The Friends & Members of 750 Words

I’ve never written a Cup of Patronage note before. I joined the site about eight years ago, back when it was free. I liked the idea, sometimes I liked the actual writing; mostly I was frustrated because I could never be consistent in writing. I couldn’t be consistent in much of anything, actually, except in falling back into depression whenever I accidentally destroyed, through carelessness or indifference or ignorance or some mysterious curse, something I really cared about.

But ‘years of failure’ is kind of a pathetic note to start on. Let’s start over, not with where I was when I registered on this website, or where I was a few years ago, but where I am now:

I’d never written one hundred days in a row before last week. Until last year, I never knew that undiagnosed ADHD was the majority of what was crippling me in school, relationships, work, and interests. I’ve never been free truly free from depression for three whole months in a row, not since 2013. I still struggle with consistency, but writing on this site is part of my morning routine, my treatment, my life—and it helps. It helped me to figure out that I was depressed, back when I was a lonely and confused college freshman. It helped me to learn how to write quickly, even if that writing isn’t always very good. It continues to help me to become a better writer, a freer writer, a more interesting writer. It forces me to think about whatever failures or challenges I’m currently trying to run away from in my life.

I owe this site a lot. On the 750words.com servers are 560k words tracking my life and my mental health over eight years, which is a pretty nifty resource for when I want to time travel back to a younger and more confused version of myself. Even the inconsistent writing practice I’ve done here has helped with two novels I’ve drafted and a dozen other stories I’ve started. I used to promise myself that I’d be a less cheap person and become a patron of this site if I ever wrote a successful novel. The truth is—I don’t have to wait till I finish writing something good to declare victory from my ‘morning pages’ (ha! mostly ‘dead-of-night pages’). The victory is that I’m back in school, not hating myself and my life. The victory is that I’ve been consistent in this and a couple of other things for three whole months, which for someone with ADHD is an Apollo 11-level achievement.

This is success. I’m living a success story every day that I get up and take care of my body, mind, and soul. Someday I’m going to break that lovely writing streak, I feel sure—an emergency or sickness or laptop crisis will get in the way. When that day comes, I don’t think I’ll mind so very much. I’ve finally learned, finally proved to myself, that I can just get up and do it the next day, streak or no streak—because writing matters to me. Putting a little of my overwhelmed mind onto the page every day matters to me.

Words don’t really seem like enough of a ‘thank you’, but it feels like the right currency for this site. You have my unending gratitude, Buster and Kelliane, for creating something that’s truly been a major help to me.

Improve the writing page

I want to be able to double space the page. If the page is double spaced I would be more inclined to reread the page and turn the Gibble I typed into mostly correct
English.

Pay-as-you-go Subscription Model

The monthly subscription model means you either maintain a 30-day streak or you don’t get your money’s worth. In ways, it’s a good incentive to make the most of the service, and those keen on maintaining a streak, for example, are positively reinforced by this scheme, but not every user wants to use the service in the same way.

Some people don’t have the time to commit to the service every day. Some people purposely only want to use the service infrequently (eg. for weekly reflections or as a dream journal). Some people actively dislike the stress associated with maintaining a streak and purposely avoid maintaining one. Also, a sudden change of personal circumstance could cause a change in habit in anybody’s use of the service.

It feels that, just because some people work at a different rate to others, they would end up paying more for less. Personally, I don’t like the pressure of needing to assume a certain behaviour as a user in order to capitalise on what I bought, and I’d wager I’m not alone in this.

Personally, I would much rather pay a small cost per entry as and when I make them, or purchase a bulk quantity of entries (that aren’t restricted to certain dates) in advance and consume them as I make entries. I wouldn’t even mind if the average cost per entry was slightly higher to accommodate for the probability of larger word dumps per entry or the higher uncertainty surrounding user loyalty (this is a business, after all!). That said, offering new subscription models may expand the range of potential customers even if they interact with the site less regularly; I, for one, have been aware of 750 Words for roughly two years, but resisted creating an account for a long time for the very reason of not being sure if I would suit the subscription model. I’m still uncertain if I will stick with the service because of the current subscription option, but I thought to highlight the concern in case it makes a difference.

More badges for accomplishments

I’ve been around here a while. Would love to earn some more badges beyond the word count ones. Something more interim. I’m close to 500,000 but one million will take a few more years I think.

750 Words pairs nicely with National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) because the daily word count goal is a bit over twice as much as 750. Now 1,667 words doesn’t seem that formidable.

