Even as I’m getting ready to write this blog, I have a million things going through my head. About school, work, money, other blogs I want to write, different article ideas, the article I have due tonight for Borderstan, holiday plans, working out, looking for jobs, family…
And so on.
My biggest hindrance on writing? I can’t shut my brain off long enough to focus.
I was born to write. I know this from the bottom of my heart and the feeling that washes over me every time I complete a piece is proof of that.
I am just bad at planning and outlining. When I have a paper due for school, I cannot outline. I just get my ideas in order and start writing, hoping for the best and plugging in the resources at the end.
I need to be able to write freely but life doesn’t always allow that. The times that blogs get written out in my head are usually when I’m too busy with something else or too tired to type out the words.
By the time I get to it, I already have a million other ideas and words in my head.
I need to do more free-writing. I need to dedicate a half hour of my life to just write. Shut off the wi-fi so I’m not tempted to check my emails. Turn off my phone and leave it in the other room (Which is impossible sometimes) and turn on the music.
There are days when ALL I want to do is write.
I just have to force myself to write every day because that is what frees my mind and soul.
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Today’s prompt: What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?
24 thoughts on “[Reverb10] Writing”
“The times that blogs get written out in my head are usually when I’m too busy with something else or too tired to type out the words.”
This happens more times than I’d like to admit. I’m always tempted to use the voice recorder app on my phone, but then I’d forget to listen to it.
Jenn
Yeah, I’ll just lay there on the couch and say “Ohhh I need to write” but no force in the world can get me to focus on that screen sometimes.
PrincessQ
“When I have a paper due for school, I cannot outline. I just get my ideas in order and start writing, hoping for the best and plugging in the resources at the end.”
That’s exactly what I’m doing for my history paper. Though, I feel like that’s probably not the best strategy.
Liebchen
I’ve gotten A’s on most of my papers that way.
Though I do not recommend it if you’re not built to think that way. I think you’ll be fine though.
PrincessQ
I have to wait until my little guy is in bed, or do it first thing in the morning.
I definitely have to MAKE myself. My notepad on my BB is full of stuff waiting to be written about so I won’t forget it.
thelittlepecan
It’s definitely worth the effort though
PrincessQ
For me – the early AM hours are prime writing time. Once my wife is awake, the dog is up, TV is on, emails are flying in, people are all a-“twitter”, It’s damn near impossible to get any serious writing done. Reading and writing is always first, or near the top of my to-do list once I pull myself out of bed (which is why I wish they’d send these prompts out a little earlier). 😉
Glad we’ve connected and look forward to reading more of your #reverb10 stuff this month!
Matt Cheuvront
I’m a night owl. It’s easier for me to write at night and purge so I can rest easily. Unfortunately, these days, I am just way too exhausted by the time I want to write. I just have to set aside a better time for myself. Actually creating the space to write is important too.
Glad to have connected as well!
PrincessQ
i definitely find real life interferes way, way too much with my writing. it’s so hard to get time for yourself to do the basics in this world – laundry, exercise, etc. writing gets totally squished out.
i’ve actually started writing notes on my iphone when i’m commuting to and from school on the metro. i then take those and either blog them or put them into my journals. it’s been a nice way to sandwich writing into my day when the world conspires against me…
magnolia
I almost wish I had a daily commute again so I can do that.
PrincessQ
I do way too much that doesn’t contribute to my writing. I spend more time reading other people’s writing than writing my own… Sigh.
Suburban Sweetheart
That’s why I don’t touch my Google Reader unless I have the time for it. It does give me a lot of inspiration to read others but I have to focus on myself (As I found this year).
I love it when you write. Please do it more 🙂
PrincessQ
I wouldn’t say that planning is a hindrance to my blogging, but it definitely is to much of the writing that I do in real life (for work, etc). I have to outline otherwise it usually comes out as a big jumbled mess. Which is OK for blogging but not so good for assignments!
(thanks for your comment, btw!)
Allison Blass
Well, when I have to write articles & guest posts, there needs to be some planning that goes into it. And that is just not in my nature.
Of course! I loved it and am looking forward to reading more.
PrincessQ
Oh man, if only my brain were directly connected to my computer and when I thought something it would automatically store it! I come up with so many lovely ideas to write about when I’m in the shower, driving to work, etc. Darn it!
The free writing exercise idea is really great! I remember doing this a few times in the past, and I was amazed at what I came up with. Simply taking 20 minutes with a pen and paper and just writing…without stopping…and then reading over what you came up with…is awesome! I’ve surprised myself at what I’ve been able to conjure.
Katie
Agreed. I come up with the BEST ideas in the shower…that’s why I keep my phone handy so I can at least text myself the idea.
Try to do a free-writing exercise at least once a week. It works miracles.
PrincessQ
PrincessQ,
If you were born to write, then you can’t not.
It’s an illusion that you have to force yourself.
It’s like breathing. You were born to breathe. You were born to dance. You were born to love.
To be born to a thing is to grow to it, to grow in it, to be it,
to grow into it, to grow into ease and comfort and eventually grace and elegance with it.
Being born to breathe, but momentarily holding your breath, doesn’t mean you have to force yourself to breathe.
Being born to dance, but momentarily sitting it out, doesn’t mean you have to force yourself to dance.
You don’t have to force yourself to write.
Trust yourself.
It will come.
As natural as breath, as natural as dance, as natural as love.
And it will be beautiful.
Karen Sharp
Thank you! And I never feel like I have to force myself to write. It’s the focusing that has me troubled.
PrincessQ
I totally agree that the distractions that come with wifi aren’t exactly conducive to good, solid writing time. I’m thinking that’s a big reason I needed to put the brakes on my Facebook addiction. Aye.
And I’m so glad that reverb has connected me to your writing, I love it!
Marie
Aww, thank you!
PrincessQ
Sometimes I find that writing my ideas out in longhand eliminates the “pressure” of the blank post screen. Another idea is to get a pack of index cards and write the topic that jumped into your head that you still need to flesh out.
Mama Kelly aka Jia
Oooh, I love those ideas! Thanks!
PrincessQ
focus is a big issue for me as well – the freewriting does help, it releases the pressure of all the mental clutter that has built up.
Judy Schwartz Haley | CoffeeJitters.Net
I totally know what you mean! Somedays I just have so much going on, that I “write” a blog post in my head. Which, just about has to be one of the silliest and smartest things ever.
The thoughts get formed (which is good) but it usually ends up getting lost in the over congested cyber space highway that is my brain (which is totally bad).
And then I usually spend the next few hours, days (or sometimes weeks) feeling the CRAZY urge to write – but life just keeps getting in the way. I remember when I was younger, I would spend literally hours writing and listening to music. Those times where you just get lost in the lyrics and the rhythms of your own writing.
I’m still trying to figure out how just doing that got so hard all of a sudden.
Shannon Clattenburg