Monday, January 2, 2012

The Post Every Blogger Writes at Least Once

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There comes a time in the life of the average blogger when they sense something in the air is amiss. Some of them have no idea what this something is. With their natural instincts, however, there are a few that catch on quickly. For some, they may be able to figure it out in time. Others may not be so lucky.

Okay, enough of the life and times of the wild blogger, let’s get down to business.

So, what AM I talking about? I am talking about the post every blogger writes at least once: The I-can’t-come-up-with-any-interesting-posts-on-command post. Why am I talking about it? Because you’re reading it right now.

Yes, I am at some sort of roadblock. No, I haven’t run out of ideas for posts. Trust me, I’ve got a list. I just can’t come up with a good way of displaying my ideas in a comprehensive word formation that not only educates and/or inspires but also prompts discussions and gets people thinking. The idea is good (sometimes it’s so freaking awesome you can’t believe it), yet you have nothing of importance to say about it.

And it’s not like you can’t have something important to say about the topic. It’s there. Often on the tip of your tongue. Just like the one word you know exists in the English language that somehow comes out as another word that doesn’t remotely fit the sentence structure the way it’s supposed to when you’re trying to revise the first draft of your novel. At least there you can just pick up a thesaurus (or two, or three) and find that word. With a blog post, you have to come up with a little more than one vocabulary word you learned in sixth grade.

What is it that causes these obstacles? Honestly, I haven’t the faintest. I can say this though, it doesn’t get any better if you just throw your hands up and walk away from it forever. Pick up that paper or laptop and get down to business!

How can you write a post if you stop writing posts? You can’t.

What if 99% of what you write sucks? Take that 1% and run with it.

Even the best of writers have an EPIC FAIL moment where they can’t write. Surely I can break through this barrier and try again. Sometimes you need to walk away. Sometimes you need to come back to it a week later. Sometimes you just need to scrap it and start over fresh. Sometimes you need to skip the topic and move on to the next one. These are just a few little thoughts on the matter.

Every blogger will face this at least once, if not many times in their blogging life. As time goes on, you find that you’re getting better when this dilemma appears. In fact, take a look here. I spent the last half hour typing this out. Guess what? It’s a blog post. Booyah! Step one in the right direction.

This ends my rant-ish moment in the spotlight. On to more bookish things.

How about you? Ever been here before? What did you do to combat the post writing roadblock?

~Jessica

5 comments:

  1. I suffer from blog post block all the time! At least once a week when I'm going my Writer's Corner. It's as if a door slams shut in my mind and I have a million keys but none of them seem to fit the lock. I think it gets worse when I'm trying to review books. I've read so many that I haven't reviewed and now I've gotten what I was meant to be saying or what book it is that I read. I don't know what the answers are either, but sometimes it IS just good to sit yourself down and make yourself write anything (NaNo style. As bloggers (and especially book bloggers) I have a feeling that we all tend to over analyze our writing. After all, isn't that kinda our job description? Just go with it and see where it leads you and if it just doesn't work, move on.

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  2. Ohhh, being blocked is the WORST. I really wish I had some good advice for you. Sometimes for me, it just takes time for the block to let go. I can only offer hugs and the promise that it WILL end and you WILL find an awesome way to get out those words.

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  3. Lan: I do over analyze my writing! I think that's what keeps me from finishing all my blog projects more than anything. There were a couple topics that I could only come up with one paragraph for... fail. Lol. It's getting better now though, it does just take time sometimes. :)

    Molli: Very true! All of us face a block at some point and we just have to ride it out. Thank you for the hugs and the promise! ;)

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  4. Ugh! I hate writing blocks! I'm sorry you're having one but I like your positive attitude.

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Thank you for commenting and happy reading!