I was sitting at my computer the other day. The blasted cursor was blinking at me in a most mocking way. Nothing was coming. Nothing. I beat myself up a bit about not being inspired to write something new, exciting and blogworthy. Then I heard something on the radio about cold case files and that got me thinking.
I seem to remember some things in my files that were false starts, ideas that needed shape, and some short fiction files that could work just fine for a blog post.
None of these cold case files were completely ready to go, but just knowing they were there gave me warm fuzzies on the inside. Folks who blog about writing tend to want to stay on the cutting edge and sometimes we think that if something isn’t written from brain to WordPress then it is dated.
The good news is that writing is timeless. Many of the tips and techniques we blog about have been around for a while and what we are offering is our own particular take on the subject. This is great. It keeps us in the game and forces us to examine tried and true writing methods to see how they apply today.
The important take away here is that if you have been writing or blogging for any length of time, you probably have some cold case flies kicking around. Take the time this week and have a quick look through your document files for any gems that may have grown cold. Set up a new folder and drop those bad bears in there as you find them. I bet you will be amazed how inspiring they can be.
Once you have those cold case files identified and organized, start working them. Think back to what the initial inspiration was. Do you still feel the same or is there another tack you’d like to take? It’s all up to you. Another advantage of working these files is that often they end up being jumping off points for an entirely new blog post or story.
As you complete or edit your cold case files, cut and paste them in your blog, scheduling them out. Decide if you want to pepper them over a few months or if you want to set them all up over a couple of weeks so that you can take a little break from your blogging obligation.
Solving cold case files can be gratifying and rewarding. What’s your take? Do you have some cold case files you can resurrect?
*runs to check*
Why, yes, yes I do. Thank you for the memory nudge.
Marisa Birns´s last [type] ..This Day Forward
You are most welcome!
Have some with notes and some that I started… seriously ice cold. I did finally thaw out one and posted it not long ago. Not always able to make time for quality blogging and won’t just throw a post together. Not good quality. Yes, yes… the old “make time for it” — well, I’m already making time for other stuff that I can’t squeeze in anymore.
Meryl K Evans´s last [type] ..Trashing Email Filters for Better Email Management
Hi Meryl,
That is a good point. Some are cold for a reason! Like, they are dead. Stiffer than a cast iron lawn dog. May they RIP.
Hmm…to go check, or not to go check…that is the question.
I have a feeling I have more cast iron lawn dogs that useable nuggets of inspiration.
Then again…I might never know til I go look. If nothing else, I can clear out some dusty old computer files I’ll never need again. (I’m sure there are some cold case files that are better off mourned than risk what might amount to a creative zombie apocalypse.)
Sandi Johnson´s last [type] ..Ultimate Blog Challenge
Sandi,
Yuk-yuk. I have been funny topped! You so crack me up. Good luck with the cold cases!
George
This happens all the time with me.
Different surroundings, different mood, different new information, they all work together to resurrect story ideas previously unfinished.
Kinda like finding an old girlfriend who rejected you before and now, well, you know.
Wayne
Hey there George!
I do this same concept with song lyrics. I’m hit with inspiration and will write the chorus and then nothing. I have things that have been on hold for years! Ocassionally I go back through them and see if that inspiration comes back. If not I just keep them put aside and will think of how I can combine ideas from multiple peices and make one great peice.
The problem is that they aren’t saved on my computer and instead are scattered in boxes. I only see them when I do serious Spring cleaning which is something that hasn’t happened in months!
Guess what I will be doing tomorrow lol.
Thanks for the reminder.
Crystal
*occasionally* lol. Whoops.
On May 18, 2010, CBS announced that the series had been canceled.The series currently airs in syndication, also on Ion Television, Wednesday Thursday, and Friday evenings in the U.S. and on Viva in Canada.[2] Sleuth channel occasionally airs it at midnight on the weekdays. In 2011, the show began airing on MyNetworkTV.*
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