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20 Things You Need To Do Before You’re Free To Blog
How do you get back into your blogging groove after a break from the wired up world?
Here are some of the thoughts that were running through my head over the weekend:
1. Catch up with your blog reading - that way you’ll know you’re bang up to date
2. Tidy up your office space - so your space is clear and uncluttered, ready for ideas and inspiration
3. Check in with your blogging plan, your monthly theme, your editorial strategy - so you know what you’re going to write about
4. Review your stats and identify improvements you can make to your blog from this point onwards
5. Brainstorm some ideas - so you’ve got a few posts in store to follow up the first one
6. Work on a thoughtful piece - that shows you’re back blogging ‘properly’, with quality content
7. Get up early to write your post - the early bird is sure to catch the worm
8. Look around for good blogging advice on how to get back into your blogging groove
9. Doodle ideas for a format that doesn’t depend on the tired old numbered list
10. Post a well thought out piece of quality content, quietly confident it’ll hit the mark
Or maybe the list looks more like this…
11. Mark all your feeds as read - otherwise you’ll never catch up, and will never get beyond reading
12. Save the tidying for another day - getting started is better than tidying procrastinating
13. Forget the plan - the month’s nearly over anyway.
14. Ignore the stats and spend some time in the real world (inspiration’s sure to follow)
15. Just write one post: the rest will come easily (won’t they?) once the words start to flow again
16. Drop the quality content malarkey and write something conversational and easy. No strike that: just write something
17. Write when it suits you. There’s no evidence to support the early bird theory anyway
18. Forget the blogging advice - it might be written for someone else at a different point entirely
19. Why ditch an old friend when you need him? Numbered lists are a brilliant way to burst through blogger’s block, time and again
20. Just jump in!
How about you? What are your favoured tactics for getting past a period away from your blog, or a bout of blogger’s block?
Thanks to Karen Swim: Adventures in the Real World Brad Shorr: Timing is Everything for your Blogging Style, Robyn McMaster: Do Night Owls Get the Best From Their Brains?, Robert Hruzek: A Quick Look Ahead (not least the ‘behind’ picture!) for giving me the ideas and inspiration to get started again.
Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count
Photo Credit: Twenty Twenty by Frank Wales on Flickr
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- Pingback by Beyond Translation… Inspiration | "la parole exportée" on August 25, 2008 @ 4:59 pm
I can easily identify with #11, #17, and especially #13…
Sure has been quiet around here without you, Joanna! I started reading this list and thought to myself, “Self, this crazy woman is WAAAAY to organized!”
Glad I kept reading!
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..A Quick Look Ahead
Joanna, I’ll echo Robert on the organization point. Having never been gone from blogging for any length of time, I’ll reserve commenting for a couple weeks. My wife and I are finally going to take a little vacation and I’m going offline for week. Can’t wait. Excellent choice of words with “malarky”. Brings back memories. My dad and uncle used to use the expression “Ah, he’s full of malarky” all the time when I was young and it always gave me the giggles.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Timing Is Everything for Your Blogging Style
Hi Joanna! Well, I can relate to both sides of the list 1-10, and 11-20! lol! The tidy office and desk always help me focus. At the end of each day, I make sure that my desk is clear and ready for the new day. I also have used the Mark All As Read tip. I think the return to blogging is a mixture of planned organization and letting go.
Karen Swims last blog post..Word Press 2.6.1
I’d have to go by the seat-of-the-pants approach to get the flow going. Then you can be more selective as you have more time for blogging.
Hey, except ignore rule #11, or at least come and visit me. I’ve missed your lovely comments. You are a wonderful visitor!
Glad you are up writing again. Hope the move was without too many glitches.
Welcome home.
Joanna,
it’s good having you back! I very much enjoyed reading your list, especially “tidy up your office space” - should do this more often.
Welcome again!
Ulla Hennigs last blog post..Welcome Back, Joanna!
Oh, and don’t forget #21: take pizza eating lessons! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..I’m a Confident Writer. Are You?
Oh, these are great! Since we are traveling the world, as we home school our child on our open ended tour, I am always going between unplugged and plugged.
My desk is sometimes at a MacDonald’s, so it is not always neat, but I find keeping organized on the move is also important.
I use to edit and re-edit everything I wrote endless times, but the blog on the move has taught me to be much more flexible and adaptable. I am grateful for that.
Thanks for the helpful ideas and welcome back!
Soultravelers3s last blog post..Viana do Castelo & Vigo
Reading other blogs works well for me. Sometimes, you may have to be patient to get your groove back. Sent my kids off to school today and I have no groove.
I think I’ll go work out now instead of wait until this afternoon. Maybe it’ll help.
