, Dave! I'm writing mine on my journey through Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I'm having a hard time figuring out how to organize it, tbh. If you move forward with this topic, I'd love to hear how you're going to organize your posts. And for what it's worth, your story is so much more than your story. Not everyone can put words to their struggle. Those who can (like you, hopefully!), help validate and comfort others who are suffering in silence. Your story will help people feel not so alone. It will help others feel understood, and I don't know about you, but for me, if I can do that, it will be worth it.
And also for what it's worth, it seems far fewer men speak up about depression and anxiety than women do. Your voice is much needed.
Trying again.
Hi Dave. Depression and anxiety are so important. We all know or live with someone who has some level of them. Or are them.
Dump it on us! Seeing someone else's journey will help us see ourselves in a different light.
Even if it's a darker light.
We can take it.
Software! I saw that it had dumped two copies of my words onto the screen, so I tried to delete one. And both of them were deleted. (sigh) That was disgusting computer behaviour. I always expect better, but I am often disappointed. Naughty software!
maybe honing it down into specific aspects for daily entries would help you avoid the trap of feeling like it's a pity party. and remembering why you're writing about it, what your goal is. "journey" doesn't sound like "pity" to me -- it sounds like you're traveling through something and reflecting on it. good luck!
I am torn. I want to blog about being a queer Jewish convert in exile from the South. Identity, basically. Shaunta has encouraged me that people would find it interesting. I'm not sure. I don't want to be too self-referential.
Cynthia, think about your reader, remember to "interview" them - what are they struggling with that you have experienced and can shed some light on. And - is it enough to fill a month of posts? I like to start my brainstorming by saying "Something I want to tell you is..."
I am planning a series of 31 short stories about either music or games. I need to take the next few days to figure out which one looks more promising
Love the thought of short stories based on music. I love listening to lyrics and developing a plot around them.
I want to write something about my relationship with my late father. I love him, I miss him, but I don't want to be anything like him. He was a miserable person, but I think I can learn something from his sadness. Thoughts?
31 Life Lessons Learned From My Father
31 Ways to Avoid the Mistakes of Your Parents
31 Days to Finding Happiness (base it on what you learned from observing your father's life choices) I could do this on my mom!!
This is an intriguing topic Lindsay. I lost my father in 2011 and we weren't always close because he was raised when racism was unbelievably still seen as just the way it was. My youngest two girls' father was a POC and it took Dad awhile to come around to that. He was a good man but unbeknownst to me he was depressed and didn't take medication until those last few years. Perhaps your dad had undiagnosed depression? It was common with that generation--they were too proud to seek help, especially the men. So maybe looking at your father, not as your father, but as a man struggling to survive during his generation, might give some additional insight to your posts?
Interesting. I'll factor that in
I'm currently planning on writing about The Road to Data Driven Decisions. I essentially address the most common hurdles a company faces in its transition to making data driven decisions and how to overcome them.
Oh, I love this! Data-Driven Decisions is something I harp on with my clients, I'd love to follow when you get to posting in Aug!
I'm glad to hear positive feedback about the topic. I'd love on-going feedback as I publish as well. So, please follow and comment.
I'm a little late to the game, playing catch up. I'm thinking of 31 Reflections on Following Jesus through an Anxiety Disorder. Might be a bit wordy. I'm planning to base it on the book I've been writing for the past 1.5 years, which I'm titling, *Anxious with Jesus.* I'm totally stuck on my book's structure (despite the 100 pages I've written), so I'm hopeful that this BYOB challenge can help me see things from a new angle and get unstuck!
How about 31 Reflections on Overcoming Anxiety by Following Jesus? Or 31 Devotions on Overcoming Anxiety? (following Jesus is implied)
Hi Christine! Thanks for taking the time to help me brainstorm! To clarify, my book is moreso about giving my readers freedom to *not* overcome their anxiety disorders. God has done a lot of healing in my journey, but I certainly have not been cured. I think people of faith need freedom and permission to *not* overcome their disorders, because, well, some disorders stick. I am presenting a new paradigm for mental illness in the Church--not as deficiencies of faith--but as thorns God allows us to bear in order to draw us closer in relationship with Him. That may be TMI on my book, but there it is! Hope it makes some sense, and thanks again for commenting! <3
I'm thinking 31 steps towards contentment. Encompassing looking at various aspects that hold us back, (finance, confidence, self esteem, relationships, health, nutrition, work life balance). But don't want it to be a how to.... more of an exploration of ideas to get people thinking. Not sure if there's already too much of this out there??
My initial reaction is to pick one of these. Maybe it's a 31 day action plan to achieve financial contentment. How can your reader be content with what they have? What is their drive to spend? How can they find satisfaction from something else? (just brainstorming here) Of course, it also depends on what you want to use this for (A book? A lead magnet?) And who your audience is.
