The Zen of Blogging

Boy, have I felt the same.

So as a new blogger, I feel slow, as if I should be writing up my thoughts before the blog-o-shere moves on to the next thing. I find myself procrastinating after the symposium... and feeling-- I need to read the blogs, update the wiki, blog my thoughts, send out emails, bug others to get the videos up--etc, etc. etc. Blogging publically feels like another committment, that I'm not quite sure about, so I'm procrastinating...

Much of the reason I abandoned my first blog a year ago.

Not only can I not keep up with the blog-o-sphere but I often cannot keep up with my own thoughts. Even my handy (old-fashioned pen-and-paper thingie) journal is falling behind on recording my thoughts, ideas, inspirations and I'm off to the next theme before I've even captured the last.

Two things have helped me deal this time around.

1. Because there are so many bloggers - for example I'm sure at the Symposium a bit more than average! - they will capture 99% of what is important. Whew! Now you just link to them, and focus on that 1% that only YOU could add context to -- your truly unique perspective. If the interest is there (nothing that can be forced), the community (it is called social software -- no one person should have the burden of capturing everything) will chip in about the Symposium (or whatever) and add their 2 cents and build on other's 2 cents. The self-organizing aspect can be unnerving -- ultimately, no control -- but there are ways to gently encourage participation (see Purple Cow post yesterday).

2. And, if everyone has moved on to the next thing, let it go. I used to agonize that I'd missed the window -- yet again. Luckily, every single day there is no scarcity of new things relevant to your interests or topics that you can add context to. You'll be surprised how important topics just circle around anyway. I now find the timestamping aspect to blogging very, very freeing. (Only after changing my mindset -- in my first attempt it became a horrid chore.)

I just focus on this moment's post. Yesterday is history. I ask myself: What do I want to write about right NOW (very often triggered by reading) at this moment. Not what I wanted to wished I wrote about 2 days...

I just tap into this moment's interest, this moment's passion. There is still tons and tons of stuff that doesn't get written up. But...but I had something great to add to the conversation. But, the conversation just keeps flowing along with or without me.

It's been a good lesson for me.

Right now - write now is my new mantra. It keeps me sane (and fresh) as a blogger.

I think this time I'm going to stick around in the blog-o-sphere.

Comments

[Helen]

It depends what you blog about, I think. I often blog about things which are "past" because whatever it was in that event which upset or intrigued me might have lasting interest. For instance, if some politician says something on Monday about work/family balance for instance, I'll blog it on Friday because let's face it, the problem is not going to go away by Friday, is it! The only proviso is, as you say, to try and provide some unique perspective on it so if others have blogged before, you are still making a contribution.
Nice blog!

[Evelyn Rodriguez]

Thanks Helen! I probably should clarify a bit. I notice people feel pressured (and anxious) that "blog" conversations move so fast that they must respond immediately (and perfectionism enters here too -- adequately).

So I just wanted people to detach a bit from the "stress" of blogging. After a while, it can feel a bit hopelessly overwhelming...like you are fighting against as a mere mortal being washed away by an information tsunami. So if I miss the "peak" window of a particular conversation -- I could choose to do at least 3 things 1) wallow in regret (been there) 2) blog about it anyway if it still is important and fresh for me 3) let it go gently.

Writing about the past is fine (I do it a lot) as long as it's still clicking for YOU and it's still hot topic for you at the moment you are writing. I have this quite long (too long) running list of "blog this someday" (someday being the operative word!) posts. When I finally kick up Typepad, I go with what has the most palpable energy -- the most tempting siren song for me right then and there.

And I've calmly accepted (without beating myself up anymore) the fact it's ok if I don't get through all the "blog this someday" posts. (That was the hardest thing to do.)