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.
