Some days like today, I just don’t want to blog. I have videos tucked away and topics written down. I even have my LIVE ONLINE Q&A summarized to use as a blog post when needed. But some days, I don’t want to format it, I don’t want to keyword search it, REALLY don’t want to do my category, tag and SEO Pack, I could care less about that picture I need to find, I don’t feel like a catchy call to action. So when you feel like this what can you do:
1-remember that keeping it short and sweet is a good thing.
2-Use your blog more like a journal and less like a “promotional tool for your business”. People like Seth Godin often blog one or two sentences that are obviously on their minds.
3-Write what’s on your mind, versus what you THINK you should write. That’s real. That’s authentic. That’s vulnerable.
4-Write when you are inspired to write, then get them up and date stamp them to go out when you need them to. There are many blogging clubs that help people do this. I even think about starting a live online group- where we write and inspire for an hour every month.
Sometimes, I don’t want to blog, but I find the inspiration.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Often when I feel like this (quite a bit lately) it’s because I have a lot of ‘stuff’ whirling around in me and dilemmas that I am not ready to spill. Then I have to find a way to blog about them without being too deep and that helps sorts the ‘stuff’ out for me. Or I have to write a light hearted post like about our Royal Wedding celebration. Journaling is helping me figure out how to blog about some of the whirl, I can often take one little nugget out of that scribble and blog about it. That’s my plan today – though I sometimes feel that I use my blog too much as a journal and not enough about business but hey – that’s where I’m at in my life!
Louise Edington
Fearless For Freedom
http://louiseedington.com
This is just wanted to hear..sometimes i feel like to need to have a “national crisis or something that has bothered me for years” before i can blog about it and so I have struggled on what to write about…I love that line…”use your blog as a journal” This really helped me to understand that i can just blog a few lines every day or every other day and that it does not have to be a “life changing event” for me..Thanks Ann
Timely advice since I had blogger’s block last week! Sometimes the mundane things in life can be inspirational to others. I agree, keeping a journal is a great strategy, you never know when an idea will pop into your head. Overthinking a topic usually falls flat on it’s face and many people can see right through a “forced” blog.
I think many of us have written a blog post where we are talking about not wanting to blog! It’s comforting to know that that hits you, too! Part of what you said that really is key for me is that it can be short. That’s one of my toughest challenges but I think an interesting placing for me to explore.
Love this! Thanks Ann! There are days where i want to blog, but I only have a few words to say and I think I need to say more. But it’s nice to know that short and sweet is a good thing. I forgot that Seth Godin does that where sometimes they are one or two sentences. There is so much to learn about blogging and I really appreciate all the tips and tools you share. It really helps a newbie like me. I’m saving this post for sure to reference back to.
Funny, I get there a lot…and don’t want to use my folder with a hundred and one ideas and starts. They just don’t seem to move me that day…but then, because I really do love blogging, something always seems to come up. I see a show, I read an article, I buy myself some flowers, and something about it moves me and a blog comes.
Good points to remember, and yes, I agree, I have to be inspired to write, and I do have to remember to keep it short!
Ann, thanks for letting us know, it’s not just us… Funny, when I read #1, I immediately thought of Seth Godin, then you mentioned him. I feel like it takes a lot of confidence just to put 1-2 sentences; and as you know, I’ve never been accused of NOT using enough words… I think a lot of us fledglings struggle with #3…seems the most response comes in the social space when you ARE real.
Love #2 and #3…..feeling stress free now! I had been stuck in the “it doesn’t make sense” to post that…BUT its what I am thinking, feeling, doing…and it DOES make sense. Using your blog as a journal….really LOVE that. Makes total sense to me…and I have to check out Seth Godin’s one/two liners…I think I saw one way back when. Interesting…and not time comsuming. Date stamping will come in very handy as well. As always, your amazing, thanks for your timely sage advice….which I certainly needed this week!!!
Rita Brennan Freay
@Rita4kids
Ann – this little post may be my favorite of yours ever! Really….I was feeling not in the mood today, and my video had technical difficulties, and I wrote from the heart. Sometimes that is what you have to do – thanks for the encouragement.
In the meantime, your little post/list will inspire! Rachel
Fabulous…I need to be open to shorter posts more often. I will work on that. Also just read your FB comment about not being clever in titles, but being key-word rich – I’m so guilty of that. I just love the clever titltes – LOL! I suspect that effective blogging is an ongoing process…I think I’ve definitely got the being “vulnerable” part down – I can’t believe how real I’ve become online…I just decided what’s the point of going online if I want to hide?
Brandy
Hi, Ann. What?! I just posted my current blog 20 minutes ago, and here you are with these inspiring tips. Where were you yesterday, when I was sorting through a few murky ideas? My favorite tip? Short and sweet. Thanks. Where’s my “Stop” button? And if you decide to organize a blogging club, please count me in.
This was just perfect for me to read today Ann. It’s suits me to just write a couple of lines and touch base rather than wade through what I was actually planning to write. My heart’s not in that today. What you shared about Seth Godin fits the bill. Thanks.
Thanks for the great tips. This happens to me and it’s encouraging to know it happens to you too! These are great tips and I love that I can just write a little and it’s okay. And always write what’s on your mind versus what you think you should write about. I sometimes think “I can’t write about that because it doesn’t relate to my business” but it’s what’s on my mind. Thanks for “permission” to write what is real & drives me in the moment sometimes.
Susan Berland
A Picture’s Worth
http://www.susan-berland.com
Thanks for all of your advice, Ann! I just kind of go with it, but putting your tips to use will be quite helpful. I especially agree with write with what’s on your mind VS> what you THINK you should write. Being real, always shines through vs. trying to fit into a box or an idea.
Much needed advice for me at this time. I’ve gotta get back to writing! Thank you, also, for introducing me to Seth Godin. Fascinating guy!
I love this, Ann…it is so encouraging to know that YOU feel like this sometimes, too! I absolutely want to do as you suggest, just sit down and speak my mind, do short and sweet, be authentic and share what I feel may be of value to someone else. I just have not found that space yet, but am close…now that some big life events are going to be behind me, I am looking at the freedom to focus more on my blogging…got my Flip and gonna do some video too! Thank you for sharing this, Ann, it made me feel less alone.
Sometimes “tips” seem so canned to me, but not yours! I especially like the “short and sweet” with Seth as the guru of such. As a writer that would be hard for me to do, but I love knowing it’s mine for the taking on a blog blocked day. And this blog itself is an example of #3. One of my best newsletters was about my muse being in a coma–and spilling the fact that I had tried three times to write it before just talking about what was actually going on. Combining discipline with inspiration is a way of life for a blogger!
Hi Ann Looking forward to the information I went to register for your newsletter and it isn’t letting me. Let me know how I can register thanks
Great tips, Ann. I so relate to Not wanting to look for keys, do seo pack etc, so your reminder that short sweet and Authentic is reassuring and encouraging.
Oh my goodness…it’s like you were reading my mind!! There are times when a really dry patch hits my creativity….this is a timely piece that re-surfaced at just the right moment! Thanks, Ann
How is it that you were reading my mind this morning? Great tips and some ideas I had not even considered. Thank you, once again!