BlogMunch

8 sure ways to get a blogger’s block

A couple of days ago, I decided to narrow my range of topics to focus more on the different aspects of writing and blogging. A couple of days later, I got blogger’s block. Here’s what I think contribute to my blogger’s block.

1. Not doing enough brainstorming or outlining
   I would just think up fantastic topics headings like “10 weight loss program I have tried” or “5 Adsense strategies that work” and started immediately to write. After a few sentences, the pace slowed, the ideas starts drying up and eventually stopped. A good brainstorm session to generate ideas, subheadings and outline could help to prevent that. The basic premises for brainstorming is jot down all ideas, no matter how unusual or ridiculous it is. Use these ideas to come out with the outline and write a summary to describe the whole topic.
2. Setting a target and expecting to reach it immediately
   I think this is happening to me now. After I set the focus for this blog, I set up google alerts and search for other writing blogs for inspiration. This leads to information overload and starts to overwhelm. I should have allowed myself to learn at my own pace. If I force the issue too much, I might gradually lose interest to write. I say, just keep writing and things will fall in place eventually.
3. Reading other exceptional blog post and think you can/should write like that
   Nobody expects me to write like anyone, so I shouldn’t expect that of myself too. I have to remember that other bloggers took plenty of time to hone their craft and become what they are now. I just need to be original in your views and clear in your writing.
4. Over-thinking my post of the day
   I do this all the time. I think, I write, I think again and I think again. See how I only write 1/4 of the time. Self doubt and no confidence in my writing contributes to this. Most of the time I think what I am writing is a cliche or it has been done many times before. Everything that can be written has already been written, it’s just how you present the ideas to make it different.
5. Spending too much time reading/researching
   Researching about the topic is good. It helps to give the topic more meat and relevance. It builds up my knowledge and gives me more insight about what you are writing. But eventually, I still need to put all those down on paper/screen.
6. Spending too much time on your blog template and other traffic driving activities
   Playing with the template is fun as I am learning new things that help in the visual department of my blog. I just need to set a time limit for these activities each day.
7. Worrying too much of what others might think
   I need to relax and enjoy myself while writing. There will always be comments (good/bad), and I have to take it in my stride. Although I have to think of my target reader, I cannot please everyone.

Now, I ask you. Have you had your blogger’s block? What have you done to overcome it? Send me a comment and tell me about it. Now, I got to go and just write.

Ask a question to get an answer

So for the second task from Rediscover Your Blogging Groove project. I have to answer a question from my readers or ask a question yourself.

As you can see from my blog, I am just starting out and had not have much visitors.
There is only one comment from Natalie W (Thanks again, natalie) who ask about my template to which I think I have answered adequately.

So I ask myself this question:

What is my niche for this blog?

This is actually a question I need to ask myself even before I start this blog. But as my first blog, I treat all this as a learning process and it better late than never. To tell the truth, I really have no idea what niche I want to be in. At the start of this blog I will try to use freeware, read books, listen to music, read website and blogs that interested me and write about them. But as I read back on my archive, I found that as I jump from topic to topic, even my own attention starts to waver. Now I understand, unless you write fascinating and memorable post day after day, you would need a niche to appeal to readers of the same inclinations.

Reflecting on these issues leads me to my main motive for blogging in the first place. I am always interested in writing and just need a platform to write without too much pressure.

So to answer my own question, “What is my niche for this blog?”

I would say writing about the writing process, the tools of the trade of writing and the motivations for writing. Of course, day to day, if I find anything interesting to write about, I will still write about them. This year long experiment will be a interesting journey and I hope to continue for as long as I can.

Now, that’s a stimulating task. Thanks, Darren.

I digg my own post yesterday

Before I press the button to digg this post, I hesitated for a moment. Not sure why, but I have the preconception that digging ones own post is wrong.

I dugg it anyway.

My rationale is that sending to digg is like sending to a newspaper or magazine in real life. If your post is crap, you won’t get on the front page and that’s fine with me. That means I still need to improve on my writing and write more interesting posts. Not sending would mean not even giving yourself a chance to let others read your stuff. Of course, I would not digg all my post, just those that I think other readers will be interested in.

These two posts might give a better perspective why it is okay to digg your own post.

http://www.copyblogger.com/is-it-ok-to-write-for-digg/

http://stupac2.blogspot.com/2006/08/digg-taboo-why-cant-i-digg-my-own-blog.html

Writing a draft

Since starting this blog, I have always save a draft for future use. Actually, it is more of a ideas dummy post save within blogger to put down the ideas I have during the day (or even the night). I never thought much about it as this is a good way to remember things (my wife would say I have nano-Alzheimer’s disease). That is until I google “draft writing” and read that drafting is an important part of the writing process.

As I thought about my writing process, these are the few things writing a draft will help me in blogging.

Drafting for future use
Blogger allows you to save a post and not publish them until you are comfortable with them. That is where I save my future drafts. Sometimes, I will write out a outline, or a few points pertaining to the idea I have, or even only a title to remind me of the idea. I will look back on these drafts everyday to see if I have enough content to write a post.

Reading through it may uncover new ideas
I generate new ideas by brainstorming with myself. Sometimes the dark clouds forsake me and the brain cannot storm, no new ideas was generated. I will read through the drafts to explore some of the other angles that I miss or did not notice, and I will develop these ideas.

Being productive as you might not finish your current idea
My writing style is that I will write something and then have an idea. I will either post a new draft or jot down the idea in a related draft. So my draft get fill up bit by bit until enough content is generated and I put a structure around it. A post is born.

Allows you to write down whatever you want without worrying
This is an old tip from a journal/essay writing process. You write out what you think regardless of the crap it generated. At least all your thinking is in writing. After the writing is done, then you edit out the unwanted parts, developed the ideas and you will have a better post.

As I have just started, my ideas are still flowing. I have about 10 drafts in the ideas dump just waiting for me to complete them. Now I just got to find time to finish them.

[tips] Remember to change the post date and time under Post Options at the bottom left corner your New Post page. The post date and time Blogger saved is when you first save your draft.

Mission Statment

I am planning this blog as a experiment to:

1. see if I am cut out for blogging,
2. see if there are readers interested in what I write,
3. improve my writing skills,
4. force myself to write something everyday,
5. see if blogging can really earn you some money.

The plan is to write at least one post per day for one full year.

Starting … … … NOW!

Date Stamp: 13/07/07
Time Stamp: 09:00 am