Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Milestone: 100--and Still Counting


A writer has many successes.
Each new word captured.
Each completed sentence. Each rounded paragraph leading into the next.
Each idea that sustains and then develops.
Each character who, like a wayward
adolescent, leaves home and finds a life.
Each new metaphor that, like the exact
error it is, somehow works.
Each new book that ends--and so begins.
Selling the piece is only an exclamation point,
a spot of punctuation.
--Jane Yolen, Take Joy,
A Writer's Guide to Loving the Craft
I've made it to 100! Yeaaa...

Not years. At least not yet--ha. But 100 blog posts in 14 months. I didn't know when I started blogging how rewarding the endeavor would be. I just know that, at the beginning, I said I would continue as long as it was fun. And it has been that--and more. So, for even more fun, I tried brainstorming to see if I could come up with 100 words about the blogging experience. The result?

5...10...15...20: Play. Stretch. Push. Accomplish. Go. Try. Press. Breathe. Challenge. Learn. Celebrate. Visualize. Detail. Laugh. Question. Doubt. Experiment. Create. Stumble. Regroup.

25...30...35...40: Research. Quote. Hesitate. Listen. Cheer. Meet. Change. Discuss. Read. Surf. Stir. Hop. Pop. Color. Shift. Glean. Glow. Switch. Leap. Flow.

45...50...55...60: Study. Absorb. Reflect. Draw. Sparkle. Pause. Revisit. Recharge. Re-examine. Replace. Renew. Prioritize. Relate. Release. Connect. Comment. Feel. Fuss. Fritter. Flitter.

65...70...75...80: Associate. Appreciate. Balance. Choose. Convey. Critique. Give. Encourage. Plot. Imagine. Improve. Master. Observe. Persevere. Persist. Practice. Remember. Revise. Risk. Paddle.

85...90...95...100: Sharpen. Wonder. Show. Spread. Begin. End. Suggest. Surprise. Jump. Dedicate. Help. Inspire. Prompt. Tip. Dance. Tweak. Smooth. Offer. Hope. Grow.

There, I did it! And to honor the idea of a 100-post milestone, here are links about 100s you might find interesting:
It's been quite a ride so far. I've gained more, I believe, than I 've given, because of all of the camraderie, exchanges, dialogues, tips and links that have crossed my path since the start. Hats off to you all.

Now--on to the next 100!

What words would you use to describe your blogging journey?

"For me, writing is exploration; and most of the time, I'm surprised where the journey takes me." --Jack Dann

10 comments:

  1. WOW! I can't believe you managed to get 100 words for your journey! That's awesome. Congrats on making it to 100 posts. you rock girl!

    I'd say learn. grow. friendship.

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  2. Congrats Kenda! :)

    That is a milestone. A lot of people stop blogging before that.

    And thanks for the links! I'll have to check them out. I love stuff like this.

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  3. Congrats Kenda. My 100th post will be on friday, it will also be a guest post and a giveaway as it will also be the first anniversary celebration of my blog.

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  4. Congratulations...that is awesome! My first word would be beginning!

    Carla

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  5. KENDA!

    You won the TSHIRT and the POSSUM SUMMER giveaway at Project Mayhem!

    Mucho Congrats!

    Can you email me at jenkblom (at) gmail dot com and give me your tshirt size?

    HOORAY!

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  6. Congratulations on hitting 100! And congrats for winning the contest above!!!

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  7. Congratulations! That is an accomplishment! :)

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  8. Thanks, all. Like Jane Yolen says,a writer has many sucesses--each new word, each completed sentence, each blog post!

    And JKB, I was surprised--and happy--to learn I won your giveaway. I'm heading over your way now. And can't wait to read "Possum Summer" :-)

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  9. Congrats not only on 100 posts, but that each one is always so inspiring. That is an enormous feat. Words that I would use to describe blogging? Scary. Frustrating. Stressful ... but I have also met great people online, and I have learned a great new skill as a result of blogging ... Perseverence.

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  10. What a great post, Kenda! You are so faithful to write regularly that I am inspired to do better.
    But then you always have something impressive to say, so I'll have to follow your lead on that as well.

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