I wrote this post in January when I was dealing with a bit of writer’s block and procrastination. I decided to try and write about how I was feeling as a way to process and solve the problem. The following blog is the result of that endeavor.
One More Time
Sometimes I wonder why I have so much reluctance to start writing. It’s like there are moments when I feel like I have to create something spectacular; and that scares me. It doesn’t terrify me; but makes me just weary enough to balk. Enough to check my email one more time. Log on to facebook one more time. Scroll through twitter, text someone back, read a blog post, go get a cup of coffee or tea one more time. Just real quick. One last thing before I get started.
But before you know it, it’s been 10 minutes since you returned that text, 15 minutes since you checked your inbox, and 20 minutes since you last looked at social media. If I’m not proactive, I can go in this loop over and over and over again. And it’s not because any of these matters are particularly pressing or important. Nope. None of these things really matter at all. Deep down I know it. Yet still…I delay.
Here’s to breaking the cycle and just getting started despite my fears. I wish I knew what I was really afraid of, because I can’t quite pinpoint it. I know I’m a good writer. And generally with every blog post or research manuscript draft that I set out to write, afterwards I end up very happy with it. So what’s the problem? Where’s the disconnect?
I think deep down I worry that I’ll “run out”.
Out of “what” exactly I couldn’t say.
Out of luck, out of good ideas, the magic, the good stuff that helps me create great content. I don’t know, maybe if I write more consistently I’d wring out all the talented bits that I have. It’s all nonsense, and I know this, but somehow this feeling quietly sends me into a doubt-and-delay hamster wheel.
So no more. I’m just going to keep showing up. I was greatly encouraged by something I heard Seth Godin say in an interview. He is quite a prolific writer and has been for some time, and he does it by showing up consistently. The interviewer asked him how he writes so many books (one every other year on average) and he mentions that he just writes constantly. He’ll be writing a bunch of different essays or pieces or works with several different lines of thought or main ideas, and then eventually a theme or topic rises to the top. He doesn’t set out to write a certain theme or book title, it just kind of happens naturally. He writes what is on his mind and the thoughts begin to organize themselves and coalesce into an idea he can package into a book.
When I heard that I said, that’s it! This is my key to showing up to my blog regularly. I write every day, and by the end of the week, I’ll have something noteworthy to turn into a blog post. I’m actually just realizing that this “word gumbo” can also serve as a catalyst for microcontent on social media or even newsletter content for the 2 truths.
My blog posts have been impactful because I wrote them as the muse struck. When I had something deep in my belly that I wanted to say or something I desperately wanted to reflect on. But I was afraid of the idea of having to give Stephen (my editor) something every single week to edit. In the past it scared me to write a blog every single weekend. Now I don’t have to fear anymore.
I show up. Every day. No matter how I feel. And I write something, anything really. And I’ll worry about making it a blog post later. No more doubt. No more delay. Just me, showing up for myself and putting in the work.
And that’s something I can be proud of.
[By just sitting my butt down and showing up, I was able to write 635 words in 17 minutes]
Maybe you’re not writing a weekly blog, but you’re delaying on a different project. I don’t know what you’re afraid of, but I know the fear is ultimately unfounded. You can do this. Keep showing up.