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Category Archives: Just Jot it January 2023


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Just Jot it January 2024 – The Rules!

It’s that time of year again! Welcome, everyone, to the tenth annual Just Jot it January challenge. A whole decade! It’s hard to believe.

Just Jot it January, AKA JusJoJan, is a challenge to write a post every day of the month of January. Let’s start the year off with a a blogging bang, and to meet others in the blogging community!

Here are the simple JusJoJan Rules: (If it’s been a while since you read them, please give them a quick scan.)

1. Just Jot It January starts January 1st, but it’s never too late to join in! Here, we run on the honour system; the “jot it” part of JusJoJan means that anything you jot down, anywhere (it doesn’t have to be a post, it can even be a grocery list), counts as a “jot.” If it makes it to your blog that day, great! If it waits a week to get from a sticky note to your screen, no problem!

2. I’ll post prompts at 2am my time (GMT -5). You don’t have to follow the prompt every day, but that will be where you leave your link for others to see. You’ll get a prompt for every day except Wednesday, when the prompt is simply my One-Liner Wednesday and on Saturday, when your prompt will be the Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS, which will appear at about 9:30am Friday. Each prompt post will include the rules.

3. Please ping back or link to the daily prompt. To ping back, just copy the URL from the daily prompt post, and paste it anywhere in your post. Check to make sure your link shows up where you want it to, and go back occasionally to see other bloggers’ entries – the more you visit others, the more they’ll visit you! Note: A) The newest pingbacks will be at the top of the comments section. B) Ping backs only work if you’re blogging on WordPress. Everyone else must paste a link manually.

4. Tag your post JusJoJan24 and/or #JusJoJan24.

5. Write anything! Any length will do! It can even be a photo or a drawing – you’re going to title it, right? There’s your jot!

6. The prompts will appear every day that’s neither a Wednesday nor a Saturday–Saturday’s JusJoJan prompt will be Stream of Consciousness Saturday. You’ll find the list of prompts below as they come in, which means I’ll be updating this post. Remember, you don’t have to use the prompts. Please write whatever inspires you. NOTE: If your post is NSFW, do not ping back. Please leave your link in the comments with a warning.

7. If you’d like to, use the JusJoJan badge so that others can find your post more easily.

8. Have fun!

Below, I’ll fill in the prompts as I have them, along with a link to the blog of the person who supplied the prompt if it wasn’t me.

January 1 –  “Train” (me)

January 2 – “Gregorian” from Willow https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/

January 3 – One-Liner Wednesday

January 4 – “Captivating” from Wendy https://waffle-with-wendy.blogspot.com/

January 5 – “Penultimate” from Judy https://judydykstrabrown.com/

January 6 – SoCS

January 7 – “Curious” from Dan https://nofacilities.com/

January 8 – “Gratitude” from Sadje http://lifeafter50forwomen.wordpress.com/

January 9 – “Pastime” from Di https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/

January 10 – One-Liner Wednesday

January 11 – “Olive” from Kaye https://kayespencer.com/blog-2/

January 12 – “Toast” from Barbara https://teleportingweena.wordpress.com/

January 13 – SoCS

January 14 – “Writing” from Joanne https://topofjcsmind.wordpress.com/

January 15 – “Craft” from Astrid https://astridetal.com/

January 16 – “Variety” from John https://thesoundofonehandtyping.com/

January 17 – One-Liner Wednesday

January 18 – “Despair” from Carol Anne http://therapybits.com/

January 19 – “Tenacious” from Cheryl https://tropicalaffair.me/

January 20 – SoCS

January 21 – “Plants” from J-dub https://jilywily.wordpress.com/

January 22 – “Mood” from Dar https://darsword.com/

January 23 – “Stoked” from Nicole https://momoetry.wordpress.com/

January 24 – One-Liner Wednesday

January 25 – “Cheesy” from Yvensong https://yvensong.wordpress.com/

January 26 – “Atrocious” from Jemima https://jemimapett.com/blog/

January 27 – SoCS

January 28 – “Congregate” from Fandango https://fivedotoh.com/

January 29 – “Family” from Kim https://inkonapage.com/

January 30 – “Calendar” from me

January 31 – One-Liner Wednesday


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It’s our annual Just Jot it January WOOHOO! post!

WOOHOO! January 2023 is finished and we made it!

We jotted all the way through January! It’s all downhill from here, baby! Give me a high five!

