And… that’s a wrap! #Blogtober18 has officially finished for this year. If you’ve not heard of #Blogtober before, essentially it’s a month of themed blog post prompts that you are encouraged to join in with over October. The whole thing is brilliantly supportive thanks to its lovely host Mandi from Big Family Organised Chaos, who encourages lots of interaction through a month-long bloggers linky and Facebook group.
This was my first year joining in with #Blogtober and I have loved every minute of it, even if I was a bit of a benchwarmer *coughs* for the majority of the time (I was there in spirit).
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Now, as always, with this type of thing there were the super bloggers who stuck with the programme. There were the few that tweaked it round the edges. And those, like me that flew by the seat of their pants and hoped for the best. If you are in the latter, then you’ll probably recognise the 7 inevitable stages of #Blogtober18.
On the cusp of October, you remember that ‘something big and bloggy happens’ but you can’t quite put your finger on it. It’s definitely something for bloggers and you swear blind that it’s Halloween themed. You spend a day trailing through all the October 2017 Facebook threads because you won’t give up until you find the evidence.
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You’ve found it. You’re the winner. It was #Blogtober (you knew it had something to do with Halloween – ‘see’ you tell everyone) and there’s no way October is going to start without you being there too. You join the Facebook page, visit the hosts blog, follow everyone playing and read all the rules twice to make sure you know what’s going on. Oh you eager beaver!
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Even though it’s already the 1st of October and you have only just found out what the daily prompts are, that’s not going to stop you. In fact. Nothing will stop you completing this year’s #Blogtober18 because you, my friend, are keen with a capital ‘K’. You carefully pick through the easiest looking prompts to see if you can speed write a few posts now, in advance, just to be on the safe side. Because you don’t want to fall behind, right?
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Your first week’s posts are mostly written and published! Whoop whoop! Everything is going great and you can’t wait for week 2 to roll on. In fact these prompt are blooming marvellous you declare. They’ve given you a little spring in your step and your posts per week go from ‘when you can remember’ to ‘every day’. You can be found on Twitter drumming up more bloggers to join in with the fun that is #Blogtober18.
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It’s not that you don’t want to join in with the same gusto that you did in week 1, but suddenly life has got in the way, a lot. There’s half term to plan for, parents evening, spellings to accomplish and homework that needs your undivided attention. Something’s got to give and the only thing that can is #Blogtober18. You make a plan to squeeze in a few blog hours at the end of the week… except Riverdale is back on Netflix.
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#Blogtober18 is back on your radar as things settle down. Except you’ve lost your way a bit. Without a doubt you are still writing a whole tons more posts than usual, thanks to the added motivation. Except your brain is as wilted as a flower and try as you might, you just can’t write what you are supposed to be writing about in the prompts.
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And then suddenly, without warning, October has come to an end quicker than you can scream ‘trick or treat’. Sh*t you curse to yourself. And it all started so well. Never mind… there’s always next year right?
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Big Family Organised Chaos (host)
Kirsty Through the Looking Glass
Kristine’s Blog – A Mum Reviews
Ickle Pickles Life and Travels
*This is a tongue-in-cheek post. I learnt a huge deal from being part of #Blogtober18 and can’t recommend it enough to anyone keen to give it a go for next year.
WILD is now out in Spanish!
WILD – Our debut children’s picture book
Dad blogger Ross Good from The Stented Papa is the official storyteller for WILD!
Happy book birthday WILD!
This really made me smile 🙂 I’m like this with any photo/insta prompts – life gets in the way.
sometimes I manage to get all the way through but I saw posts about Blogtober and was even in the facebook group but didn’t get around to starting, I read lots more blog posts than usual and found some lovely people to follow so it’s not all bad 🙂 I’m doing another prompt
November.
i read more blogs than i do read papers 😉 thats for sure and thanks to that i have discovered so many fantastic people
Haha this made be actually laugh out loud. Not done blogtober, but I can only imagine how much effort, work and dedication it takes to complete xx
It must take a lot of dedication to complete the whole of blogtober, I don’t think I’d be able to manage it. Although, it sounds as though there’s a good group of supportive bloggers behind it with plenty of motivation.
Good on you for even giving it a go! I definitely would have gone in all eager beaver and then run out of steam by the second week, that’s what normally happens when I try to do any kind of monthly challenge xx
Good on you for even giving it a go! I definitely would have gone in all eager beaver and then run out of steam by the second week, that’s what normally happens when I try to do any kind of monthly challenge xxx
I admire anyone who tackles Blogtober, no matter how far they get. I’ve never even started it in the first place as I know I would fail in the first week.
Oh wow! Well done to you though, I struggle as it is trying to have a schedule with posting, couldn’t imagine doing Blogtober!
Oh I am tempted by this for next year and I would be going through everyone one of these!!
These are so spot on! When I first start out like gangbusters, I’m on such a roll. By the end of it, I feel like I’ve run 15 marathons back to back.
I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Does this mean you were posting every day in October? Thanks.
Trying to… – it was a blog prompt month. A prompt for everyday set up by another blogger to get you writing everyday in October.
This made me smile! It is so true. I didn’t commit to this challenge, but I can imagine it would be very exhausting. I admire everyone who took part 🙂
This post cracked me up! If you are not a full time Blogger, it’s VERY hard to keep the enthusiasm going full steam for every post, every week, every time!
