Hesitant Writer
A hesitant writer, that's me. I love to read and I don't mind writing, in fact I am pretty good at it. Every one of my posts have been indexed by Google in a matter of hours, literally. Not bragging, just saying I must be doing something right.
And yet, I hesitate to write blogs. Why? I'm not really sure. I just know that I don't sit down and write consistently (as I suppose I should).
Lots To Say
I have a list of blog/post ideas, and I have even started about 5 posts and have the saved drafts. Sometimes the urge just grabs me and I write. It just seems to flow out of me. Endless words. Various subjects. I just save what I've written for a future post. It seems to work fine.
I am diligent about reading all the blogs and training that show up in my email every day (to the tune of about 75 per day). I answer and comment and read for hours a day. Then my mind feels like mush and I find I can't concentrate on my training.
You see, I am very concientous about reading each one, answering each one, commenting on each one and welcoming new followers.
I go through each training thoroughly and ask questions as I need to. I want to learn everything I can.
I greatly appreciate the help and tutoring that I recieve. I deem it as invaluable.
Lost Momentum....uh oh....
So, I am behind on my training and loosing my momentum. This is not good. However, I have gone a couple of days without clearing out my emails and the result is too overwhelming to complete in one sitting. I am trying to develope a routine, but I'm not yet successful.
I was reading a blog by louisaparson about posting and bloging. It made me think about the way I viewed writing on WA. I feel it is valuable to aid in reaching people.
I know it is the carrot that we dangle in front of our visitors that gets them to come to our website to begin with.
I know it is how we impart information to our subject audience.
I know all of this, I like writing, words flow pretty easily for me. And yet, I am a hesitant writer.
What the @*?%#&! is wrong with me?
That is the million dollar question.
True, I am still learning about online marketing and I am still growing a website, and have two more in the designed and almost finished phase. I will continue to learn until the day I die. So I gather information on a daily basis.
Yet, I don't write posts as I should. I spend my time doing other WA activities. I get lost in the details of creation and maintaining. Then I don't have the mental energy to do the course work. My brain has turned to mushy gray matter.
The only thing that seems to renew my thinking abilities is to play a few (or, most often, more than a few!) games of Mahjong. On the computer, of course. The focus and interaction seem to clear the fog and bring me back from the mushy bog. Then I am refreshed and ready to pursue the course work.
But, by then it is usually time to fix dinner for the hubby person and shut down the computer for the evening.
My "work hours" tend to be from 7:30 am to about 5 pm Monday through Friday, and whatever I can squeeze out on Saturday and Sunday. It seems like a lot of time, but in truth, I have a relatively narrow window of productivity each day. I also have to fit in grocery shopping, house cleaning, laundry, errands, doctor appointments, and so on. In general, Life gets in the way.
So, I keep writing down blog ideas and post ideas. I keep saving drafts of words that pop into my head and flow forth. Occassionally I pull one out, as now, and fill in more words, and some images and publish the finished product.
Sometimes people actually read my words and enjoy my blogs. Sometimes they laugh and agree with me. Sometimes I'm sure they shake their heads and wonder why I even bothered to publish such drivvel.
Oh well. Such is the issue each writer faces. We choose our target audience. We impart fabulous words and ideas. We put a bit of ourselves into everything we write.
Then, we wait.
Will our readers like what they read?
It is always our hope, when writing, to impart something to our readers.
Entertainment and amusement. Information and direction. Whatever the angle we take as writers, we hope there will be an appreciative audience.
I, the hesitant writer that I am, am no different. I want my writing to illicit certain emotions, thoughts, actions, decisions and comments. I can hardly wait to see how it is received and what people think of my blog or post.
So, here we are, dear reader, at the end of my blog. Have you enjoyed it? Can you relate? Did you find it entertaining? Did it hit a serious note within you?
Please drop me a comment and let me know what you think. I appreciate every comment.
As Always,
Candice
Recent Comments
19
I can certainly relate Candice. I have a new plan that I intend to start implementing next Monday. I'll share it with you. It looks like we keep pretty close to the same hours.
