Clicking Publish
I have a whole lot of nothing to post about. Usually, when that's the case, I don't post. Of course, I've built up some momentum again in terms of posting regularly, and I like that. I've been at this for more than four years, and I think the five friends who initially read it are still with me. And then there are the couple people I don't even know who read here. Whoa.
It's like a miracle, that.
But lately, I've been both over and underwhelmed. I have a new job to post about. Felix is forever being cute, annoying, goofy, and miserable--easy material. And yet. Stymied.
Also stuck on the baby novel. I was on fire for a few weeks, and I cranked out a lot. Then. Nada. Zip. Zero. Naught.
I had a very wise writing professor at Middlebury who asked us, as part of a non-fiction writing course, to write a certain amount of words every day. Let's call it 500 (since I don't really remember the exact number). We had to turn in these manidtory, pen-to-paper, stream-of-consciousness ramblings to prove we were doing them, and the exercise actually led to some of the essays I write for the proper class assignments.
That's one of the reasons I started blogging. To make myself write. To see if I still had a voice. So, today, I started with what was in my head--writer's block--and began to type. Instead of turning it in, I'm going to hit Publish when I get to the end of the last coherent sentence that falls near 300 words.
I always wonder what other bloggers/writers/essayists/authors do when they hit a wall. Step back? Listen? Crank out five pages of awkward garbage in the hopes it will undo the clog between brain and fingertips?
Yesterday, I unplugged after starting two useless posts and watched three episodes of Glee.I could have been doing dishes, working out, or researching things I need to get done before I start my new job. I ended up feeling guilty about not doing those things, and not blogging, and watching television.
Guilt is so not productive and I ended up in a worse funk.
So, today, I publish. It's a step.
It's like a miracle, that.
But lately, I've been both over and underwhelmed. I have a new job to post about. Felix is forever being cute, annoying, goofy, and miserable--easy material. And yet. Stymied.
Also stuck on the baby novel. I was on fire for a few weeks, and I cranked out a lot. Then. Nada. Zip. Zero. Naught.
I had a very wise writing professor at Middlebury who asked us, as part of a non-fiction writing course, to write a certain amount of words every day. Let's call it 500 (since I don't really remember the exact number). We had to turn in these manidtory, pen-to-paper, stream-of-consciousness ramblings to prove we were doing them, and the exercise actually led to some of the essays I write for the proper class assignments.
That's one of the reasons I started blogging. To make myself write. To see if I still had a voice. So, today, I started with what was in my head--writer's block--and began to type. Instead of turning it in, I'm going to hit Publish when I get to the end of the last coherent sentence that falls near 300 words.
I always wonder what other bloggers/writers/essayists/authors do when they hit a wall. Step back? Listen? Crank out five pages of awkward garbage in the hopes it will undo the clog between brain and fingertips?
Yesterday, I unplugged after starting two useless posts and watched three episodes of Glee.I could have been doing dishes, working out, or researching things I need to get done before I start my new job. I ended up feeling guilty about not doing those things, and not blogging, and watching television.
Guilt is so not productive and I ended up in a worse funk.
So, today, I publish. It's a step.
posted by Cameron | 1:12 PM
6 Comments:
It's an important first step - I'm sure you'll come out of your funk soon!
@Megan (Best of Fates)
Thanks. I have some high hopes for the rest of the day.
I'm right there with you! No worries, posting something is better than nothing and it's good to know your not alone. Hang in there!
I keep notes, lots of notes. And when I am feeling uninspired and blocked? I pick out one of my notes and just start writing as though there has been an assignment and I am under deadline.
It works.
New job???? :) samm
Good for you for publishing -- when that funk hits me, I crawl into bed with a barrel of popcorn and hide from the world...
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