Building Websites, Traffic, and Income
Blogging is a Bitch
Okay, time to get these off my chest and write them down so that I can separate the stupid from the actual true issues.
Being Funny
I write posts that are funny in my head at times, by my head can recreate the tone of my voice and a computer screen just can’t do the same for the people reading the post. So I hit publish as quick as I can, saying I will not worry about how the post is taken and then stress about it all night. Of course, the next morning it takes a while to check my comments and when I do, it is usually with one eye closed so that the full force of whatever may be there doesn’t hit me at once.
Sitting Down to Write
Anything and everything that can stop me from writing will do so. It doesn’t matter if I am in a bad mood when I wake up and everything seems uninteresting. I know if I sit here and type, a post will come out. It may be after the first thousand words, but something worth posting will be there. Of course, any research for said post has the possibility of sending me off on a tangent that may not bring me back to writing. Then things will be interesting, interesting enough to keep me from writing. This one is really under scrutiny.
And despite the bravado, writing always is a mean bitch until I am actually doing it. Oh, yes there are times of intense flow where I can write thousands of words a day. But these times are usually sparked by a closely approaching deadline. Do I need an assistant whose only job is too hold a gun to the back of my head so I will start writing?
Dealing with Tech Issues
Screw the backend. It has become auto mechanics to me slowly over the years. I am really tired of that crap. Updating WordPress. Fixing installations. Finding plugins to do what I want. I got into this damn business because the distance between idea and reality is shorter on the net. Now it has been a few years. Shouldn’t this damn thing think for me yet?
Quality
After writing a lot, I realize that I am not as good at it as I thought. In fact, if I look back to my teens, I may have been better then. Sometimes I read what I have written and cringe. And then I won’t write a post here for days. But I sure know how to read books on writing and quote from them like I follow the letter of the law. But I am a lazy writer hoping to improve by osmosis.
I am sure I will find more later. They look pretty silly in print. There you go, issues, see how stupid you look. Now step off.
Like that works.
25 Responses to Blogging is a Bitch
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I think these are issues that all bloggers face. I am the worst for running off on a tangent. Almost anything on the net can get me sidetracked but I am learning to stay focused.
Nice post Stephen, I swear you took some of the words out of my mouth
I think problems you describe common to about 80% of us so lets get a club going!
Cheers and stumbled!
Paula,
I always feel alone in that, especially when I visit productivity blogs. They seem to have it all together. Thanks for backing me up
Alex,
I think we do need a club.
Along with what you’ve listed, I would add to my list 1) ideas always come to me when I can’t write them down. Like when I’m driving on the highway, or when I’m chasing the kids around. 2) I’m like a toddler, being easily distracted by other blogs I find, or cool widgets I want to try. I have blogger ADD.
That’s how my ideas come too. And I think the internet gave everyone with a connection ADD.
LOL. Well I wouldn’t have anyone hold a gun to your head, but if you really need to stress you could probably find a way. I always have the best ideas in the shower or just when I change environments. Take your laptop and hit up a free wifi spot – Cafes, Burgerking, McDonlads etc…
I have the same problem too.Simply having a blog full of content is not going to get the job done.People can go anywhere to read junk or monotonous content that has been created on hundreds of other web sites.
Not so simple to be entertaining and producing interesting content that is straight to the point every day.How about guest blogging?
Stephan, I agree wholeheartedly that writing is real tough…
Blessed are those who love to write all day
I suppose the only thing left for us is to be disciplined on a daily basis…
-Riggie
Hey Stephen, It looks like we all have the same problem. When I first started to read your post I swear it sounded like me and I thought you had gotten inside my head or was in my room with me. I’ll start one post and have an idea and then I’m off onto something else. Then when I read your other comments, I realized we’re having the same thing happening to us…I think it is a little bit Internet ADD! lol Great post Stephen!
Stephan, sorry I’m back again. I wanted to tell you that I left a message for you in your Entrecard message box. Thanks JJ
Congrats for the post, Stephen!
LOL.
I have hell lo of things swinging in my mind – unsaid – unwritten and un-published ( this one is correct among three)
I never write about them but surely can ink them at any time , why am not doing that?
@Matt
I might need to find a McDonalds with the connection I have here. LOL.
@Tom
I would guest blog. But right now I am probably at my limits at all the places I write. I will be freeing up some time though. And once this computer does start thinking for me, I will have lot’s of time.
@Riggie
It’s good at times and bad at times, just about like anything. I do enjoy it for the most part.
@jjs-mom
Sorry, I have neglected Entrecard the last few days. It has been a hectic week of preparations and stumbling blocks.
@Shanker
There are some posts I haven’t published because I am just not ready for them. There is a reason why I am a blogger and not a public speaker. I am still not quite as comfortable as I want to be with my own words.
Hey Stephan, awesome post! I was with you right from the jump with the humor thing.
As a sometimes reader, I’m sure you’ve noticed that sarcasm tends to run through me like p** after coffee.
I believe the trick (for me anyways) was to do it right from the jump and regular readers pick it up real fast.
Just being yourself, writing as you would speak, mixing it up with solid info and you’re golden
Sidenote: Didn’t you have the subscribe to comments and commentluv plugins on this blog also?
I had a crash yesterday while I was at the Expo. Got some work to do tonight figuring out everything that happened.
Ah ouch, I gotcha.
Hey Stephen! Yep, I’m right there onboard with ALL of these. It’s always a thin line to walk when carrying on the internal monlogue of, “Man, I should really think about stand up comedy, I knock myself out” to…wtf was I thinking? This stuff just doesn’t read well at all.
Regarding the technology. I agree, technical backend isn’t always the most exciting part of the process, but I’ve found that if you figure a new way, process or method to accomplish a task, it often provides a great post, as surely there’s someone else out there having the same trouble.
A lot of my posts come from my mistakes and issues on the tech side. So I guess that is good and bad. And there is no end to it. As soon as you think a blog is “set”, something new is on the horizon that you have to adapt to. But it’s good to bitch just for the sake of bitching sometimes. Yes, I talk to and yell at my laptop. It takes criticism very well.
Writing unique stuff is hard, sometimes i need to go through a few sites that interest me so i get inspired..
I love the title of your post! Writing is a bitch for me because I am a slow writer. It seems like I struggle with my words. However, I just keep in mind a book I read long ago called, “Bird by Bird,” by Anne Lamont. The book got it’s name because her brother struggled doing a book report on birds one time. His dad said, “Take it bird by bird.” In her book, she gave a piece of advice, write “Word by word.”
My biggest problem is not really in writing fast but in editing. I will admit that. I have edited post that are over a month old because I found errors in grammar. I am blind to what I wrote after I write. I tend to read what I thought I wrote and miss the errors.
Hi Stephan:
I hear you on the editing. It seems like I get in too much of a hurry to hit the publish button. Then later, I’ll be reading my blog and see an error. I think OMG – how embarrassing. I guess maybe that is one of the benefits of not having very much traffic – not too many people see your mistakes.
Hey
Although this comment isn’t relevant to this post, I just got done reading your “About me” section. Wow! You’re a very smart fellow. I am impressed with everything you know and have done.
Thanks Jennifer! Finding errors a few months old does suck. Makes you wonder how many people saw it. My “About Me” needs to be updated. I think it’s a bit too huge.