Meryl K. Evanss last blog post..New Beginnings in 2008
Robert, I prefer the second half of the list too! When I read your ‘behind’ post it made me think how much we beat ourselves up for getting ‘behind’ rather than just enjoying blogging at our own pace. It’s much more fun that way.
Maybe SobCon09 could feature cultural exchanges for participants - like pizza eating lessons for those that don’t know how?
Joanna
Brad, I hope you enjoy your well deserved break. And don’t worry, your blog will be in good hands when you’re away. We promise not to break anything
Joanna
Karen, both sides of the lists work for me too depending on my frame of mind - but the second half definitely helped me jump back in. I’m glad I did - look at the wonderful friends I’ve reconnected with!
Joanna
Bo, I’m so glad you enjoy my visits! I did peek into your blog and your photostream, but didn’t have time to comment - I’ll be sure to pop back and comment soon. Your blog always brightens up my day, so it’s a pleasure to comment and say so
Joanna
Ulla, I’m glad you enjoyed it. My office space is totally mad just now and I really *am* going to get it tidied before the next post goes out. I promise!
Joanna
Soul traveler, I take my hat off to you - you must be very well organised to keep all those things moving as you travel, without losing things - including children!
Meryl, I like to read my ‘favourites’ too - between 5 and 10 blogs that are guaranteed to make me smile, and want to rejoin the conversation. That helps to get the blogging muscles loosened up.
But if I try and read too many I get swamped, and feel I can’t write anything as good as anyone else or say anything new.
Taking time out to do something else - especially a walk or a run or some gardening - is a great way to blow off the cobwebs too. Hope you enjoy your workout!
Joanna
Hi Joanna, I’d like to add that you need the dragon fire. I’ve posted a blog which burbled from all the inspiration you have brought to me over time.
http://brainbasedbiz.blogspot.com/2008/08/writing-and-doing-like-fire-breathing.html
Welcome back!
Robyn McMasters last blog post..Writing and Doing Like a Fire-Breathing Dragon
Hi Joanna, I come here thanks to great things written about you by Dawood Miracle. You are as good as he writes about.
I have started blogging just a couple of months ago and have not really had a major break so, would not know how to respond to your query. I would however keep this post saved for reference when I have to go through that experience.
rummusers last blog post..Tata Indicom India - Horrible Customer Service.
Joanna, your new blog platform looks postively splendid!!
Happy Transitions in more ways than one.
I owe you a guest author post, don’t I? I have it in my August blog plan, truly - August isn’t over just yet! If Friday is a thought, I have something in mind. I could have that to you by Wednesday.
My summer got blurry and complicated and full.
Today I too feel transition.
I appreciated seeing the “guys” champion a bit of a shout today for you as I certainly haven’t forgotten all that you have been challenged with
I appreciate your gentle thoughtful spirit, your writing guidance and having the joy of meeting you this past May
Good to see you back at it again! I suggested this blogger blockage buster to someone the other day: Go into your favorite library or book store and pick 5 books that appeal to you. Randomly browse a few sections of them until something the author has written resonates with you and then write a post or two out of that.
Lori
SpaceAgeSages last blog post..Is ingratitude like anti-matter?
Rummuser, thanks for popping over. I’m glad you liked what you saw when you got here!
Good luck with your blogging
Robyn, sorry your comment got gobbled up earlier. It’s supposed to be okay with one link but you were right, I had to go and rescue it from the filter. “You need the dragon fire” - yes! Over and over, breathing in courage, breathing out truth. Thanks for highlighting that image today - it’s one of my favourites.
Joanna
Hello Karen! (Mother Earth) I’m glad you like the new place. I have a feeling it will be just the right place for your guest post… if you still have time to write it. Thanks
Hi Lori, what a great idea! I’ll need to give that a try sometime. Have you used it yourself?
Hello, Joanna.
I’m sorry I’m only just arriving at this fantastic resource list… time escaped me yesterday!
And that’s exactly why I’ve saved this list on my pc
Thank you for pulling these tips together. I really do appreciate your perspective.
Scott, there’s never enough time to keep up with all the blogs out there! I’m glad you found the list and perspective useful
Joanna
Not big on getting up early to start blogging
but it definitely is a good tip.
When I was still in the Army I believed in the “Do more before 9 am, than most people do all day” motto… but that was several long years ago.
self defense Robs last blog post..Keeping up with Kardashian Self Defense
Hi Rob, sorry your comment got caught in Akismet for a while there. Hello and welcome!
Time of day is definitely worth experimenting with - though I’m a late owl myself
Joanna
As always, great advice on blogging. I sure appreciate your input!
Best wishes!
Shannon
Shannon McDowells last blog post..September 11, 2001: An Awakening
Shannon, glad you’re finding the material of value. Thanks for the feedback - it’s appreciated