Why #BlogLikeCrazy Could Change Your Life

When #BlogLikeCrazy season approaches, I often think about one of my favorite Flannery O’Connor quotes: “I write to discover what I know.”

Can you relate? Can you remember moments when you’ve started writing in a journal or typing on a keyboard just to quiet the questions swirling in mind only to discover, by the time you write your final line, that you had the answers all along?

This is one of the many reasons I love #BlogLikeCrazy, my annual challenge to bloggers to publish a new blog post every day for 30 days in November. This challenge gives me 30 new chances to discover what I know and to do so near the end of the year, a perfect time for reflection.

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What Edgar Allan Poe Can Teach Us About Writing

Editor’s Note: If you ever stepped foot into my classroom when I was a high school English teacher then you know I love Edgar Allan Poe. Every October I would have my students dive into his poetry and prose and even complete a creative project inspired by his works. Thanks to that project, my classroom was filled with paintings, collages, board games and more that were all about Poe. So, when Tess Patalano of Reedsy contacted me about writing a guest post for the See Jane Write blog on the writing lessons we can learn from Poe, of course, I said yes. So, today, on October 7, the anniversary of Poe’s mysterious and untimely death, we present “What Edgar Allan Poe Can Teach Us About Writing.”

Guest Post by Tess Patalano of Reedsy,

Edgar Allan Poe was an enigmatic writer and personality: a master of the macabre and a noted originator of both the detective and horror genres with many anthologies even crediting him as the founder of the short story. His work spanned themes of death, love, hope, and despair, to name a few. But what can his writings teach us about the process of writing itself? Hidden within his poems and stories are kernels of wisdom that any writer can benefit from. Here are a few.

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Member of the Month: Safiya Robinson

Just before Safiya Robinson turned 40, she decided to start a blog detailing 39 lessons she’d learned in her 39 years of life. While sharing these lessons on the blog 39 and Counting Safiya learned something else. She learned that she had the courage, creativity, and consistency she needed to write and self-publish a book.

In September 2019 Safiya launched her debut book Everything is a Thing: My journey to living a truly authentic life. Though Safiya lives in Barbados — over 2,000 miles away from See Jane Write headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama — she’s one of the most active See Jane Write Collective members. Safiya takes advantage of virtual meetings and events as often as she can and stays active in the See Jane Write Facebook groups, too.

For these reasons and more Safiya Robinson is the See Jane Write Collective member of the month for October 2019.

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Can you change your life in 90 days?

image via Instagram

October is here which means we’re in the final quarter of the year. As a football fan, I love a good 4th quarter win — you know, when your team makes a comeback and steals the game. But if you see me strutting around holding four fingers in the air this season, it may not be for my favorite football team (Roll Tide!) but for myself and for YOU. I am declaring that this quarter is ours!

I believe you can change your life in 90 days. 

Here’s how I plan to do it:

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The Other Side of Fear

#unbothered

I’m sure you’ve heard this saying before: “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”

That’s a great quote to post in your office, write in your journal, or share on social media.

And we know it’s true.

But how do we get to the other side?

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