Since returning to my daily writings in January 2018, I have not faulted in my daily writings and or submissions…

750words has helped me in keeping my daily journaling habbits from falling away… & within my many other writing adventures… I have learned that 750words has given me not only the drive and discipline to continue writing… but has also taught me how much my writing was missed.

Rule 1 #
If you dont have anything to write about… write anyway… copy down a meme, a verse of a song, an article line in a newspaper and write how and why it has affected you or caught your attention… writing inspirations are everywhere… they aree even in our day to day conversations and meetings with people…

Rule # 2 there are no rules to writing, in sitting down with a penn and paper, a computer or a tablet words will start to flow and soon your writing habits will become automatic.

Rule # 3 not everyday day that you write will be an easy one.. some days life will get in the way.. some days we will find we will have little to write about … but in the enf the fact that we chose to write is all that counts.

An iPhone/iPad app

An ipad app would be great especially for when I travel, since I don’t bring my computer with me. This would really help with consistency!

When I finally get this novel finished, I will thank 750words in the acknowledgments. Most of it was written here first!

When I wish to complain, I know exactly who will listen.

Just completed my second 100 day streak. Smiling. Something happened this week while writing. I really let go & it’s because I feel totally safe in the privacy of this space. I write my mind. It’s like singing in a magical cave. I get a lovely echo of my thoughts. Thank you!

Offline Mode

Sometimes internet is unreliable. Sometimes my WiFi shuts off and back on. My stats are waaay thrown off and it counts as a distraction (but I’m innocent, I promise!)

It would be great if I could use 750 Words offline. Not sure it’s possible, but I think it’s something worth looking into.

On the rare occasions that writing 750 words feels like a chore instead of a pleasure, I still notice that I have a clearer mind afterwards.

I have been all over the place with 750words, I have written highs and the lows but I have to keep reminding myself that what is most important is that I have written. I have found it almost like a diary and hope that in the long run that will improve the quality of the rest of my writing. Sadly, I have not written for the past week and really missed it. Hopefully next month I will have the guts to go for the challenge of writing every day. Keep writing!

I’ve learned a lot about myself by freewriting, mostly good things, too.

A better mobile site

I’m glad that my years’ worth of personal writing is safe and secure on this site. It’s a gift to myself.

After I think I’ve run out of things to say is often when I write the most interesting things.

I didn’t write first thing in the morning today. I watched the clock all morning and afternoon until I could sit down and write. Feel so much better now.

Julia Cameron refers to Morning Pages as taking your shadow out for coffee. Here’s to a regular coffee date with my shadow.

As someone with BPD, OCD and a bunch of other rubbish things, this site really helps me get focused. Sometimes I write blog posts here, other times it’s just a blurb of nonsense or venting. Either way, I enjoy it!

750 words is helping me write my book!

My desk is in front of the window facing my backyard, and I like to look outside while I’m writing 750 words. Thanks for making me more observant.

When something irritates me, I will often make a mental note to save my rant for 750 words. Thanks for helping me complain less.

On the occasional day when I can’t write my 750 words until later in the evening, I have a worse day than when I can get up and write before doing anything else. Thanks for improving my days.

Custom "time zones"

I’m a night person and I’ve accidentally lost my streak several times after forgetting to get my words down before midnight. I prefer to write around 4AM – but still consider those words tied to the previous date for the sake of data tracking. It would be awesome to be able to create custom “time zones” to accommodate night owl writers.

A better mobile site sot of newbie on the site. I do wish there was an app,but I like the workaround I have figured out.

I bought a Jelly COmb Bluetooth keyboard and just log into the site through my phone’s web browser, unfold the wireless keyboard, and type away on y phone. It is kind like being on the computer but instead on my phone or kindle fire. I don’t need an app When I have the.
However, I wish there was an offline feature. A friend has a farm and I cannot go out there and keep up my streak because there is no internet. If the website had an app that would upload later but know when it was typed, that would help me to keep more consistent I think.

An iPhone/iPad app

Mobile App for 750 Words

Hello,

We are all in a world of smartphones and an app for writing our daily 750 words would make our lives so much easier. I am spending all my Cups of Patronage for this feature request. I know there are enough people out there who like me would love to have an mobile app for 750words.com.

Thanks,
Siri

A friend in a Fb writing group posted a link to this website, and I signed up for the April Challenge. Sadly I did not complete the challenge, missing day 24 and a couple more after I failed. But I was so encouraged by lasting as long as I did that I signed up for the May challenge! And this is my cup of penance that I promised if I failed the April one. But it’s really a ginormous cup of gratitude!