The Story Starter Challenge

Inspired by recently watching the movie Julie and Julia, delving into a multitude of websites and books extolling the virtues of social media, and reading some wonderful, inspiring blogs (see my list of favourites at the end of this post), I decided it was time to take this blogging business a bit more seriously.

Why not, I thought? I love writing, I’m trying to encourage others to tell their stories (for example, our Monthly Story Telling Competition) and there’s a little spot on my home page that leads to a blog. It made sense. So I started the research – reading blogging blogs, trying to reduce my long list of interests into something that made sense to my customers and the Leaf brand, thinking about what my “angle” would be, working out what I wanted to contribute to the world, or at least the handful of readers who might read what I had to say.

And getting nowhere…

Until today. Today I have decided to swallow a little of my own medicine. If I can ask Leaf followers to tell their stories based on my Weekly Story Starters, then maybe I should do that too. Every week. And not just a story from memory, but one that opens up conversation, inspires others to reflect on their own experiences – that adds a little something to their lives.

It’s not like tackling climate change – a la No Impact Man, or even a mighty big cooking book, but for me, it’s challenge enough. Let’s see what the cards hold.

Note: To avoid massive doubling up, the Story Starter Challenge blogposts will only be published on the Leaf site. To follow my progress, follow Leaf on Twitter or Facebook.

Who knows, with a little regular practice, I’ll get more blogging done for The Spice of Life as well.

The blogs that kicked the butt

Zen Habits – Smile, breathe & go slowly

The Fluent Self – When you need some destuckification

Comfort Queen – A place to kindly find yourself

Seth Godin’s blog

Meet Me at Mikes – Good Stuff for Nice People

Scoutie Girl – The outside-the-box manual for Creative Living & Mindful Spending

Made’n'found – Supporting and promoting the handmade and original designs of arty types across Australia