PUT YOUR BUTT IN THE CHAIR AND YOUR INSECURITIES IN THE AIR

If you came by to vote on my BATTLE OF THE BANDS, please click HERE to go back one post. If you came for the IWSG, please feel welcome to go back and cast a vote, or just read on.

At the beginning of every month I tell myself; ‘this month I’m going to write a stellar post for the Insecure Writer’s support Group’. I tell myself this because I really want to be a writer, not just a typist. I have stories running around in my head. Each night before I fall asleep and again in the morning as I’m waking up, they start to form up in my mind into some really interesting tales. The problem is the DISTRACTIONS, or in other words life.

There is a monthly blog hop going around titled ‘The Question of the Month’. I 

don’t participate because I’m sincerely trying to limit the distractions, but I noticed this month that the questions was something like; ‘what advice would you give to someone considering starting a blog’. My advice to writers would be DON’T DO IT. While a blog can be helpful in marketing and setting your platform (exactly what that means, I’m not sure) it is one big fat distraction. Not only is it a major distraction, but it is one that fools you into thinking you’re writing. You’re not, you’re typing; unless of course, you’re writing your WIP a piece at a time on your blog – but seriously.

Now don’t go all hate on me and get the wrong idea here. I don’t think there is anything wrong with blogging. Actually I think there are a lot of very fine bloggers who just want a presence and a place to present their ideas. Remember I said if you’re an aspiring writer, blogging can be a big distraction and one that allows you to deceive yourself into thinking you’re actually writing. And this doesn’t even cover the time spent reading and commenting on other blogs to keep your presence known in the blogosphere.

I know there are some of you who manage to blog, keep a full time job, manage a personal life, and write meaningful things that actually get published, but not this dumb blonde. I have got that ‘oh, look a chicken syndrome’ going on and can get lost in the blogs for days. When it comes to writing and getting things done there is no substitute for the old ‘butt in the chair, blank screen, no distractions, shut up and write, way of doing things for me.

The very first IWSG post I read this morning was at the home of my good friend Donna Hole. Donna used a quote by Tim McGraw about performing in whatever artistic medium, to suit yourself, and not the masses. That was some terrific advice and this dumb blonde needs to take it. BUT, I view that advice as not only about what you write, but how you write, and for me that has simply got to be more artistic than blogging.

At the end of the day I enjoy a lot of the interaction of blogging, but I am truly more satisfied when I see the words and chapters progress as I tell my stories. Solution, I need to cut back, if not stop blogging altogether and put my butt in the chair to better use.

Please don’t be offended by this post. It is totally for me, but if it should help anyone else see a problem in their connection to what they really want and what they are currently doing, well then, that’s the frosting on the cake.

Go over and thank Alex J Cavanaugh for starting this whole IWSG thing up. While your there check out the linky list and read some of the other posts. You'll probably find some helpful advice. It gives us a forum to think out loud, and help send our insecurities packing.