Thanks for taking the time to comment Christine you made me think about what I want to use the book for. I’m not sure which of these is the main driver really??
a. Putting out there some tips to help move towards the life u want. I’ve thought about this so much having recently separated.
b. I’m training as a nutrition coach and it has become clear that there are so many conflicting drivers that control our behaviour towards food, financial, psychological, relationships etc.
I have only four topics to choose from so far.
Is that enough? <grin>
- the roots of our economic and political systems
- my growth as an emotional person since I was a youth
- a manifesto for a Green World
- Suggestions for how your spiritual path could be very personal, like mine
I think writing about emotional and/or spiritual growth is timely because COVID-19 has forced me (and some of my friends & family) to reevaluate what's important in my life. Many are struggling to get by as best as we can, and we (general "we") don't have the same support systems/coping mechanisms in place. I'm just spitballing here, but examining our lives through an emotional or spiritual lens could benefit a lot of us. (General "we/us", I'm not pointing fingers, preaching to myself, etc.)
Rephrase the first one:
- The roots of our racist, patriarchal, classist, and destructive economic and political systems
What would suggestions for your spiritual path look like? I think this is an interesting topic depending on what you want to cover. (ie 31 Days to a Closer Walk with God, or 31 Spiritual Practices for a Deeper Connection with...?) Are you comfortable writing about this topic if it's deeply personal to you? Are you planning to be transparent? Or just offer advice?
Transparent - yes.
Offer advice - some of the things I want to say are out of my experience and I have already learned them, so just being transparent about my daily round is not enough.
My actual writing (not 31 in August, maybe 4 or 10) will be about spirit in my daily life, where that is, where I am taking it.
There will likely be some training about basic skills.
My writing is limited by my ability to write at Medium-curatable levels in small gaps between the other stuff.
Maybe I should rephrase that? My personal path has been "mine", very different from other people that I know.
Deities:
I went for 30 years following "The Goddess".
(Me = cis-male)
Then, in a meditation trance, Artemis took me to the tropics and gave me an animal spirit I had never seen before. I had to look it up on the interwebs.
Skipping stories: I now have Artemis, Kali, Brigid, and White Buffalo with me.
Healing modalities:
At age 17, I asked my preacher why our adult class didn't cover the "adult" stuff, like laying on of hands.
I now practice and teach several healing modalities such as energy healing (like Reiki), aura massage (like Therapeutic Touch - some nurses use that in Canada), asking spirit guides to do the healing, I once did past-life regression when it was needed. (I think I missed a few)
I am learning Mindfulness, and others.
I have asked spirit world for help/training that is specific to to where I am in life, what I need.
And I am now figuring out how to make spiritual stuff more useful in my everyday life.
That's important, and I am only now starting (again) to learn it.
Wow, I love your ideas.
Me, too. But I think it's best if I choose one to do first. <grin>
I had not realized that I actually have some superfans, but I have 4:
Two of them are people who were in my spiritualism classes in the 90's, and the other 2 are friends who dance with them in a Dance/meditation group once a week.
I asked for their opinion of the topics above and then added another:
- "write about my journey in spiritual learning"
And that was the one they chose.
For the benefit of other people who, like me, may not be able to write 31 blogs in August:
- I can't do that.
I am falling back on the higher goal - "make a teeny tiny goal that you can succeed at!"
- I will write a little bit almost every day.
- I expect to finish and publish 4 blogs in August.
My stretch goal is 10.
Why?
I write fast enough, sometimes, but to get something that is all-on-one-topic, and has a story and a takeaway, and some humor (I want to always have humor!), have to re-write and get feedback.
And I don't have a lot of time with a full-time job and family stuff. Some days, no time, or I choose to take that time with some family members who want/need to relax with me.
The time required to write a post will become shorter as I get more experience - thanks to all the reviews! the wonderful feedback is very helpful!
All my very best, Rob
my 30-day challenge feeds my 9,000 sq. ft. challenge so the BYOBs will be the JOURNEY from Post-Fire to The Finish Line [whatever the heck that looks like]! thanks ninja warriors for being so inspirational. :-) from my 9,000 LOLs and Happy Monday!
