Friday, July 17, 2009

what would you blog about for one year?

The movie Julie and Julia is coming out soon, based on the book, which is based on the "the Julie/Julia Project" completed on Julie Powell's blog.

Phew!

For those who don't know, Julie Powell decided to go through the entire Julia Child cookbook (for all those under the age of 35, if you don't know who Julia Child is, then you don't deserve to watch the Food Network), and make at least one recipe a day for an entire year.

I cannot wait to see this movie--not only because the wonderful Meryl Streep plays Julia Child, but because the screenplay was written (and directed) by my beloved Nora Ephron. And it compasses two subjects/activities close to my heart: food and blogging.

Mind you, I don't cook very well. In fact, if it wasn't for the Food Network, I wouldn't have gotten past Spaghetti 101. (But I make the best damn peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Ever.) Food Network, and my fab NC apartment kitchen (you should've seen the one I had in MA), got me to like to cook. Sometimes. Most times. Truth be told, I'm still not crazy about cooking for one. (And please don't read into that as my missing a relationship -- I just find cooking for one boring.)

Baking, on the other hand, is another story.

And of course, I don't have to say anything about blogging.

But here's the thing: I absolutely love the idea of the Julie/Julia project for its tenacity, for Julie Powell's commitment, and for the buzz that it created. On top of that, it just seems plain fun (although I'm sure that wasn't always the case, especially when you're dealing with the Julia Child cookbook). So it makes me wonder what kind of blogging project I (or you) could (or would) take on in a similar vein.

* Read one book per week? (during the semester? good luck getting through a book per month!)
* Watch one episode of The West Wing per day and blog about it? (don't I already do that?)
* Bake one cookie recipe per day? (too copycat, although my students and colleagues would love it)
* Learn to play every song in the Beatles catalogue on the guitar? (I can see Day 10's post: I GOT BLISTERS ON ME FINGERS!!)
* Something humanitarian?

Something fun, for sure.

What do you think? I'd love to hear your ideas, either for you or me.

6 comments:

Candy O'Donnell said...

I love Meryl Strep. She has been a fav of mine for quite some time.

Candy

Elisa said...

I couldn't agree more, Candy -- what's not to love! Thanks for stopping by!

Mary Jo said...

I remember reading about Julie/Julia project, book and the blog that started it all in Writer's Digest YEARS ago. That is what started my mind churning about the marketing side of writing. So, for a blog project? Well, as you know I'm doing the "what I learned" series but that's weekly. I'm afraid if I posted daily as part of a project, my readers may indeed label me a schizo! (I'm pretty up and down...) LOL!

Elisa said...

I love and always look forward to your "What I Learned" segment, Mary Jo, and think it is perfect as once a week!

Sarah Girrell said...

not for you, but i love the ones people do where they post one photo a day.

you, of course, would have to write. it'd be simply heartbreaking to hear from you every day and never see a word.

oh, and i totally want to see that movie now. :)

Rob said...

If I had to blog anything everyday for one year, I would blog about the strangers I meet when I'm out in the world who are the rudest, crudest, strangest and socially inept characters you could ever meet. I'd note their habits and topics they thought were important right when they met me. Hopefully, the year experiment would find it's merit when readers would read about these 365 people and realize that a change needs to happen in our society. Namely: People need to be happier, nicer and more considerate.