When most authors are struggling to writer, [ironically] they often write a post about what to do when you get ‘writer’s block’, hoping it will kick-start their writing back into gear.
I am struggling to write, as you may have noticed from the sparsity of posts this month – this is only post 9, and we are already 25 days into February.
The typical ‘writer’s block post’ will contain thoughts and ideas on how to stimulate that fantastical, creative chunk of your brain that is responsible for your ideas and your best works.
My problem isn’t that that part of my brain is taking a nap, quite the reverse: its in overdrive!
Many bloggers give the famous advice “find your niche and stick to it”. I like to defy the trend though, and we are a different sort of blog, hence we can take a different sort of approach to blogging. As a writer for Technology Bloggers, you are literally spoilt for choice when it comes to what to write about. You could research innovating new technologies, explore how the internet is changing our lives, educate on the world of SEO, discuss blogging practices – you get the picture, we aren’t just technology!
With so many topics, how do you choose what to write about? Do I aim to help you with a ‘how to guide’, wow you with a ‘facts and stats’ post, inform you with my take on a breaking news article, teach you how something works, what do I do?
You have no idea how many posts I have started to write, saved as a draft and then abandoned because something more interesting has sprung to mind.
I am going to focus. You can expect more. A few weeks ago I wrote about what I perceived to be the the blogging dilemma: quality vs quantity, and you should have taken from that post that I will only ever post stuff that I think you (or someone else) will want to read, and stuff which I believe is ‘quality’.
Enough said. Now to get writing proper posts.
Your Input
On a final note, do you have any suggestions/requests? Is there anything you want me to explore? I will gladly take ideas for posts. I won’t always run with them, but if I like the idea, I shall try.
Anything unclear about how we run things, or what you can expect?
Have faith, we shall battle on!
P.P.S
On a [final] final note, do you think my writing is getting too casual and informal?
I notice I am changing the way I write, and part of me likes the change, but another part is anxious that I may loose my credibility. You know me right?
Anyhow this is blogging, not literature!
P.P.P.S
The above ‘P.P.S‘ was going in another post, but I thought it fitted in here better 
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I find it helpful to have a deadline. Writing once a week means that I have a certain period to think about the post, research it and put it up. I keep my un-posted pieces though, and as I move on I look back at them occasionally, or something reminds me of one and I go back to it and update it, until I think that it is publishable. Don’t aim for perfection, just ask the question “is it adequate for what I want to do?” If it is you can post it, if not, leave it in the folder until inspiration takes you.
Check out the drafts archive, and there are quite a few unfinished posts by me in there, and I usually never get round to finishing them, or improving them to – as you put it – make them publishable.
I like your idea, and am slowly trying to relax my personal scrutiny, however its hard! Some people are way to easy on themselves, whist others are too self-critical – the later is me!
Christopher,
I like a casual, conversational style of writing. That’s how I write and what I like to read. Lately I have been editing several doctoral dissertations, and it seems they are filled with big words when little words mean the same thing and long, convoluted sentences. If it can be said effectively in three words, academia wants you to use six words. When I read blogs, I want to feel like I’m carrying on a conversation with the blogger, and an informal, casual style does that.
Thanks for the support Lillie, I also like the style, but was slightly concerned, hence why I asked for your opinion – well, not just you
When possible I don’t shy away from using ‘better’ words, ones with greater depth and meaning, which convey what I want to say in better [more educated] way, but I don’t see the point in substituting simplicity for complexity without a need!
“If it can be said effectively in three words, academia wants you to use six words.” – and the rest! I imagine when you look at academic work it is completely different to that of the books and blogs you are used to.
If you have something to say, say it!
…or as our academic friends would say:
Should one have a message they wish to convey, as opposed to taking a more long-winded approach, such as a formalised academic style, which is likely to discombobulate ones reader, one should aim to get straight to the point, using as simple terminology and as few words as possible.
I guess this is a phase all blogger go through one time or another. Most blogs get around this by accepting / encouraging guest posts, going for multi-author blog etc. At a personal level I think it’s about managing your ideas. While reading a blog post you might suddenly get a great idea for a blog post, but once you finished the blog post and move onto some other thing you might forget that idea. I use QuickFox notes in FF and soon as I get an idea write it down, so I can always browse it later when stuck for ideas.
Please check out my article: Programming Quotes Based on Movies
Hi Christopher,
Setting a schedule could help, another idea may be to carry around a small notebook and jot down blogging ideas when ideas come up.
I don’t see a problem with the conversational style, I think it is quite fitting for a blog.
Cheers
Neil
Thanks for the tips Neil.
I am glad you like the style