Skip to main content

writers block and better blogging

Lately I have been trying to kick this blog up a notch

And yes, I know, I should probably start with a real layout rather than the generic blogger one…or that I should move to wordpress…or buy my own domain…or add more pictures…or ask more questions….or talk about controversial things…or comment more…

But I thought maybe I should just start writing better.

And more frequently.

And worry about those other things later.

But here is the catch.

Lately I haven’t had much to say.

I’ve been cleaning up old posts that never got published.

I’ve been reading an old journal (thank goodness I didn’t have a blog back then or I’d be mortified!)

Thinking and pondering and remembering and pulling at straws.

This was almost a post about chili cheese fritos.

Lately I have been indulgent.

Finishing off the fritos.

Spending without thinking.

Speaking without thinking.

Having too much.

Breaking the rules.

Not lenting.

And other things that I won’t bother to post for the world to see.

Or the dozen or so of you that read this blog.

But it has left me feeling bloated and empty

And wordless.

Because I only write good things when I live them.

So I know there are lots of posts and books and seminars on what makes good writing and maybe you don’t want to listen to a girl with a blog denouncing grammar….

But here are my tips for good writing:

(and yes, I am well aware that it sounds suspiciously like Donald Miller’s last book)

  1. Seek out people’s stories. Especially people who are not like you. And really listen. Because eventually you will run out of stories of your own and might end up writing about fritos.
  2. Try new stuff. It makes for good material even if you suck at it ( don’t believe me, read my Zumba post.)
  3. Do hard stuff or things that you are afraid of. Like giving away half or going to a writing conference.
  4. Be present. Notice your kids or your friends or your students or your co-workers or the flowers. Soak it all in. Roll around in it. And remember it later. Every single adjective.
  5. Read good stuff. Nothing inspires me to write better than reading good writing.
  6. Write anyways. Even if it is about fritos.

And please notice that everything except the last line wasn’t so much about writing but about living.

So I am going to try and put down the fritos. Ignore my TiVo. Start over.

In other words, I am going to live better.

And maybe the writing will follow suit.

Labels:

Comments

spaghettipie said…
I have found a similar effect - when I'm not really living and/or thinking, my blog tends to dry up...

PS - Did you get my msg last night?
March 4, 2010 at 8:07 PM
Corinne Cunningham said…
Have you seen this post? http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/10-tips-for-mindful-writing

She's got it. Living, writing, being present. Good stuff.
March 5, 2010 at 8:23 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Either/Or

Recently I met an old friend for lunch. He was actually my senior high prom date. He wasn’t just my prom date, but had been my friend for a good part of high school. And our group has mostly stayed in touch through the years. But not him. Even though we live in the same big metroplex, I hadn’t seen him in almost 15 years. At prom, He even won some kind of senior superlative, Mr. BHS or something like that. In other words, he was well-liked, nice, funny and smart. And it helped that he drove a Camero. We didn’t break up or have a falling out. He kind of just disappeared. And not just from me, but from everyone. And I had looked for him. At class reunions. On myspace. And eventually, only about a year ago, he finally showed up on facebook. When he did, I suggested we get together for dinner or something. And he responded with a really awkward email. Explaining that he was gay. Warning me. Trying to let me out of my dinner invitation if I wanted. And I already knew this. Possibly I had ev
10 comments
Read more

me too

I used to never question God. It was just part of the way things were. Just like I believed in Santa and the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny. And eventually I grew up and started to wonder. I always believed, But occasionally I started to wonder if he was always good. If he really loved me. Singular me rather than an all inclusive version. That he was paying attention. That my prayers mattered.` And I didn’t know that I should play by the rules. That questioning these outloud things in a Bible study or Sunday School class Will get you bumped to the top of the prayer list. Because I know. But sometimes I wonder. And I didn’t need their scripture memory verses or their books or their prayers. (but I guess prayers never hurt) And I was just hoping for someone else to say “me too”. And, Jason Boyett’s book, O Me of Little Faith Is one great big “me too” And like most books I like he asks a whole lot more questions than he answers. Hard ones. Ones without real answers. Ones that make me wa
3 comments
Read more

imaginary friends

Recently I had a friend disappoint me. I didn’t tell them. And I didn’t write about it when it happened. Instead I seethed a little and got angrier and slightly resentful and finally dumped it on my husband. (who had some great advice that will come later) And. I have hesitated to write this piece because a lot of my real life friends read this. Maybe even the one I’m writing about. Maybe not. Actually I’m not really sure. And to be honest the best pace to work this out would be with them. Just them. And not on line. But. It’s not really about them. It’s more about me. And I don’t think there is so much to work out anyways. So, if you are my real life friend and are reading this and wondering, hesitantly or fearfully if this is about you. It might be. But it probably isn’t. And again. Even if it is. It’s not REALLY about you. And if it isn’t. It could be. If we have been friends for more than five minutes, we have probably had a moment like this. So, back to me venting to my husband.
2 comments
Read more