Monday: Usually start around 7:30 a.m. I will first clear all messages left on the bell. Then I will go to my email. I usually have between 75 and 100 every single morning. I will work on emails, from the bottom working up until 10:00a.m.. Then I will shut off emails for the day, and work on training and website until my goals for the day are complete. If there is time, I will clear my messages and go back to working on e-mail until time to quit.
Then I will set my schedule for the next day. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I will follow pretty close to Monday's schedule.
I work on Friday until noon. I won't do work on my site on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. I will clear my messages first, then go to my e-mails. Try to keep messages clear asap. But I will focus all of my attention on emails and messages. Friday till noon. Saturday if I get a few minutes here and there. Off on Sunday.
I feel like a schedule will help me to get the things done that have to be accomplished for me to ever earn a real income here. That's my main goal.
I love the social end of WA, but realistically, I know that this can really stand in my way financially. Social is important. Very important. But my website has to be a priority.
I hope this helps. I'll keep you posted how it works for me.
All the best,
Wendi
Thanks for sharing your schedule with me, Wendi. It looks a lot like what I do every day. However, I haven't set myself a timeframe to work within. I need to start limiting my time on email. I really get bogged down with reading them all.
I am starting to only read the blog/posts on one day, say Monday, and skip over the 'is now following' you's and the training.Then the next day, Tuesday, do only the training. And just keep alternating through the week. Save all the 'following' for Friday.
I always start at the bottom of the list with the oldest. I flag the ones that I want to come back to or save it to my WA file for future reference, after I read them.
Like you, I love the social aspect of WA and think it is important. But, you are right that my website and training must be my priorities.
I wish you the best there is, Wendi. Keep moving forward :)
Candice
I forgot to add that, in my schedule, I will also write on Saturday and Sunday whenever possible. I will use my afternoons for course work, website development and writing. I think this system will help me get a working rhythm and momentum going.
:)))
I can very much relate to this Candice. I could recognize myself in what you described about you being a hesitant writer. You are not alone!!
This post was really good, I wanted to keep on reading. Perhaps because the topic relates to me too. But certainly also because it had a good flow, well-chosen sub titles and not to long paragraphs.
I believe with more practice we both will overcome our hesitation.
Let's keep on writing!
:-)
Thank you for your kind words, Pernilla. I appreciate them. We all enjoy being recognized for our talents and results. I really do like to write. And, I like to read. Therein lies my downfall :)
Yes, Pernilla, I believe we must keep writing. I hope to see more from you in the future, too.
Candice
Hi Candice, yes I can relate to this. I enjoyed reading your blog, and I could see myself a bit in there struggling to complete an article.
I think if we give ourselves mini targets or goals, that we must complete by a certain time, like half the article (several topics) dome in 2 hours, then go and do something else for a reward, like go outside, read a few of other peoples blog posts etc then our time will be better served. Just a thought.
All the best,
Michelle :)
Goals and mini-goals are always good. So are time outs, to refresh and renew. Best of success!
Candice
Yes , yes , and yes I can relate
, thank you for the validation ! Now it’s time to roll !best success
I can relate to what it feels like to just sit in front of my computer with a blog-idea. After I have written my first two sentences, I all of a sudden go into "Duh-Mode" and can't seem to come up with what to say next! I think that what this is Candice, is that we have so much that we want to say locked in our minds. Then, when we finally get to actually write, we start over-thinking everything because we worry about how we will come across to our readers. That might be a big part of the problem. I am sure that we all have experienced that to some degree. So don't feel alone, but keep on writing, because it will come.
You are definitively not alone.
I'm working on overcoming my perfectionism and let go of the hesitance.
We just must keep on writing!
:-)
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I too can understand where you are coming from Candice, I have started just reading the posts in little batches, if I am a day or so behind, I know longer worry, as I need to be able to concentrate on my site, blogs and training, as you say your brain goes to mush if you spend to long answering and reading all the mails.
Thanks, Stuart. I tend to be compulsive about finishing what I start. That makes it hard because that little voice in my head keeps nagging me to keep going. LOL. :)
Check the schedule I wrote to Wendi, below. I hope that it helps relieve my tension and give me more control over my reading as well as my writing. I'm glad you have a system that works for you.
Keep going forward.
Candice