Preparing for, and Enduring Writer’s Block

So far, so good. I haven’t had my daily Bible reading project to float my blog and we are more than a quarter into 2005. I have even managed to have something to say nearly every day, which I still do not guarantee. I look to my list of topics and series and see that I can expect to be knee deep for several months in things to write about, and that is without an occasional side-topic, response to someone else’s blog, comment about current events, booger joke, discussion of my infected rash (not really) or anything else that is near and dear to me.

Like everyone who has tried to maintain a schedule of writing, I have had my times when I didn’t feel like writing anything. This has even come in short bursts this year, but this has all been transparent to all three of you who visit my blog. In response to the lamentations of others who are having problems maintaining continuity, I’d like to offer some suggestions. We’ll call this Doug’s good deed of the day.

1. Start a series or three.
I’m blogging my way through the Psalms, and will be doing so for years, Lord willing. I’m also writing a series about some of the concepts of Christianity that many Christians don’t concentrate on. I’m also responding to some childish questions. I also am posting my notes from each Sunday’s sermon. There’s more, but you get the idea.

2. Meditate on the Bible. Work through a passage and make some conclusions to share.
I’m working on a post entitled “Our Joy is Fellowship” right now. It comes from the first chapter of 1 John, and should be a really nice piece when it’s done. I am also contrasting the covenant promises to Abraham with the boasts made by the builders of the Tower of Babel. If you want to start with these, feel free. If I wanted to hoard all of my ideas, I wouldn’t have a blog.

3. Whenever you think of an idea worth developing, write it down. Better yet, save it to your blogging program in draft mode.
Do you carry a pen and paper with you? Could you have these things available within five minutes at all times? Have you ever lost an idea within the ether of time? Don’t let a great idea go to waste.

4. Challenge yourself to be transparent.
This may be the most difficult of my ideas, for there are some things I have planned to discuss, but couldn’t work up the nerve. I struggle with the contrails of some bad choices in my past, and do plan on elaborating on them. Perhaps later. I will say, though, that if you are struggling with a particular sin in your life, the illumination tends to fade a bit. ‘Nuff said.

5. Read other blogs and contemplate your thoughts based on what they say as well as what is said in the comments.
If you agree or disagree with the other blogger for reasons that could develop into a post, trackback to them rather than comment on their post. What do you think prompted this post? Bloggers seem to crave any kind of a link they can get. Trackbacks are among the most prized things for us to receive, as they almost guarantee that something they wrote would be read.

6. Incorporate humor into your posts. At least some of the time.
Blogging is supposed to be fun, remember? I started a satire category just to have a little fun, and the ideas for this have developed into “The Vernon McKee Show” and other matters of nonsense. I’m writing a post now about a certain biography that will be performed as a ballet. It is a bunch of nonsense, but I do love taking my zany ideas and running with them.

7. If you get ahead, schedule posts in advance.
Have you ever had a sugar rush of ideas? When this happens, I put my ideas out in my drafts and get writing. If I have extra posts, I schedule them in advance. At the time of this writing, I have twelve future posts scheduled for release. What? You think I actually write at 6:00 a.m.? The only downside is that you have to decide what to put forward first. Honestly, I flip posts around sometimes for various reasons, wanting to keep my best foot forward. Some of these future posts were written a month ago and keep getting moved to a future date.

6. Share your hobby with the world.
Do you have a garden? Share a weekly post on its progress and perhaps even a picture or two. It doesn’t matter if I care how your squash is doing. What matters is how much you show that you care how it is doing. We read your blog because we like to get to “know” you, and that is found in the things you enjoy.

7. Avoid memes. Unless you have something to say about them.
Like most bloggers out there, I have posted what color my brain is or what Napoleon Dynamite character I am. To be honest, I feel that these posts have no value to offer. Sure, they are fun. But when I would rely on them so I could at least get something out, I cheapened my blog. I suppose there may be a time when you could do the quiz and run with the concept. It could even become a decent post. Then again, you could learn to jog with crutches, but why would you want to do that?

8. If you don’t have anything to add about the big story out there, don’t write about it.
There is a Zen saying that has stuck with me for several years now. “I have nothing to say. I am saying it. And that’s poetry.” During the most recent outrage in Florida, there were bloggers galore who had all kinds of things to say. Which outrage from Florida am I talking about? Take your pick. Anyway, I avoided these topics for the most part because I didn’t have much to add. I may state my opinion in the matter, but will not let the events of the day hijack what I want to do with my blog.

9. If you must take time off, let your readers know.
Most of your readers are bloggers as well. We understand temporary lapses and appreciate the courtesy of your notice that posts will be light or even non-existent. We don’t need any long-winded explanation, though a brief summary is useful. To know when it is time to announce a slower period, determine your regular frequency of posting and double or triple the standard amount of time between posts. If you post daily, but haven’t done so for 48-72 hours, let people know that you’re still around. Then keep us informed at least weekly. Most blogs that have dropped from my blogroll have dropped due to the impression that you have abandoned blogging. If you don’t want a block of “I’ll be back” posts to take over your blog, add one and delete the one before it. This will be seen in the RSS feed and also the date of the posting.

10. When all else fails, you can still post pictures of your cat!
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