Start Your Engines: The 2017 Content Excellence Challenge Begins Now

Start Your Engines: The 2017 Content Excellence Challenge Begins Now

Reader Comments (48)

  1. Sonia, I’m in. In fact, this is just what I need right now. These days I get so consumed by “writing content” that I forget I really do like to write! 2017 is the year I fall back in love with writing. That, and nail bird pose… Thanks for the challenge!

  2. I’m totally in. I started really focusing in on a demographic, and business plan just in the last six week, so my content, and my writing is all over the place. Its more centered now, now that I know what my goals are. But for a while there, I was just churning out content and while it was useful, I don’t know that its particularly meaningful. The most recent project I’m working on is a giveaway with a bunch of other coaches and inspiration cheerleaders. Its taken a lot of time and effort to put together. I hope it takes off!

  3. Hi Sonia,
    I am totally in! Thinking of great content ideas has really taken a toll on me lately! I will definitely take heed and hopefully benefit from your awesome prompts and advice!

    Thanks for the challenge
    Aasiyah

  4. In like Flynn (or Flint if you are a James Coburn fan).

    And you can count on a chorus of Hallelujahs from me.

    2016 set the bar low. Let’s push the reset button and make 2017 memorable in a good way.

    The only thing missing in my life now is a serious mastermind to make 2017 sparkle. ***Psst! DCI team. Are you socially listening?

  5. I am just getting started on building a website. I need to focus. Thank you for helping a newbie out!

  6. Newbie here! I’m so overwhelmed by the idea of “producing content!” This is exactly what I need to start building muscle. Looking forward to 2017!

  7. Hey Sonia,
    I’m in! I love this idea 🙂 I liked what you said about being careful about not preaching values. I have had work turned down because of this and my goal is to get better. Any further suggestions on this would be appreciated. Thanks for all the tid bits of helpful info in this article as well!

    • Good stuff, Mandy!

      No substitute for “keyboard mileage.” Maybe with your writing goof-off time this month, try “writing about Justice” (just picking something at random) without using any obvious words connected with justice. Telling stories often works — let the value be felt, rather than “talking about” it.

      Sometimes, another side of this is to find some clients who actually want you to write about Justice. 🙂

      • I like these ideas of yours, Sonia and Mandy. Telling stories and letting them speak for themselves about the values I– um, value, makes a great deal of sense, too. Looking forward to the next prompts, Sonia! Thanks!

  8. Another newbie here! And in desperate need of a challenge to kick my butt in gear. Hallelujah and thank you, thank you, thank you ?

  9. Great idea Sonia. I think writing habits are the foundation of extraordinary composition.
    Definitely something I need to get better at..
    Looking forward to participating.
    Thank you.

  10. Hi Sonia:

    Happy holidays and peace on earth!
    Love the ideas here. It reminds me of the webinar Pamela recently did with Henneke where they discussed “finding creativity within structure” for a writing technique to help you build consistency and improve your writing skills and style. I’ve learned so much this year from copybloggers and especially from you and Pamela. I appreciate it. I’m always up for a challenge! Thanks again, Sue-Ann

    • Always nice to see you, Sue-Ann!

      Creativity and structure nearly always go together. Our culture thinks of creativity as being somewhat chaotic, but most creative folks work in a very structured framework — but one that allows for the unexpected.

  11. Sonia, I love this challenge. I’m in. I have been working on my “writing something everyday at the same time everyday” habit for years. Sometimes, I will go for a month or two, stop, and then have to start up again. I don’t know about you, but I find it harder to re-start. I am going to do my best with your challenge though.

    Question: I am doing this writing by hand because I tend to be more creative that way. When you are going from one type of prompt to another, do you use separate books to write in or do you stay with the same book?

    • It really depends on my mood. Right now a lot of my “first thing” writing is professional, because I happen to have a lot of deadlines at the moment. 🙂

      Learning how to restart is so crucial! Do you think it’s hard to restart because you’re mad at yourself for stopping? Or because you feel overwhelmed?

      There might be something here that would helpful for you: https://copyblogger.com/small-habits/

      For me, it’s helpful to remember that habits are a skill, not a virtue. 🙂

  12. I’m in! I listened to the Authority call you did with Pamela Wilson and it inspired me to set content goals for the coming year, so this is perfect timing. Years ago, I used to do Morning Pages as a practice from Julia Cameron’s book, and it was a beneficial practice. Just for clarity’s sake – is the December habit prompt committing to writing content for ourselves, like Morning Pages, or writing content for our audience?

    Thank you for supporting us as a community!

    • Pick one! (Or all.) It could be a Morning Pages practice (which I did for years), or it could be professional content, or it could be a mix.

      For me, this month’s habit is purely about stringing some words together first thing. So I can “win” the day by doing that for any purpose — professional or personal or just goofing off.

    • Self-doubt is how you know you have G.A.S. in the tank. 🙂

      Ethical people have self-doubt sometimes, but we can absolutely learn to move forward and do our work.

  13. This is just the kind of kickstart I need. I want to work on writing consistency AND quality–so this sounds pitch perfect to me!

  14. 2017 is going to be my year! Because, trust me, I am excited to put 2016 to bed… Your challenge could not have come at a better time as I resolve to commit to my blog, to commit to being a better writer, to commit to using my time wisely and finding myself along the way. Having recently been bombarded by social media where values have been discretionary, thank you for reminding me of the importance to honour mine – regardless of convenience. Values – What a great start. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

  15. I’m in! I’ve been thinking about playing around with some fictional writing just to add some fun back into my writing routine. This is the perfect challenge to just go for it! 😉

    Thanks for throwing down a challenge, Sonia!

  16. Nice Challenge!
    I would like to suggest: Could you give us a list of pages to read, like you did last year? I LOVE TO READ THE ASSIGNED HOMEWORK! Please, Load me up!

  17. I’m in! Thank you so much for this Sonia. This is exactly what I need to start setting the pace for 2017 🙂

  18. I really need this. I’ve been podcasting 3 times/week for the past couple months. It’s still early in the game and I’m feeling depleted. Need to replenish! This should help 🙂

  19. This is such a great idea, and I’m looking forward to participating further. Unfortunately though, I am not notified of new Copyblogger content via email. I can’t figure out how to subscribe. Is there a way I can receive some form of notice when you publish the next month’s challenge?

    Thanks for starting this creative challenge, Sonia!

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