But seriously, it was a hectic-as-all-get-out month, for me anyway. But I did better than last year, so that’s something.

Are you going to keep going? Keep up that momentum? If so, I commend you! Writing is important, even if we’re just writing to ourselves. It separates us from our thoughts and helps us see them more clearly. Even if it’s just a shopping list.

And that’s what my prompts are all about, after all.

So let us celebrate! Link your favourite post of the month below, or write your own reflection post and link that.

Here’s the Participant’s badge for 2023. Wear it with pride!

Cheers!


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#JusJoJan the 31st/23 – It is written

Our prompt word for January 31st is “write.”

And I almost didn’t make it to my own final prompt of Just Jot it January.

It’s been a day.

Started with an hour of cleaning off the car and shoveling it out of the driveway so I could do my weekly grocery shopping.

Then, when I did get home, I had to CELEBRATE a bit because I PUBLISHED A FREAKING BOOK TODAY!

That doesn’t happen every day.

Stroked received a very nice 5-star review on it from a fellow author, Linda Fausnet:

This is a sweet love story between two misfits – a male stripper with a checkered past and a man with an endearing (and sometimes humorous!) speech impediment. Casper and Tristan find love while sharing their passions for art and swimming respectively as well as their passion for each other. Though this is book three in this terrific series, this novel can easily be read as a standalone. Also features a fun cameo from a familiar character that regular readers of this author will really enjoy!

And the rest of my day has been filled with my two new editing clients.

Until now, when I’ve finally had a chance to sit my aching body down and write.

And after this?

Write the next book, of course.

Thanks so much for reading.

See you tomorrow for the JusJoJan wrap up post!

 ***

This post of highs and lows is brought to you by Just Jot it January!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/31/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-31st-2023/ It’s fun!


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Daily Prompt – JusJoJan the 31st, 2023

And, it’s a wrap! Today is our thirty-first prompt for Just Jot it January 2023. This month has felt like the longest month ever, and yet it’s flown by. I won’t say too much here because I want to leave some for tomorrow’s wrap up post. But what do you say we finish this thing with a flourish?

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 31st 2023, is “write.” Use the word “write” any way you’d like. Have fun!

If you’d like to see what I have so far on your prompt list and what’s to come, you can find it HERE.

Here are the rules:

1. Please be sure to link back to THIS POST for Tuesday, January 31st, 2023.

2. Just Jot It January starts January 1st, but it’s never too late to join in! Here, we run on the honour system; the “jot it” part of JusJoJan means that anything you jot down, anywhere (it doesn’t have to be a post, it can even be a grocery list), counts as a “jot.” If it makes it to your blog that day, great! If it waits a week to get from a sticky note to your screen, no problem!

3. I’ll post prompts at 2am my time (GMT -5). You don’t have to follow the prompt every day, but that will be where you leave your link for others to see. You’ll get a prompt for every day except Wednesday, when the prompt is simply my One-Liner Wednesday and on Saturday, when your prompt will be the Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS, which will appear at about 9:30am Friday. Each prompt post will include the rules.

4. Please ping back or link to the daily prompt. To ping back, just copy the URL from the daily prompt post, and paste it anywhere in your post. Check to make sure your link shows up where you want it to, and go back occasionally to see other bloggers’ entries – the more you visit others, the more they’ll visit you! Note: A) The newest pingbacks will be at the top of the comments section. B) Ping backs only work if you’re blogging on WordPress. Everyone else must paste a link manually.

5. Tag your post JusJoJan and/or #JusJoJan.

6. Write anything! Any length will do! It can even be a photo or a drawing – you’re going to title it, right? There’s your jot!

7. The prompts will appear every day that’s neither a Wednesday nor a Saturday–Saturday’s JusJoJan prompt will be Stream of Consciousness Saturday. You’ll find the list of prompts below as they come in, which means I’ll be updating this post. Remember, you don’t have to use the prompts. Please write whatever inspires you. NOTE: If your post is NSFW, do not ping back. Please leave your link in the comments with a warning.

8. If you’d like to, use the JusJoJan badge so that others can find your post more easily.

9. Have fun!


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#JusJoJan the 30th/23 – Canine

Our prompt word for January 30th is “canine.” Thanks so much, Dawn, for the wonderful prompt!

I lived for many years without a canine in my life.

And then seven years ago I got Winston.

