Imperfect

monthly blogging challenges

TL;DR: You would be surprised at how cheaply you can conduct monthly experiments.

I recently stumbled across an extraordinary blogging workshop, The Inkhaven Residency, thanks to this Hacker News article, The Inkhaven Blogging Residency.

The gist is for you, one of 30 writers, to publish a 500+ word piece of writing on the Internet for each day of November. Sounds doable. However, the remaining key details make it a hard sell in my eyes. You have to commit to relocating to California for most weeks, if not the full month, of November. The workshop costs $3,500, which includes the program fee and housing, but doesn't include travel. You apparently cannot hold a full-time job alongside the workshop. Barring exceptions or emergencies, not publishing daily results in your departure from the program, but housing and food may still be provided if paid for.

Could there be a smarter way forward for those of us incompatible with the above? On the Dwarkesh Patel Podcast, Scott Alexander said:

Whenever I see a new person who blogs every day, it's very rare that that never goes anywhere or they don't get good. That's like my best leading indicator for who's going to be a good blogger.

With Scott believing that most bloggers who blog daily will get somewhere or get good, start now. Whether you're abstaining from, considering, or headed to Inkhaven, try to meet its goal before arrival. Prime yourself that much more for the experience in ways that can unlock doors you wouldn't have even found otherwise.

Write however many words a day, then publish them over a span of 30 days. Many bloggers, such as yours truly, have achieved this feat. So can you. Too easy? Increase your expectations by meeting or exceeding Inkhaven's 500+ word bar. Too difficult? Lower your expectations, get help from others, or introspect about whether this is a deep-seated want of yours to begin with. You also don't have to blog daily in that many successful bloggers don't do so either. Just right? If you can do it with the hustle and bustle of your everyday life, you can most definitely accomplish the feat within the Inkhaven ecosystem. At that point, is it worth the potentially exorbitant expense?

Speaking of, the essence of blogging doesn't have to be relegated to those with ample means. People without homes or devices have blogged for at least a month. If you're in a similar situation, maximize your available resources toward completion. Borrow mutuals' devices, use public facilities like libraries, or even keep a journal as a similar form of daily practice. If all you have is your voice, knock out daily conversations. Take inspiration from such advice like "write as if you having a conversation with your friend". The sky's the limit if you let your imagination run.

If you're scared of getting started or where to begin, fear not. Replicate the gist of Inkhaven through similar challenges such as Blaugust every August or National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) every November. An aside: I find it interesting how Inkhaven organizers might not have realized that it coincides with NaBloPoMo. The latter has been running for almost two decades. It's literally "Nanowrimo but focused on blogging and essays instead of novels."

Unless you already have a blog, register for one. If the Bear Blog platform that my blog uses doesn't satisfy you, check out Manu's List of Blog Platforms, Greg's Best Free Blogging Platforms, or similar lists. If that's too daunting, social media sites like microblogs (Twitter, Bluesky, etc.) or otherwise (Facebook, Reddit, etc.) could fit the bill. Then, follow whichever monthly blogging protocol until you reach your desired milestone. Whether you end up achieving your goal or not, take a moment to analyze your progress and learn valuable lessons. With your newfound knowledge, continue forth however you please.

Inkhaven's in-person talent aspect can be enriching, but such benefits don't have to be considered exclusive to the workshop. You have the power to augment local components to online blogging challenges and vice versa. Find accessible writing classes to teach and/or learn from. Encourage writer friends or contacts around you to get involved with challenges you partake in, whether as writers, editors, or even reviewers themselves. Transcend Inkhaven's talent by learning how to organically befriend highly successful bloggers, writers, and editors of your choosing.

Whether you're in the Berkeley, CA area or not, what stops you from undercutting Inkhaven? Rent, meals, flights, and other associated costs can be found much cheaper in many other parts of the world. Better yet, how can you build your own blogging community or workshop from the ground up without needing to spend thousands of dollars, if any? As for the money you save, my take would be to invest it in life-changing experiences that you can't replicate the gist of for free.

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