Writing Project: What I Learned From ________
Howdy, Bubba! Hey, if you're new around these parts, I just want to say how much I appreciate you dropping by! Oh, and you may want to subscribe to my feed. Thanks, and a tip o' the hat to ya!
It’s been months since the Let’s Be Brief contest, and yes, I know everyone is clamoring (sound of rabble audience clamoring) for more. Well, I hear ya. I mean, there’s not a month goes by I don’t get asked by my many, uh, fan when the next contest is going to be. (Either that or the noise I hear is an angry mob demanding my head on a platter. Probably sore losers from the last contest.)
Anyway, instead of a contest, I thought we’d do something ‘way more edifying (and don’t worry, it’ll be fun, too). But I’m afraid that means you’re going to have to put on your thinking caps and actually work for it this time. (Sound of hordes running away screaming into the night.) Hey, wait a minute, come back - it’ll be great, I promise!
There’s an old saying that says something to the effect that “the perfect school is a log with a teacher on one end and a student on the other”. (Now before all you “accuracy experts” come down on me, yes, I know that’s not an accurate quote, but this interpretation fits my illustration better. Just relax and roll with it, will ya?)
In some ways, I think blogging is a lot like that. We all like to share lessons we’ve learned, don’t we? So, if we think of the internet as the log, and you (as a blogger) are on one end, then your reader is on the other. Now, you’re probably thinking to yourself, “Gee, I sure hope there’s more than one reader out there!”
Well, sure, you may have thousands of readers, but the nature of your interaction is still effectively one-on-one. At least, it’s that way until the comments begin, which is when the conversation begins (until then, it’ still just one-way). Your end result ends up being like lots and lots of logs.
OK, back in September of last year, I wrote To Follow the Herd… or Not, wherein I related a story containing a lesson I learned from a, well, a cow. Yep, a cow. Then, in February of this year, my friend Tully wrote The Teachings of Grout, in which he shared a few great life lessons he picked up while practicing the exciting indoor sport of laying tile. Take a moment, if you would, to read both. (Don’t worry; I’ll still be here when you get back.)
So it got me to thinkin’ (which is probably that grinding noise you hear). Why not make you guys do all the work find out about the amazing and interesting stuff YOU folks have learned? But (and that’s a really BIG but) naturally I’m not interested in just any old thing – oh, no, not me! What I want to see are stories that answer this question:
What life lesson(s) have you learned from an unusual source?
I’m interested in hearing about something that really made a mark on your life – but you didn’t learn it in a classroom, lecture, or from any conventional learning venue. In other words, something valuable you learned from LIFE. (As an example of what I mean, the title of my post for this particular project will be What I Learned from a Light Switch, which will be posted tomorrow.)
OK, everyone, this is your chance to be the teacher: you get one end of the log, we are the student on the other end! How fun is that?
Here’s all you have to do:
- Write a new post, and put it on your blog with a reference to THIS POST (uh, the one you’re reading now). There are no limitations on the number of words, so feel free to be as concise or as eloquent as you want.
- Title your post “What I Learned From __________” (Du’oh! Don’t forget to fill in the blank!)
- Send me an email (rhruzek@sbcglobal.com) containing your name, the title of your post, and the permalink of the post.
- After I post the complete list of entries on Monday, May 7, write a post on your blog linking to all of them (e.g., copy and paste the entire list)
- BONUS: if you have the time and are so inclined, when you post the complete list, add a comment or two about each entry. You may gain even more link love when the blogger you commented about, as well as other readers, come to pay you a visit (and I mean that in a good way - no midnight visits from guys in pinstripe suits and carrying violin cases or anything)
As always here at the Zone, there are just two simple rules:
- For the sake of the general blogging audience, please keep it G-Rated (there was some discussion about this during the last contest, so if you don’t know what that means, I’m not sure I can make it any clearer – so ask your mother). Please note: this is a request, not a demand, since after all it’s your blog and you can do what you want. But I’m asking nicely anyway.
StolenBorrowed directly from Liz Strauss: her ubiquitous rule: Be nice
For a real example of how this type of project works and how it can benefit all participants, see Daniel’s recent Blogging Mistakes project over at Daily Blog Tips. Here’s my entry, and this is my follow-up post.
I learned a lot from my participation in that project. (But as a side note – never underestimate the power of link love - I gained 48 links from this project alone. Plus, the Zone’s Technorati rank jumped over 100,000 points (from about 150,000 to about 50,000) within a few days of my participation. Not bad for just two posts, eh?)
