Comments on: Taking November Off from Writing TT

By: TT Goes Into Rerun Mode Tomorrow - Treasure Tables

TT Goes Into Rerun Mode Tomorrow - Treasure Tables — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:01:55 +0000

[...] I’m doing this because I’m taking part in National Novel Writing Month, and because I need a break from running this site. There’s a chance that after such a long break, I won’t return to writing TT (or at least, not in quite the same form). That’s the short version; the long version is in Taking November Off from Writing TT. [...]

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:59:56 +0000

Millsy & Scott: Thank you. I’m still mulling over what to do with/about TT come December. I know I’ll miss it if I don’t bring it back, and there are lots of options to consider. Teamblogging/guest posts to keep the daily schedule is certainly one of them — thanks for your feedback!

Jay Neely & Clayton: Awesome! I’ve added you as writing buddies — and good luck right back at you.

By: Clayton

Clayton — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:27:48 +0000

Hey I am participating in NaNo as well!

If you want to add me as a writing buddy my user name is Stomphoof

Goodluck Martin! We are all gonna need it.

By: Scot Newbury

Scot Newbury — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 15:22:37 +0000

Best of luck writing your novel Martin I know you have a great one in you.

As for TT, I will echo what has already been said before – I would hate to see it go as I’ve garnered some really great info from you over the last year or so I’ve been reading the blog and feel you still have some more hidden away somewhere.

I also know first hand that a daily post is really hard to maintain without burnout or writer’s block (it’s why I’ve cut back on my own schedule) so I would also agree with others that cutting back your schedule a bit would help your sanity.

Once again best of luck with the novel and I’m looking forward to reading it.

By: Jay Neely

Jay Neely — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 22:15:27 +0000

I’m doing NaNoWriMo too! I’d love to keep up with any other GMs who’ve decided to do the same. You find me on the NaNoWriMo site at: http://www.nanowrimo.org/user/201959

By: Millsy

Millsy — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:33:52 +0000

Have a good month off… I hope that a change is as good as a rest in this instance!

Like everyone before has said, I think it would be a great shame if TT were to continue on hiatus. For me, it’s the single most useful roleplaying resource on the web, period. Some of that is down to a community constantly trying to improve their craft, but a lot of it is directly due to your hard work and energy.

Personally, the daily post really is worth it; it’s what got me checking the site regularly in the first place. Teamblogging, or even getting people to commit to regular guest posts, may be a way to continue that AND your actual life. I’m sure there’s a number of us that would be interested in helping, in one way or another.

By: Martin

Martin — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:53:20 +0000

Teamblogging in some is definitelty an attractive idea, and a great way to reduce workload for everyone involved. That’s one of the options I’m kicking around — thank you for the suggestion.

robustyoungsoul: Nope, I only know one person doing NaNo — consider yourself buddied. Thanks!

By: robustyoungsoul

robustyoungsoul — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:09:23 +0000

Good luck with NaNoWriMo, I did it for the first time last year and it was extremely rewarding! I’m doing it again this year.

One word of advice: make sure to friend some people on the NaNoWriMo site! Nothing motivates like seeing one of your friends get their word count ahead of yours. I’m sure you probably have plenty of folks on your friend list, but feel free to add me as well!

-robustyoungsoul

By: Quim

Quim — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:20:32 +0000

Oh, please, don’t let TT die!! :/

Quim

By: Michael Garcia

Michael Garcia — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 06:40:15 +0000

If you give it up, you might want to consider letting some of us more “Active members” to post. I’m pretty sure that: Telas, VV_GM, my self and other’s wouldn’t mind doing some posts even if it gets to the point where it is only one post a week. I’d really hate to see this go into hiatus forever. I know you can give different permissions in wordpress, give a few different people access to post content and run it kinda like stupid ranger does where there are several people posting instead of putting all the work load on your self.

I understand that this is your baby but would hate to see this awesome community die out.

By: Jill Seal

Jill Seal — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 06:27:14 +0000

I’ve only recently discovered TT so I’m a bit sad at the break but can totally understand burnout.

Best wishes for your Writing Month. I hope that your daily schedule for TT which has been so appreciated by your readers proves a good preparation for this month.

By: Martin

Martin — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 04:33:22 +0000

Thank you for the encouragement, kudos and kind words — I really appreciate it.

In this thread, in person and via email, I’ve gotten some great suggestions for how to bring back TT without getting burned out as easily. I’m disarmed by how many people want to see TT continue, and are willing to help make that happen — thank you.

My brain is wired for all-or-nothing sometimes, and the idea of writing posts only on M-F, with weekends off, or even just 3-4 days a week, is a very good one — and one I likely wouldn’t have arrived at on my own.

The daily posting schedule here was one of the best decisions I made about the site in lots of ways: readership, utility, motivation and challenge, to name four. But burnout trumps all of those factors, unfortunately. A lighter load makes a lot of sense.

In terms of rerun month, I’ve decided to expand that to “rerun 39 days” (also a reader suggestion — thank you). The first week after NaNo probably isn’t the time to be making decisions about writing anything, much less writing anything on a regular basis.

On the NaNo front, I’ve bought my writing hat (oh yes, I have a writing hat) and carry-it-everywhere notebook, and I’m stoked. Aware that my brain and social life are about to get ganganged, but stoked nonetheless.