By Alejandro Escamilla
Every day that goes by, I watch more and more posts being published by the blogs that I follow or that come across the feed on “Freshly Pressed.” Every day I wish I was putting something new out there too. It isn’t that I don’t have any ideas, that’s not the kind of writer’s block I am talking about. I am talking about the writer’s block that keeps me from actually being able to sit down and WRITE. You know, things like a job (in my case two), kids and family, house and yard, sleep, commute time, time to unwind from all those other things…the list seems endless.
One of the difficulties I have found about blogging is that the things I like to write about and the way I like to write take time. I like to talk about “real things” and not just put stuff out there because it will generate a few clicks here and there. I want stuff of substance! But, what I am finding is that in order to do that I like to have blocks of time to be able to focus on it. I like to include research or references to support what I am saying (is that the teacher in me or just good practice?). I like to write with the flow at the moment, not just in bits and pieces since the cohesiveness in thought tends to be lost somewhere along the way. I keep ideas in my “queue”, if you will, but then when I go back to them I am not sure what my thoughts were at the time or feel like I have lost the intention of the idea.
Am I taking this blogging thing too seriously? Do I care too much about what I write and how I write it?
How do other’s handle this sort of writer’s block and still feel like they are producing something worth reading? How have YOU addressed this issue?
Understanding, Optional 
It is fine to “care,” but when it hinders production you are caring far too much. That is my opinion at least, but that also depends on your goals with blogging.
So are you saying quantity over quality?
That isn’t what I said at all. I said it is ok to care, but if it keeps you from pressing “publish” it isn’t helping you. It is hindering you. I don’t really have a view on this quantity over quality phrase people love to throw around because honestly… writing posts is easy for me. I spit them out all day because I enjoy it. Do I think they are good? Sure. Do other people? Well that is always debatable right?
I keep a Word document that contains all my current thoughts. When I have a thought I add it to the document. Sometimes they are well-fleshed-out ideas, sometimes just titles. I work on tjis when I have time and eventually blog articles emerge. They may spend months or even years taking shape.
Tip to increase productivity – keep your articles short!
I can relate to what you are saying. I have to have time to really focus because I don’t want to just throw something out there that hasn’t been well thought out, carefully written and at least a little bit interesting. It’s difficult to find those blocks of time in our busy lives, but I’m sure glad you do find them because you are a great writer and your posts are interesting and often fun as well. By the way, I’m trying to let other bloggers who have been following my blog know that it has a new address and name. I’m no longer the Fitness Crazed Home School Paparazzi Mom. My blog is now called Nurturing the Heart and you can find it at http://www.nurturingtheheart.wordpress.com/ Hopefully you’ll have a minute to stop by and say hello. 😉 Blessings to you!
Jana
Thanks, Jana. I had already seen in my reader that you had changed your blog name.
Oh good, Ryan. Since the address for it changed too, I wasn’t sure if it would be removed from the readers of those who were following me. Good to know!