"True inspiration is impossible to fake." That's another Inception quote for you. I think of it every time I try to write a blog post. I can't just write a blog post. I have to want to write a blog post. I have to be sitting somewhere, and suddenly, from a magical far off forest in which bunnies and unicorns romp, get the inspiration I need for a blog post. Otherwise, it sounds awkward and forced (to me, and maybe to you).
For example, please look back at my other blog posts and try to guess which ones came naturally and which ones I had to force. To me it's glaringly obvious.
My post about walks was so easy to write. I was on my way home thinking, "Hey, this is a great time I'm having. I should blog about it." My post about movies, on the other hand, is more awkward. I think the only way to get a reader to be engaged is to be engaged while writing, and I was definitely not engaged. For me, that post is frustratingly all over the place and painfully long and ramble-y. I was sitting at my desk, pressed for time, and under pressure to write something fun, creative, and interesting. It took me two hours which is, I think, way too much effort for something that should be fairly simple.
Sometimes I say things take two hours, and not really mean it because the short periods of work time are interspersed between longer periods of procrastination and Gmail chat. But I actually mean two, focused hours. Two hours staring at this very page I'm looking at now, nervously biting my nails and obsessively re-writing sentences until they were "better." It was a difficult and stressful experience, and I'd prefer not to repeat it.
As pretentious as I think this entry sounds, I had to write about it, because it was an idea I had that I couldn't shake. When I get an idea going, I enjoy writing about it. Instead of being a nervous and stressful experience, writing my blog becomes fun! It goes quickly and I don't get distracted because I'm excited and into what I'm writing. For example, at this very moment, my other tab keeps blinking, "Edward says..." "Tahar says..." but I can't look at it, because I'm too wrapped up in finishing this, even though normally I would be all over that distraction.
Usually, when it comes time to write another blog entry, I put it off for as long as possible. I know that if I give myself more time, eventually inspiration will strike me and I won't be able to do anything else until my blog is finished. After all, "What is the most resilient parasite?"
An idea, of course.
(*I legitimately had no inspiration for this title. Ask Edward.)
Hahaha, I liked how you ended this :D
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree with everything you said. My book reviews written at 7:30 Thursday night are always rushed and usually contain about 15 grammar mistakes.
Good post! :)
Hm, that parasite thing from Inception, or biology class?
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, and true as well. I feel like lately my own blog posts have been rambley and without point.
I'm pretty certain everyone in the class can relate to this post as they're up on Thursday night with writers block (or bloggers block haha I'm so funny). Great post, but I believe "What Color Am I" would've been a great attention grabber.
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel about blog posts, and that is basically my philosophy with writing in general. I try to think actively for a while, but I know, in the end, the real formation of ideas will happen passively, and then voila, I will have something exciting to write about. My final drafts usually look extremely different, but I like to think this method has been very successful for me. Cool topic.
ReplyDeleteI can relate as well. I've kept a non-school blog for about five years now, and it seems like so often when I have time to sit down and write a post, I'm hard up for a topic that interests me. But I always have great ideas when I have no time to write! That's why I try to keep a page in the back of my planner for writing ideas - if I don't write them down, I forget them.
ReplyDeleteInspiration comes from the strangest of places, and sometimes that place is in Procrastination Land (free entry, bring a friend!). Whenever I write blog posts, I always feel stressed about perfecting sentences and choosing the right word; yet there are some posts that just come naturally, and even harder to believe, these usually came from ideas that popped into my head while I was off Gmail chatting someone or shopping online, and, nine out of ten times, at the last minute.
ReplyDeleteI can certainly relate to your distress, yet I don't think you should judge yourself that harshly for it. Oh and for the record, I thought this post was absolutely lovely. :)
This actually happened for me on our most recent essay. I started writing in class, and it was sooo difficult to get into my topic. I tried to continue what I'd started at home, but I couldn't. I was actually talking with a friend on facebook when I found some inspiration and quickly switched to my paper, starting over and effortlessly writing the whole essay.
ReplyDeleteGood post
This is so true! I like to think I have mastered the ability to BS my way through most papers and have them come out presentable. Unfortunately, this never seems to be the case and, just like you said, it is quite obvious.
ReplyDeleteGreat Post!
Wow you put this so eloquently, I run into this all the time too. Great post.
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I'm always really interested to hear about people's writing process and struggles therein because it makes me feel like mine is slightly less nonsensical. I can relate to what you've said entirely. I spend a lot of time piddling around in class when I'm given time to write because its impossible to just let go and be inspired all the time. But on the other hand, you may not have felt inspired by your topic, but you kept on slogging through the self-censoring miserable mess that writing can be and you came out on the other side with a really nice piece of writing. So, maybe you can fake it if you try hard enough.
ReplyDeleteCompletely true :) I found this to be especially true when I write essays. I'll write a first draft on a topic that I think maybe has some promise, but then end up writing a completely different final draft because I've found a better topic that I have more to say about and am inspired by. Nice post :)
ReplyDeleteAnd as a side note, I didn't notice that your movie post was particularly long or rambly compared to your post about walks.
This is the perfect entry for someone who didn't know what to write. It's hard to find information when you're practically forced to write something every so often. That's not how creativity works. I'm glad you wrote this because I think many people (myself included) can relate to this. What really helps me is when you theme your blog around something you love and every time you update it, you write about one reason why you love that thing. Either that or you can do the opposite and rant about the smallest pet peeves you happen to have (hello Dre Noir).
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