I’ve had it happen before. I get so far behind with blog posts that I don’t know how I’ll ever get caught up. Usually this happens when I’ve been traveling and haven’t had Internet access. However, this time it was different. We’ve had two solid weeks of nasty weather, normally a perfect time for hiding in my studio with my computer and getting some writing done. Yet, for some reason I’ve had massive writer’s block. I stare at the mound of data, research, and photos I’ve collected, and don’t write a damn thing. I get distracted by everything else under the sun (or lack thereof, in this case.)
I even tried changing locations – a coffee shop, the library, anywhere that I might not be tempted by chores and laundry. That didn’t help. As a result, I haven’t made any posts in nearly two weeks.
The old procrastinator’s guilt starts to set in as more time slips away. More things happen in life about which I want to write, but my OCD nature wants to queue them up and get those posts languishing completed first. I hate having a “Part 1” with no subsequent “Part 2.” The line of incomplete posts gets longer.
As the list gets longer, a sort of blog existentialism sets in, and I start to wonder why the heck I’m still doing this after ten years. It’s not that I worry that nobody reads it. In fact, I’m constantly surprised by the number of people who DO read the blog, and I appreciate every visitor to this site. I just wonder what purpose the blog serves. There are certainly more historically accurate, well-researched articles out there. There’s much better photography out there. I freely admit that my own biases and disconnected ramblings get in the way. The blog has no over-arching theme other than its self-titled randomness. I don’t know. Maybe that’s the appeal to both myself and anyone that stumbles across this site.
Don’t worry. I’m not going to stop writing anytime soon. Just every now and then I hit a roadblock and have to assess how I’m going to proceed. The next several weeks have the potential for even MORE delays. Next week I’ve got several rehearsals and a concert in Spartanburg. Saturday I’m doing a Geocaching workshop at Paris Mountain. The week after that is Thanksgiving, with all of the travel and craziness that involves, and just like that we’re into the rush of Christmas.
I think what’s giving me the most problems are the larger thematic series. I wasn’t able to finish the Tobacco Trail posts because of the mid-October flooding. The Bankhead Highway series has also turned into a massive endeavor with at least five more planned posts. Heck, I even have drafts from last summer’s Ireland trip that I haven’t completed. I think I do best with one-shot deals, where I go out for a day’s exploration, then write about it either that very night or the next day.
So, here’s my solution to get over this blog anxiety. The larger series will continue. I’ll just fit in the posts as I can. However, I’m going to concentrate on the day-to-day happenings. After all, that’s why I started writing this tome in the first place. That starts with a wonderful day of rambling with two close friends this past week. Stay tuned.
