My Wall

Back in March 2005, I founded my site on Blogger. My goal was simple: I just wanted to write. And I hoped someone would read my writing. But more than anything, I just wanted to memorialize my thoughts, opinions, ideas.

As the end of 2007 approaches and I contemplate where my blogging has taken me over the course of the past nearly three years, a couple of aspects stand out.

First, I barely blogged during the first couple of years. My entries were sporadic and nobody was reading them. It was not until late last year that I began blogging purposefully and got involved in the blogging community. So I really think of the holiday season as my “blogiversary.”

Second, I am too easily sidetracked and find that I often have to redirect my attention back to writing. StumbleUpon, Sk*rt, Sphinn, Furl, Reddit, Blogging Zoom, Entrecard, et. al. all constitute distractions, as do the many blogs I have subscribed to via Bloglines. I am constantly amazed at how I can sit down in front of my computer, intent on writing an article, and then look up at the clock to discover that two or three hours have elapsed. I am still reading other blogs, catching up on e-mail, playing around with new WordPress plugins, tweaking the layout of my theme, perusing Morgue File for just the right image to accompany my latest post … and yet there is not one word yet in the text editor.

Another blogger once said:

When you are a writer, then just like a runner, you know what you have to do. In order to beat The Wall you have to do what you do best.

Keep writing.

His words resonate with me because it seems that every few weeks I find myself reevaluating the state of my writing, taking inventory to see if I am meeting the goals I have established for myself. Yet again, as I write this, I find that I have a number of unfinished articles, in addition to the numerous ideas jotted down for posts that I have not yet begun writing.

Like most writers, I have a love-hate relationship with the endeavor. For me, the issue always seems to be getting started. I have plenty of good ideas and intentions, but sitting down and starting my fingers tapping on the keys is always the challenge. Once I being, the words usually flow — probably because I have carried them around in my head for so long by the time I release them. But far too often I procrastinate or allow my attention to be diverted.

That is my “wall.”

Yet again, I am resolved to refocus, recommit, and re-energize my writing. Like that other blogger, I am determined to keep writing.

Leave a comment, telling me about your “wall.”