I don’t know how many times I heard the above quote at the Write on the Sound writers’ conference last weekend, but it was definitely something I needed to hear. I write, and I write, and then I sit and don’t write because I think I can’t write. What I don’t do is re-write.
I suspect I’m not the only writer that combines this odd mix of arrogance and self-flagellation by thinking my first draft should be good enough, and beating myself up when it’s not. Is there a self help group? A pill? Perhaps I should paint in big bold red letters above my couch “IT’S JUST A DRAFT!“
I did get more out of the writer’s conference. It was my first one and I’m hooked. I got home and immediately went online to see if there were any more conferences coming up in the area.
And now I’m going to go ahead and hit publish on the first draft of this post. Really, I did learn that lesson. I also know that sometimes you’ve gotta just do it or it will never get done. It’s been a week since I posted anything in here, although I’m sitting on several posts that I’ve been re-writing. Life is a balance folks.
What writing issues are you working on?
- Similar Posts
- Blogging - and women's history
I am the same way. Another thing I do is, and this might sound odd, I will lay in bed about to go to sleep and a great blog post will come to mind and I ‘write’ it in my mind. I can see the words popping on the ‘screen’ as I write it. I think, WOW! This is great. I’ll get up and type this up in the a.m. Then in the morning…it’s gone. Zilch! Not even an inkling of what I had an idea of. I HAVE to keep a note book by my bed and start writing at least the general idea down!
Then again…maybe they aren’t such great blog posts, after all, I don’t even remember them. LOL
[Reply]
Judy Haley Reply:
October 12th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
I do exactly the same thing! I can’t tell you how many perfect blog posts have evaporated that way.
[Reply]
I think this is the curse of every writer. You never feel like what you write is good enough, then you pick up a book in the same genre as yours and you’re struck with even more doubt. It’s brutal!
As for the bedside notebook thing? Usually just a one or two word memo is enough to bring that whole “perfect” post back to life!
[Reply]
Hi there. I’m new here. Found you becuase I’m also doing Blog Action Day. I’m a writer in South Africa and my current writing issues are the same as they always are – I am scared of the blank page and don’t know where to start. Once the first sentence is written, it starts to come easier.
[Reply]