The last two years, I’ve participated in NaNoWriMo. For the uninitiated, NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is an annual challenge to write 50,000 words of fiction over the month of November.

I managed to finish it both years, albeit on the last day and working against a string of days mid-month with zero word counts (annual trips to visit friends out of town, not lack of motivation, I swear). Both times, it was a fantastic experience. I’m proud of it, even if the writing itself is of wildly variable quality.

It is affirming to realize that I can do fiction, and maintain the discipline of the challenge, under entirely self-motivated circumstances. NaNoWriMo is something I did for myself, in the wake of finishing my Masters, as part of the process of embarking on a new chapter in my life.

I bring this up because, to my deep regret, I’m unable to do a third year running. There is simply too much going on, between a demanding job, long commute, and personal obligations. I’d dearly love to do it, but right now, it’s simply not realistic.

This, the text you are now reading, is my compromise.

This year, instead of pushing myself to produce another 50,000 words of questionable prose, I am embarking on a more modest challenge: get back into the blogging habit.

Here’s how it will work.

Over the month of November, starting today, I will be making a minimum of 3 blog posts a week. I’m not restraining myself by topic. Some of it will be related to web development, or something neat I’ve come across, or about something else entirely I haven’t anticipated. The point is getting myself to write.

I might post the odd entry to my social media, depending on the topic, but broadcasting my thoughts beyond my personal site isn’t what I’m going for here. If you, unknown reader, are intrigued enough to follow along, I thank you. If you’re stumbling across this months or years later, that’s okay too. If I’m the only person who ever reads these words, I will still count this an exercise worth embarking on.

Let’s see where this November takes me.