Oh, the fleas he had!

Winston

And even when he was barely bigger than a shoe, he had a huge, deep bark in his barrel chest.

Now he’s just a big, lovable lump.

I know you’ve probably seen these pictures before. The prompt was just an excuse to show them again.

 ***

This doggy-filled post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Dawn! Please be sure to check out Dawn’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/30/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-30th-2023/ It’s fun!


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Daily Prompt – JusJoJan the 30th, 2023

Wow! It’s our second-last daily prompt! Today is our thirtieth prompt for Just Jot it January 2023, and it’s brought to us by Dawn. Much appreciated, Dawn! Please be sure to visit Dawn’s blog to read her posts and say hello. And follow her while you’re there, if you’re not already.

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 30th 2023, is “canine.” Use the word “canine” any way you’d like. Enjoy!

If you’d like to see what I have so far on your prompt list and what’s to come, you can find it HERE.

Here are the rules:

1. Please be sure to link back to THIS POST for Monday, January 30th, 2023.

2. Just Jot It January starts January 1st, but it’s never too late to join in! Here, we run on the honour system; the “jot it” part of JusJoJan means that anything you jot down, anywhere (it doesn’t have to be a post, it can even be a grocery list), counts as a “jot.” If it makes it to your blog that day, great! If it waits a week to get from a sticky note to your screen, no problem!

3. I’ll post prompts at 2am my time (GMT -5). You don’t have to follow the prompt every day, but that will be where you leave your link for others to see. You’ll get a prompt for every day except Wednesday, when the prompt is simply my One-Liner Wednesday and on Saturday, when your prompt will be the Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS, which will appear at about 9:30am Friday. Each prompt post will include the rules.

4. Please ping back or link to the daily prompt. To ping back, just copy the URL from the daily prompt post, and paste it anywhere in your post. Check to make sure your link shows up where you want it to, and go back occasionally to see other bloggers’ entries – the more you visit others, the more they’ll visit you! Note: A) The newest pingbacks will be at the top of the comments section. B) Ping backs only work if you’re blogging on WordPress. Everyone else must paste a link manually.

5. Tag your post JusJoJan and/or #JusJoJan.

6. Write anything! Any length will do! It can even be a photo or a drawing – you’re going to title it, right? There’s your jot!

7. The prompts will appear every day that’s neither a Wednesday nor a Saturday–Saturday’s JusJoJan prompt will be Stream of Consciousness Saturday. You’ll find the list of prompts below as they come in, which means I’ll be updating this post. Remember, you don’t have to use the prompts. Please write whatever inspires you. NOTE: If your post is NSFW, do not ping back. Please leave your link in the comments with a warning.

8. If you’d like to, use the JusJoJan badge so that others can find your post more easily.

9. Have fun!


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#JusJoJan the 29th/23 – The treadmill

Our prompt word for January 29th is “exercise.” Thanks so much, Wendy, for the energetic prompt!

I try to exercise every day.

Okay, maybe try is a big word.

Maybe it’s more like I plan to exercise every day.

Okay, okay, okay. I think about exercising every day.

During the height of the pandemic, when Alex wasn’t going to school and the library was closed so Chris, my other son, stopped going out once a week, I bought a treadmill.

Are there months when it doesn’t even get used? Sure.

I still try to go out for walks when it’s not too snowy or icy or cold or hot and humid.

But does it get used when those conditions are not the case?

I used it a whole three times last week. And once so far this week.

I need to try harder.

 ***

This self-motivational post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Wendy! Please be sure to check out Wendy’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/29/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-29th-2023/ It’s fun!


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Daily Prompt – JusJoJan the 29th, 2023

Hey there! It’s our daily prompt! Today is our twenty-ninth prompt for Just Jot it January 2023, and it’s brought to us by Wendy. Thanks so much, Wendy! Please be sure to visit Wendy’s blog to read her posts and say hello. And follow her while you’re there, if you’re not already.

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 29th 2023, is “exercise.” Use the word “exercise” any way you’d like. Have fun!

If you’d like to see what I have so far on your prompt list and what’s to come, you can find it HERE.

Here are the rules:

1. Please be sure to link back to THIS POST for Sunday, January 29th, 2023.

2. Just Jot It January starts January 1st, but it’s never too late to join in! Here, we run on the honour system; the “jot it” part of JusJoJan means that anything you jot down, anywhere (it doesn’t have to be a post, it can even be a grocery list), counts as a “jot.” If it makes it to your blog that day, great! If it waits a week to get from a sticky note to your screen, no problem!