So hop on your logs, my fine feathered friends! Sharpen up those, er, keyboards and put on your thinking caps. Share with us what interesting lessons life had taught YOU!
You know, it would just be absolutely finer than a frogs hair if you would subscribe to my RSS feed!
34 responses so far
Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
OK, sounds like fun (and very glad I’ve just finished the other meme: ultimate guide to productivity ;-))
don’t expect anything today - am working on a ‘dreaded’ 10 minute presentation I have to do next week - but I think it’s another great chance to thank someone who taught me a lot.
Looking forward to all the entries (and are you going to turn it into an E-book also in the end?)
Hey good project. It’ll be a challenge to write something deep and meaningful that will fit with the other material on my blog, but I’m up for a challenge!
Karin, I look forward to reading it!
Markk, just remember: change is good.
[...] 3rd, 2007 · No Comments (The following is my contribution to the writing project at Middle Zone Musings, which is a blog you should read always. The project is simple: write a blog [...]
Not sure if it fits the criteria but there you are. Oh, I may have broken one of the rules too.
[...] This post was written as part of a group project for Middle Zone Musings. The topic is: What I Learned From… [...]
Mark, I think you have a good one! Great job, and thanks for participating!
We have brought you your shrubbery. May we go now?
Mike, your post may end up being a “thorn in my side”! Or my hand. Or… other places we won’t mention in polite company. Thanks for participating!
[...] Writing Project: What I Learned From ________ [...]
[...] started a group writing project asking people to write about something they have learned from a non-traditional source. Well, one [...]
Was interesting to participate in this project. I have written on what i learned from my wife!!!
Great to have you, Rajaram! Thanks for jumping in and participating!
[...] post might seem a little bit different from the others on this blog, but I liked the idea of Robert Hruzek on starting a group writing contest. This my first participation in this kind of contest, so I hope [...]
[...] made a new blogo-connection recently with Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings. He is hosting a writing contest. Well, not so much a contest as an opportunity to write about what we’ve learned from a [...]
[...] Writing Project: What I Learned From ________ [...]
Robert,
My e-mail I sent you keeps getting bounced back (I don’t think it’s your fault).
Here’s my information:
Name: Ronald Huereca
Post title: What I Learned From the Mt. Pinatubo Eruption
Permalink: http://www.ronalfy.com/2007/05/03/what-i-learned-from-the-mt-pinatubo-eruption/
Feel free to delete this if necessary.
Ronald, thanks! I picked up your story and it will be listed with the others on Monday. Thanks for participating!
[...] been asked to be part of a collaborative group writing project at Middle Zone Musings. The theme is What I Learned From….. As I am a self proclaimed expert at procrastinating, [...]
Thanks Robert
I’ve posted… still on time, but delayed due to my procrastination… hence my post topic. I rest my case….
What I Learned From Procrastinating
Blog Name: Grow Your Writing Business
Post URL: http://www.growyourwritingbusiness.com/?p=193
Thanks
Yvonne Russell
Grow Your Writing Business
http://www.growyourwritingbusiness.com
Robert,
I keep encountering the same problem as Ronald does. Mail keeps bouncing back to me.
#15 is a trackback from my article. Could you please add it to the list.
Thank you.
Cheers
[...] to Robert Hruzek, of Middle Zone Musings, and his meme “What I Learned From ____” var staf_confirmtext = ‘Mail Sent!’ [...]
[...] Writing Project: What I Learned From ________ [...]
[...] topic comes courtesy Robert Hruzek of Middle Zone Musings. This is all about learning from an unusual source. You might not think you could learn a wide variety of life lessons from a weight problem, but you [...]
[...] Hruzek of Middle Zone Musings “tagged” me to participate in his writing project. Well, Bob — this one’s for you! And we’ll still talk about mortgage loans if that’s okay with [...]
[...] This post has been possible thanks to Robert Hruzek’s writing project. [...]
Marco, no worries, I got your post! I don’t know why you and Ronald are getting bounced, though - maybe I’m not getting enough bran in my diet or something…
[...] Writing Project: What I Learned From ________ [...]
[...] 9th, 2007 · No Comments Thank Robert Hzurek for this. His group writing project asked participants to write an article on a life lesson they learned from an unusual source. All [...]
[...] post is a listing of the group project participants for “What I learned from [...]
[...] following is my contribution to the writing project at Middle Zone Musings, which is a blog you should read always. The project is simple: write a blog [...]
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[...] coming back is when they feel like they’ve gained something from their participation. Back during my very first project, I talked about how much we as bloggers like to share what we know, how often we’re asked for [...]