Thursday, January 24, 2008

DEADLINE WRITER

It amazes me that last November, when I took on the thirty day blogging assignment, I actually wrote something every single day--week days, weekends, through the holiday with houseguests--I wrote something every day. And further to my own amazement, some of them were fairly “substantial” pieces.

However, as soon as November was over, it was like one of the Macy Day balloons--like someone let all the air out. I was full and inspired, right up there flying high all November. And then, whoosh, December 1st, the party was over. No inspiration, not a thought in my head worthy of adding two or three words together to express. Zip.

And, more or less, it’s been like that ever since. I try to get myself going. I sign in, go out and begin reading others’ blogs, and commenting on others’ blogs--and there goes my day, there goes my time on the computer, and I haven’t created one single paragraph for my own blog.

Heaven forbid, but I’m beginning to wonder if I should have taken on the new expanded NaBloPoMo 365--writing daily for the year.

It seems I need deadlines. I need writing assignments. Mostly I need an editor who says “write this, have it on my desk by this” and then hangs up on me, or swivels their chair around and all I see is the back of their head and a perfunctory wave of their hand dismissing me from the room. OK, I might have made that last part up . . .

Never-the-less, I am often astonished how completely focused I become as the days dwindle down to hours, and the hours to AN hour--just focused, creative, words flowing . . . And I always read the thing thinking “now if I’d just had a wee bit more time, I could have done this, or I could have added a great quote, or . . . “ but of course, there was no more time was there!

Perhaps like the drunk at the party who, in his/her impaired condition, thinks ALL his/her jokes are hilarious, I’m convinced I do my best writing under these eleventh hour writing jags because that’s almost always how I allow Murphy’s Law to affect my time: A task will automatically fill all the available time--whether two minutes or two hours or two days.

And how about you, my fellow bloggers? Are you deadline writers--or are you all organized, topics for the week picked out, a time lined up for your writing, editing? Pages in the hopper, waiting for posting? Come on, you can tell me.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm a write-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of blogger. My goal is to write something everyday. My reality is that I usually write six days a week.

I've discovered that my writing habits are tied to my emotions. I have a rough time writing when I'm down. Thankfully, I 'm a pretty happy gal.

I do, however, react to deadlines just like you. I'm writing down to the last minute. The bad thing is, after the deadline has passed, I tend to have a dry spell. I could write the same piece without a deadline and it wouldn't effect my inspiration at all. Something about meeting that deadline - in my brain, I decide I've earned a vacation and shut down for a while.

Jan said...

No deadlines here.. as you see by my blog writing. LOL (((HUGS)))

Jen said...

I'm so totally random with this. It's one of the things I love about blogging!

Sai Hijara - Ferraris said...

I miss NaBloPoMo too and like you I'm thinking if maybe it could have been better if I join the 265 day blogging thingy...

But, as you can see, I'm as busy as a bee in the net...reason for this is I'm at work at least 10-12 hours...and I'm wired the whole time...so I juggle my work...and reading some blogs...I don't feel guilty doing this at all because I bring work at home...so even in my bed my head is on the center's continuous improvement...and sitting in front of my monitor...mapping processes and drafting policies for all our global center can make me dizzy so I need ice breakers...LOL

But honestly...there are just times that I may have the time but nothing to write...or I may have a lot of things in my mind but my head goes blank the moment my fingers touch the keyboard...ah, this is were Singular Saturdays...Wordless Wednesdays, Music Mondays and stuff come handy! ;) Also, Memes are great help too!

It's so timely for you to write this post...because I just told Yummy on the way to work tonight that you seemed to be a bit more busy these days than last year, when I was still new to your site...and now I can't wait to read more...you seemed to be blogging less...and I wondered...if there is some major change in your activity since last year...but this post answered it...last Nov...we were all complying with the NaBloPoMo...LOL

So, we hop in to 365? ;)

anno said...

I keep trying to view my blog as writing practice, and I'm about as regular with it as I am with my treadmill; that is, sometimes pretty good, and sometimes, well, not so good. Interesting question...

groovyoldlady said...

I love blogging, but any other writing requires a deadline - even if it's not for pay. Ask me, "Can you write 4 humorous skits by February 9th?" and I'll have 'em to you on the ninth. I wish I could get them to you on the 8th, but I'll be doing those last minute editings then.

Shellie said...

I'm a last minute, fly by the seat of my pants kind of person too, sadly. But I hate it so I try to never make deadlines for myself. Occasionally I have things all ready ahead of time, but not normally

Goofball said...

no deadlines for me! I gave up SOS as it gave me stress for finding something by Sunday and having it typed out by Sunday etc...What if I have a full schedule in the weekend?

I don't like "Wordless Wednesdays", "Music Mondays" etc for myself either because I want to write a lengthy post on Wednesday if I have the inspiration for it ...or just be silent for a week when I am too busy or too tired or without inspiration.

I like to keep my blog just as I feel: I write when I feel like it and I don't when I don't feel like it. And there's busy weeks with > 7 posts a week and lately I've slowed down a bit again. And actually I am fine with that, if not, it wouldn't be fun for myself anymore.