Way too much effort for me … so I ignored it!!! Guilty lol
PS: #DreamTeam
So is there also a thing for November? this seems to be a great idea as I would love to be more active on my blog
I’m not sure. I’ve not come across anything yet, let me know if you find anything
Where do I join stuff like this or a group like this?
For blogtober? If you check out the hosts website you can find out more about joining in- though this one is just for October. There may be another for November but I don’t know who hosts that.
I didn’t even do it because I’d wilt like a flower way too early. I don’t think I really blogged at all in October. It was too busy a month. Well done for taking part.
Wow i do not know how you do it, I can totally understand the phases though #dreamteam
I did blogmas but not properly. I didn’t do daily but sporadicly. It was hard work even so. Did you get more followers as a result?
Not really, but it was definitely motivating
I’ve heard of it earlier. I guess I never knew that this could be so interesting.
I have never heard of Blogtober before. I will definitely have to give it a try next year!
This did make me smile. I am planning on doing Blogmas, but then it terrifies me that it is November and I havent even planned or written a post in advance. #DreamTeam
Blogmas? This sounds fun… do you have a link for it? X
This made me laugh! I definitely admire anyone who can commit to a challenge such as this but these definitely are stages of Blogtober – I’ve seen people try similar challenges over the years and there’s always the time when it starts to wane as life gets in the way!
This is why I don’t even attempt it, haha! My life has been stressful enough as it is over the last few weeks, but I do take my hat off to you for even trying 🙂 #DreamTeam
I sometimes think to start my own blog and I end up not to go with that because I know how exhausting and stressful it is and I am so proud of those who take this challenge and make this as their passion.
I will have to keep my eyes open for next years round! #dreamteam
where did you find those videos! so fanny!
Made me smile. How we people and bloggers push ourselves and it’s great but also cool to let ourselves off the hook if it all gets too much #DreamTeam
I haven’t done Blogtober before but will definitely think about it for next year! #DreamTeam
I missed it this year but it sounds exhausting #dreamteam
I haven’t heard of Bloftober, but it sounds interesting and fun project to do x
Laura
https://pinkfrenzymissl.blogspot.com/
I never heard of Blogtober until now, but I totally love the idea of it! Writing prompts are so helpful and sounds like a fun way to create some new, creative content!!!!
Blogtober is a writing challenge I’d love to contribute to next fall. I like the idea of themed posts and writing prompts.
I always plan to participate, but again I got distracted. Hopefully, I can plan it better and do it next year.
I can only compare Blogtober to the month of thankful posts in November for Thanksgiving. I always have such good intentions to write thoughtful things I am really thankful for. One week in…fading. Third week in, I can’t believe I’ve missed so many days.
Blogtober is a lot like being thankful each day in November for Thanksgiving. I start with good intentions but usually don’t last past the first week or two.
every year I say i’m going to do it. but every year, craziness happens in real life. I did try to push out more new content than I might would have otherwise
The funniest post ever. OMG! I’m cracking up:))) Thanks for that, and I’m sure I’ll go through the list of folks you added 🙂
Lol it is a proper hardcore and I tried it last year but really struggled.to keep up X #dreamteam
This was definitely something I wouldn’t have achieved – the opposite in fact, I’ve done less this month than normal!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I totally know how you feel, the best intentions until someone is crying about dinner and the dog needs to be bathed. I didn’t join in this year due to my long vacation, but next year I hope to hold up for the month. Maybe we can be each other’s cheerleader to remind the other to join in each day. (I’m already exhausted thinking about it, but we can blame that on vacation blues.) #DreamTeam
As a blogger, this made me chuckle because it is so true! I even planned to blogtober and definitely did not.
wow I admire the stamina of anyone even giving this a go, I am too unorganised and would be all keen and fade out, maybe one day though, who knows xx #DreamTeam
Blogtober was something that I thought about doing but didn’t actually commit to. I admire those bloggers that were able to.
I have never heard of Blogtober before. It sounds like a great idea but it doesn’t happened to me and I salute those who made it.
You took part and I have big respect for that! I am overwhelmed by the thoughts of it. But at the same time I would love to think that next year I will be more confident to give it a try. After all it’s the taking part that counts isn’t it??!! #dreamteam
This made me smile, as I know that this would totally be me! As soon as parents evening, germs and exhaustion set in, October went out the window for me! I may just give it a go next year #dreamteam
Haha. I’ve never done blogtober but I did blogmas last year so I can definitely relate. It all started so well but then it was difficult to stay on track #dreamteam
Ha ha this is hilarious #dreamteam
Haha this brought back memories of when I took part in Blogtober last year. Unfortunately I didn’t have the time to do it this year!
I’ve never taken part in this because I know I simply couldn’t keep up! You did a great job! #DreamTeam
I didn’t join in this year,but I did it last year and recognise that eagerness at the start ,a bit wayward through the middle to big finish. Hope to manage it next year #dreamteam
Ha ha! I think you literally just described my October. I am going to try again next year! #DreamTeam
Oy, I was a bit out of the loop in October and missed the whole darn effort. Your take had me smiling and your giphy’s, divine. The political backdrop and life kicked my arse in October. I thin I’m back and okay now, so look out 2019 and the Blogtober19 that will in no doubt, be here in 10 minutes! M’wah! #dreamteam xoxo