3. I’ll post prompts at 2am my time (GMT -5). You don’t have to follow the prompt every day, but that will be where you leave your link for others to see. You’ll get a prompt for every day except Wednesday, when the prompt is simply my One-Liner Wednesday and on Saturday, when your prompt will be the Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS, which will appear at about 9:30am Friday. Each prompt post will include the rules.

4. Please ping back or link to the daily prompt. To ping back, just copy the URL from the daily prompt post, and paste it anywhere in your post. Check to make sure your link shows up where you want it to, and go back occasionally to see other bloggers’ entries – the more you visit others, the more they’ll visit you! Note: A) The newest pingbacks will be at the top of the comments section. B) Ping backs only work if you’re blogging on WordPress. Everyone else must paste a link manually.

5. Tag your post JusJoJan and/or #JusJoJan.

6. Write anything! Any length will do! It can even be a photo or a drawing – you’re going to title it, right? There’s your jot!

7. The prompts will appear every day that’s neither a Wednesday nor a Saturday–Saturday’s JusJoJan prompt will be Stream of Consciousness Saturday. You’ll find the list of prompts below as they come in, which means I’ll be updating this post. Remember, you don’t have to use the prompts. Please write whatever inspires you. NOTE: If your post is NSFW, do not ping back. Please leave your link in the comments with a warning.

8. If you’d like to, use the JusJoJan badge so that others can find your post more easily.

9. Have fun!


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#JusJoJan the 27th/23 – Social amenities

Our prompt word for January 27th is “amenities.” Thanks so much, Kim, for the neat prompt!

I’ve been having issues with one of my amenities today. Specifically, my internet. Which is part of the reason I’m posting this so late. My reason for yesterday’s late posting? I forgot to hit the publish button. o_O

But I digress.

I learned something new today!

As I often do when I’m looking for inspiration for a post, I opened the dictionary. (I’m such a nerd.)

And I found this in Merriam-Webster:

usually amenities : something (such as a conventional social gesture) that promotes smoothness or pleasantness in social relationships

<maintaining social amenities>

Who knew?

Now that I know, it explains a few things for me.

I come to my blog and to most of the social media sites I visit to be social. To have nice conversations with nice people.

Which, I’ve realized, is why I feel icky when I use social media (or my blog) to try to sell my books.

Sure, they tell you when you advertise that you’re giving the consumer something they need (like my books), or something that will make you happy (definitely my books), but I can’t help but feel that it’s unsmooth and unpleasant to talk about buying my books (which you absolutely want to do) with people who are just trying to have a nice conversation with me.

So perhaps the subliminal approach is best.

Because the truth is, I’m excited about my books. Especially when I have a new release coming out soon. And although it might seem to lack social amenities to talk about my books, I’m sure there are people out there who are excited for me.

Right?

Yeah, no. Totally unsmooth.

 ***

This totally subliminal post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Kim! Please be sure to check out Kim’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/27/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-27th-2023/ It’s fun!


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The Friday Reminder for #SoCS & #JusJoJan 2023 Daily Prompt – Jan. 28th

Welcome to our final combination Daily 2023 Just Jot it January Prompt and the Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt for SATURDAY, JANUARY 28th! Where has January gone? It’s flown by for me.

For those of you joining SoCS for the first time, it’s a little different than the other prompts in that it’s not always a whole or single word. If you’re joining in from JusJoJan, don’t want to write stream of consciousness style, no worries. It’s up to you! If you do want to try it, please check out the rules below. It’s fun! Here’s your Saturday prompt:

Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 28th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “throw in the towel.” Use the phrase “throw in the towel” somewhere in your post. Enjoy!

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here at this week’s prompt page and check to make sure it’s here in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome post. Anyone can join in!

To make your post more visible, use our SoCS badge! Just paste it in your Saturday post so people browsing the reader will immediately know your post is stream of consciousness and/or pin it as a widget to your site to show you’re a participant. Wear it with pride!!

2019-2020 SoCS Badge by Shelley! https://www.quaintrevival.com/

You can also use the Just Jot it January badge! To find the rules for Just Jot it January, click here.

Here are the rules for SoCS:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The’,” or simply a single word to get your started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours.  Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!