Can you explain more about that? I don't know what a 9,000 sq. ft. challenge is, but I'm interested! And Post-Fire? Tell me more! :)
Hi Everyone! I'm new here and just catching up on all the BYOB emails and posts and instructions. There are so many amazing ideas here and I'm excited to be a part of it! I've had a fictional character called Maddy who has popped up randomly in my free-writes for years now and she writes all these funny little snippets - sort of along the lines of Bridget Jones/Amelia Bedelia - and yes, a little autobiographical if I'm totally honest! And I love her but never knew what to do with her. Then I saw Shaunta's email about BYOB! So here I am! My other great love is London, so I am doing something a little untraditional and combining my love for this fictional character with my Love for the very real places and things in London. The idea is 31 little vignettes of sorts that have Maddy exploring London - she is fictional, but the London facts and information will be totally FACT! So it could be a fun way for people to read about/visit London from their armchairs - and for me to live vicariously through my character. :) I don't know if we're supposed to post our blogs here and I haven't even started anything yet, but I'll go ahead and post my blog in case anyone wants to follow - I'm excited to build a community of writers following their creative dreams! https://annielizabergen.wordpress.com/
Brilliant! Can't wait to read Maddy's visit to London!
awww thank you so much Melinda!! I so appreciate the comment and feedback and enthusiasm <3 <3 <3
I am currently an out-of-work travel writer so this is my pivot. I am diving into the deep end with my first short novel for Amazon, while writing about the process as I go. I'm not sure if the novel will make it in 31 posts but it's a fun target to aim at. I have found that working on it has inspired a deluge of how-to post ideas for first-timers. The goal is to essentially create two eBooks a few months apart-- the novel and the how-I-did-it. The story is a short beach mystery featuring a kleptomaniac travel writer who gets involved in a murder on an exotic island by stealing the wrong damn thing. The lead is female.
Anyone willing to chime in, please do. Rate these five titles for me so I can see what resonates. THANK YOU! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13cmfZS2GwMDXGgWsvuVeTr36n9dApQr-pUU1ZHO93-0/edit
All great ideas. I had a hard time ranking them. Looking forward to reading your posts.
OMG! You have to do two-- promise that you will. I would read your story of growing up a Lear in a heartbeat and I think millions would. But the title that struck a deep chord with me is the Mirrors of Awakening option. I think we need it right now.
Ok. I'll do both :-) Was kinda planning that anyway... But I'll get my feet wet with the Lear one, while letting the other get its roots firmly in the ground.
Playing with two ideas for this:
1. Developing creative and emotional freedom
Or
2. How to come out of hiding
Love to hear your gut reactions on the appeal/intrigue... or maybe you have questions?
I like them both! How about the benefits to your reader for developing creative freedom? Or emotional freedom? What would that provide them that they don't currently have? Focus on the results.
Also thinking 31 Lessons from a Late Bloomer but not sure I have 32 things to say about that one. I should add here that I’m a coach and thinking of using what I write as a potential lead magnet.
I would read 31 Lessons from a Late Bloomer!
(I meant 31 things to say!)
I love it. You're meaning hiding as a creative?
Hiding as a person, like hiding feelings, and... maybe secrets?
Both are important. I'd do #1 first. Looking forward to them both. So you've 62 posts.
I like both but start with #1
I have seen some many projects go awry, particularly those that non-profits need doing that I've considered the following:
*
31 ways to guide the conversion of manual systems to digital systems
*
31 days to mastering systems engineering for non-profits
*
31 things to do when working with a consultant
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31 thing to avoid while managing a software project
*
31 systems and tools for making the shift to being a project manager.
*
31 days to a comprehensive understanding of non-profit business
So far I'm leaning toward some modification of the first one.
I have 2 ideas for #31daysbyob
1: sharing 31 peoples stories calling it er’day peoples
2: introducing my characters and having them tell a little about there lives from my book idea.
3: is a mix of sharing real peoples stories and my characters stories.
I was thinking of doing something about my time as a high school English teacher. A memoir.
I'm a high school English teacher, too! Well, minus this year, because San Diego has too many English teachers, apparently. If you go forward with your memoir idea, I'd love to hear more about it! Exchange war stories... you know... ;)
Elizabeth, this could be very interesting! Did you teach grammar or literature?
I taught mainly literature but we covered a bit of grammar as well.
Wow! There are so many amazing ideas on this thread. I've been struggling with making a final decision for my own BYOB. I think I've landed on it though now.
31 Essays on Loving My Transgender Son
I'm hoping I'll have a very personal story by the end to turn into a nonfiction book. I've written personal stuff before, but I feel like this might be laying it all out there. I hope I can do it.
I'm struggling to figure out if my idea for a book will work for this format. Before finding this challenge, I was starting to plan out an e-book for those, particularly women, who have gone through a huge life upset, with ideas for how to take control and get through a massive, often upsetting change. I had also planned to do some cartoons for each chapter to bring some humor to the situation. I'm not sure that works with blogging it or not. I'm not even sure if I want to blog the posts before I make the book. I'm torn.
