Take up the Challenge
Guest bloggers wanted!
12 months ago today, I took up the Story Starter Challenge. After watching the movie Julie and Julia, totally inspired and not quite knowing what I was getting myself into, I made a decision to blog - to take on a little “taste of my own medicine” and write a post each week using Leaf’s Story Starter conversation cards as the inspiration.
What a journey!
12 months ago, I had just released this product into the market. Nobody had ever heard of Leaf, Story Starters or me. I had not met so many of the wonderful, supportive people I now call friends. 12 months ago, I would not dared have given myself the title of “blogger”. I hadn’t even realised that within me, I had a deep, yearning passion for writing, that had been lying dormant since primary school years. 12 months ago, I may have believed in “fate” but had never really put it into practice. I was a control freak, and found it hard to “go with the flow” even though I knew that I should take a big, deep breath sometimes. 12 months ago, I instinctively “knew” that these products were good, but could not have predicted the places they would take me in my life’s journey of self-discovery, and the ways they would help me grow in my roles as mother, wife, entrepreneur, community member and friend.
The truth is, these cards have taken me places I never thought I would ever go… and helped create the life journal I never thought I would have time to write. It’s not always been easy, and I haven’t always succeeded (e.g school holidays are an absolute disaster!) But through them, I have opened up a whole new world of blogging and journal keeping, and slowly become part of an incredible online community. Amazing!
So, with that in mind, I thought it was about time I extended the love a little…
While I have always welcomed contributions by publishing Weekly Story Starters on our Twitter and Facebook pages, and offering the lure of giveaways for sharing your stories, I thought it was timely to formally extend the Story Starter Challenge outwards. After all, why should I have all the fun?
Therefore, I’m looking for volunteers…
I am looking for bloggers – of all shapes, persuasions and proficiency levels to try out the Story Starter experience. Kind of like a little linky love, except that it’s here… and in advance.
How the Story Starter Challenge works
Each Wednesday at 10am (now there’s a challenge in itself(!)), I will post a Weekly Story Starter on Facebook and Twitter – in just the same way I have been doing for the past 12 months. The themes will change each week, cycling through the different Story Starter themes. Cards will be selected at random.
All you have to do is, some time during the following week, write a post inspired by those Story Starters, and drop me your link via email (to cath[at]leafjournals.com]. Then the following Wednesday I will post the links on my page, along with my own post. Of course, I’ll share the love a little more, by mentioning your wonderful efforts in whatever way I can.
The catch/lure
Just as a little enticement, I’ll be giving away one pack of Story Starter conversation cards (in your choice of theme) to one lucky “blogger” each month. Thinking I’ll do this as a random thing, with everyone who posts during the month going into a draw. What do you think?
So are you in?
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MelGardener says:
July 20, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Love this idea…have just signed up to follow you on facebook and will look forward to the first Wednesday challenge.
Mel.
Cath says:
July 20, 2011 at 9:47 pm
Hi Mel, this is all up and running, complete with LinkyTools attached. Check out the most recent post… http://leafjournals.com/topic/blog/brunching-solo-by-the-bay. Look forward to reading your Story Starter Challenge posts in the near future.