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Invisible Rules for Failing at Blogging
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.
14 Responses to Invisible Rules for Failing at Blogging
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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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
I used to work for me. Maybe it’s something I need to go back to.
Thanks for sharing….i missed the most important thumb rule that is completing the post…i always had this bad habit of leaving the post in between…and later i always ruin the idea…
thanx a lot..!!!
In general a post should be between 300-500 words. Anything longer can get very boring. If you scroll or not is not a very good comparison method. I have a big screen and didn’t have to scroll over this article either
That doesn’t mean it’s too short. It’s just right.
As for the cryptic title, yes and no. Keep in mind you need to do a little SEO too and since the article title goes into the website title you should pick something people will search. That is if you want the article to be read
I have been really tossing around the idea of shorter posts. It’s the way this blog started and then my post length gradually grew.
Completing a post…I have problems doing that. In college, the professors always said a conclusion is basically a reiteration of the main points and a wrap up of what is said. I always thought that was so redundant.
I am still trying to figure that one out. Always trying tricks.