I think that’s a great idea and love the thought of the cartoons bringing humour to a difficult time. I think people (Particularly women) need humour to keep them going through tough times. What have u got to loose by testing the content through blogging? You can still write the book after but would have help with the editing. 😁
Came up with several possibilities. And now I'm on the Tech Call with Meg to learn how to create a survey so I can post it to Facebook (and insta?) But here are my possibilites:
1) PRAYERS AND FEVER DREAMS: 31 Poems of Impossible Outcomes to Start Taking Seriously
2) CONFESSIONS OF A FAILING BUDDHIST: 31 Days of Compassion
3) 31 STORIES FROM AN UNTRAINED HEIRESS: Snapshots Through a Child's Eyes--Growing up in a Learjet
4) 31 MOMENTS OF AWAKENING: The World Is Showing Us Who We Are. Now what?
5) "31 DAYS OF RIGHT SPEECH: A Deep Dive Into Listening (What Motivates Us When We Talk?)"
#2 sounds intriguing!!! But #3 caught my attention! My dad worked for Lear when he first moved to Michigan back in the 50's. He designed cockpits. And I remember him saying that they had a daughter they named Shanda. Any relation to you?
#5 is probably the most relatable to everyone, but I like the uniqueness of some of your other ones. You bring a different perspective that I'd be curious to read just because they're unique!
Yup. Shanda is my sister. Thanks for the comment. It's helping me decide.
I've been circling around lots of ideas related to small business processes, editing and proofreading but the one thing I keep coming back to is:
31 ways to improve your written communications
Broad enough for me to be able to write 31 decent-sized posts - and also one of the stated aims of my business: to help improve written communications.
Great idea!
I am torn between two ideas, writing 31 poems for my poetry book or writing a series of posts about decisions I have made in my past and how they might have been different if I knew then what I know now. What advice I'd give my younger self.
31 Things I Wish I'd Known When I Was 21 (or whatever age you pick)
31 Things I Would Have Done Differently If I Knew Then What I Know Now
31 Decisions That Changed the Course of My Life...And How I Could Have Avoided Them
Love the decisions theme. I spent so long in destructive dithering, until I discovered Susan Jeffers. Only caution I would add is to give it a positive slant so it doesn’t become a book of regrets.
Hey Ninjas - I'm crazy late to the party, but intrigued by the BYOB project!
My reader is Jen, late 40's, her kids are teens or grown, and she finds herself with much more time to pursue her own passions..except it's been so long, she struggles with the guilt of taking time to explore her writing and art, and she struggles with self-doubt: is her creative work any good? what's the point, what's the purpose?
So, here are some themes I'm considering. Any jump out at you, especially if you're my "Jen?" 😉
#1 31 days to self-love through self-expressive art
#2 31 steps to create a daily art-making habit
#3 31 mini creative projects you can start + finish in less than 30/60/90 minutes a day
#4 31 days to reconnect with your inner artistic child
#5 31 ways to unblock as a writer by playing with other art mediums
#6 31 ways to express your creativity daily and reconnect with your inner silly spirit
I'm leaning toward #6.
They all sound like something I'd like to read. Because she has a wonder about God's plan for her I'd go with #5. Looks like a big book in the works so the devotional could be a gift with pre-order. Well done!
31 Steps to Creating a New You I love it! :) I need to do this ;) <3
I love the all. And that doesn't help you much. I say go with the first one first and you can write the others later.
No. 4 resonates. I have moved twice in the last 5 years - not far, but far enough so that I can't just pop in to see old friends or do any of the activities I used to. I wish I'd had a book on that.
And isn't it also possible to go deep enough into the principles of gardening that you could see the racial/social troubles and the way through them to a better place --by looking through the prism of how the earth works?
Catherine. We need this book so badly. I am so inspired by reading all these ideas. And yours has certainly hit a nerve with me. "While at the same time not internalizing personal attacks." WOW. Nobody is talking about that one. Please write this book.
Catherine, I'm very moved by your post and your ideas. Of course I want you to offer whatever you can to those women in trauma, without losing your bearings of course! and of course we have to be gentle if we want people to explore how the racial issues impact their lives. The point of books like White Fragility I hope is to take the shame and attack out of the conversations and we have a ways to go. I'm stuck by what I am hearing as how gardening is very grounding and restorative for you. this may be a crazy idea but I picture a book that alternates between looking at our issues in a deep way and then you turn the page and get a gardening/nature restorative break to regroup and ground between the harder stuff. sort of a both/and. self care and going deep. anyway, we get to do more than one book. oh, you could do half and half and end up with two books as well. anyway, my main point it to take my hat off and honor you for the work you do and for taking care of yourself and others!!! all the best!
Of course, I could get scared and chicken out.