Photo from Google Image search, credit goes to ????

I made it. December 31 is here. The challenge I set for myself on January 1 was to blog every day in 2013. I will call the challenge successful, but not perfect, as I did not post on four days (two in September and two in October). However, I’m ending the year with a total of 380 posts (15 more than required), 150 followers (145 more than expected), and nearly 7700 views. So even though the perfectionist in me isn’t quite convinced that the goal was met, I am still proud of my accomplishment.

I’ve learned a lot during this year:

• I do have the discipline to sit down and write (nearly) every day, so if and when I get around to writing a book, I won’t be wondering if I have the tenacity to complete it.
• Once I found out friends and family members were following my blog, I became even more neglectful than normal about writing and responding to emails. The blog became my correspondence, which was not fair.
• I find writing fiction difficult if I am not “feeling” the prompt. I know for certain now that there is no point in sitting down to write a novel until I am connected to a storyline, a setting, and/or some characters. Without a connection, my story will be crap, and the process will be painful.
• A supportive community is key to this blogger’s motivation, and I found several this year, both in writing and photography circles.
• If I am going to pursue photography with any degree of seriousness, I need a refresher course on the manual settings on my camera.
• The iPhone camera is convenient, and takes remarkable pictures for its size, but it is not a replacement for a “real” camera.
• I love looking at people photos, both portraits and candids, but I am very uncomfortable taking them. Even with permission, I feel I am invading the subject’s privacy.
• Looking through my photo archives, my favorite subjects are architecture, landscapes, and animals–I assume because there are no privacy issues. 🙂

It seems in life that every finish line crossed is actually the starting point of something else. That holds true for this blog. While I won’t be holding myself to the post-every-day regimen of the past year, I will stick to a regular routine (schedule to be determined) that will include photography challenges, responses to flash fiction prompts, and occasional commentaries on life in general. I’m also developing an idea for a personal challenge in 2014, and trying to decide on the best way to use my blog in the fulfillment of that goal. I’ll keep you posted as the plan comes together.

So, I’m taking a couple days off, but want to thank all of you who have come along for this ride in 2013. Your support, encouragement, and feedback have been invaluable in helping me make my blogging challenge a success. I look forward to continuing the journey with you in 2014!