Stephan Miller

01 Jul, 2008

Invisible Rules for Failing at Blogging

Posted by: User ImageStephan Miller In: Blogging| Writing

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I have gradually built up a list of invisible rules for this blog. What are invisible rules? Rules set by the popularity of past posts. Rules that cause writer’s block and stage fright. And I hate rules.

Why are they invisible? Because I never stated them to myself but they pop up whenever I have a post idea and 9 times out of 10 lately, the idea gets shelved.

So to disarm them, I will try to investigate them. And maybe then, they will stop messing with me.

  • Try to write about site concepts instead of just an individual site for the comparison value.
  • If I write about a topic, make sure the post is complete.
  • Try to come up with a cute or cryptic title.
  • Try to write what hasn’t been written before
  • If you aren’t scrolling, the post isn’t long enough.

Well, those are a few. It was so much better when I set a rule for myself of a post a day. It trumped these hidden rules. I was a Nazi about it. And I just sat down and wrote.

I don’t have enough time lately to post daily here, but when I do, I mess it up.

So look for some crappy posts coming up to teach me a lesson and break the spell. It is time for evil Stephan to come out and stir it up a bit. Screw it up bad. Well, maybe not bad. But bad enough that I don’t sit in the freakin’ corner afraid to make a move. A few crappy posts should keep me from taking myself seriously.

I was just one step away from putting plastic over my living room furniture to keep myself from making a mess of it, not realizing that I would never see the cloth again, so why the hell do it.

Damn, I just looked up at the title I originally had written and it just said "Invisible Rules". Changing that now.

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9 Responses to "Invisible Rules for Failing at Blogging"

1 | Colin Walker

July 1st, 2008 at 2:42 pm

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Crappy posts or adventures in experimentation?

Not everything has to be a masterpiece. We often learn things about outselves and our writing styles just by throwing it at the wall and seeing what sticks.

Go for it.

Colin Walker’s last blog post..The private messaging divide.

2 | Stephan Miller

July 1st, 2008 at 3:06 pm

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Exactly. It’s sort of liking writing good stuff in my crappy notebook and really bad stuff in the $100 job. If I really give myself freedom to write crap, chances are, I’ll write better.
Or I could look at it this way. If I am already an idiot, don’t have to worry about being called one.

3 | Dennis Edell

July 3rd, 2008 at 1:15 pm

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Like the poker player too tired to care. Throws his money in for the last hand thinking he’ll just go back to his room and go to sleep…

9 x outa 10, he’ll win that hand ;)

4 | Dennis Edell

July 3rd, 2008 at 1:16 pm

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Hmm, not sure what happend to your comment luv on that one.

Dennis Edell’s last blog post..Blogging Tip: Splitting Categories for Better Usability

5 | Stephan Miller

July 3rd, 2008 at 2:02 pm

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CommentLuv does that once in a while and this blog uses the oldest version because the stupid one-click install plugin locks up the permissions somehow for uploading a new one. I just haven’t wanted to cut into that Gordian Knot yet.

And I am hoping to trick myself. It works.

6 | Harley Nash

July 3rd, 2008 at 2:39 pm

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I am new to blogging, although I have someone with some experience helping me. He told me not to sweat over what I wrote, just write something like you would write a quick note to a friend or your Mom or Dad. Just make it interesting and readable and people will like to read what you wrote. He said use the KISS principle, Keep It Simple Stupid.

Harley Nash’s last blog post..Chris Snyder Injury Video

7 | Stephan Miller

July 3rd, 2008 at 2:47 pm

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I started out with that concept in mind. I wrote an article once about treating an article like an email and if you have to open your email software up, address an email to someone you know, and write the article to them. But I guess, my mind gets the better of me sometimes and builds a little fence around the freedom I once had. Just trying to break free.

8 | Dennis Edell

July 3rd, 2008 at 4:08 pm

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I like that though, treat an article like an email. Maybe I’ll try that if I’m stuck.

Dennis Edell’s last blog post..Blogging Tip: Splitting Categories for Better Usability

9 | Stephan Miller

July 5th, 2008 at 9:52 am

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I used to work for me. Maybe it’s something I need to go back to.

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WTFMO



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