Friday, April 12, 2013

Give Me 5 for Friday: Writer's Block

It's Friday.  Last week I took off from my Give Me 5 for Friday post because it was my spring break.  Honestly, I took off from writing anything on this blog all week.

I say it was because of spring break and I needed my own little "break".  But truth is, I have writer's block.

Not to say that I don't have PLENTY of things to write about...because I do.  I have 3 daughters and a home daycare that could provide writing material for days.  I am thinking about going back to teaching (Really, more than thinking about it.  I am going that route and hopefully we be teaching for the 2013-2014 school year).  I have thoughts running through my head 24/7.  Seriously...sometimes they wake me up at night.

But here's the thing...I still have writer's block.  And I will tell you why...


1.  I feel like I always have to be funny.
That was my whole shtick (is that a word?) with this blog.  I wanted to write funny things and make people laugh.  But I can't always be funny...especially when the kids are being difficult, when I am physically drained, or when I am overwhelmed.  But...

2.  I also can't always whine and complain here. 
I have written several posts that discuss how hard parenting can be.  I don't want that to become my thing either.

3.  I don't want to offend people.
There are many things that I don't write about because I'm afraid to offend others.  Yes, this is MY blog.  MY place to write about whatever it is that I choose.  But at what price?  I am not willing to offend people.  I am not going to call out certain groups of people or point fingers.   I have lists of topics that I want to tackle...but I am too much of a wimp to go there.

4.  It's a great deal of work.
Finding the time to write something of substance and quality takes time.  Time that I don't always have.   I know...everyone's busy.  But this blog is a side thing for me.  I started it as an outlet and as a place to entertain others who might be going through the same thing.  I don't have time when the kids are in school to write.  I have kids with me ALL OF THE TIME.  I'm lucky if I get a little quiet time during nap but even then I am sifting through the rubble that the morning left behind.

5.  It's a great deal of work (did I say that already?).
Again, I started this blog almost 2 years ago (1 year and 9 months ago to be exact)....and it took ALL OF THAT TIME to gain close to 4000 followers on Facebook, about 1100 followers on Twitter (I am slacker there though...sorry!), and only slightly over 100 followers here specifically on the blog.  I'm am so happy that I have gained a following and I am SO GRATFUL to every single person that reads this blog.  But it takes time to get there and I am not even close to some of the big dogs.  It's hard not to get discouraged.  It is hard to not question... What I am even doing here???

So I have a little case of writer's block. 

I can only hope that one of my kids does something really embarrassing this weekend so I can write about it.  Fingers crossed.

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2 comments:

  1. I just found you thru Evil Speaks Joy, I've only read this post so far. But, I feel for you. I'm sure a lot of bloggers feel the same exact way.
    Unlike you I have more time. I'm gonna go read more of you work now.
    Hope you get past your block.
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sorry about the writer's block. Eat some fiber and drink lots of water. Should get things flowing again soon. Wait, is that advice for something else? Well, try it anyway.

    Just found you and glad I did! Wishing you a lovely day!

    ReplyDelete

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