Sometimes when I know it’s time to post, my idea bin is a bit light. When this happens I’ll stumble along blogs and go visit a writing or blogging site I’ve not been to for a while. Sometimes I run across a seed, get an “A-ha!” moment and off I go.
There are times though, when I look at all of the posts on the sites and think, “Holy crap. Everything’s been written. Now what?”. If I was a bettin’ man, I’d say more than a few of you out there have been in the same place. That’s kinda where I was earlier and then it occured to me that this is the beauty of writing, the beauty of blogging.
Ok, so I know that in reality everything has not been written. The thousand monkeys with their thousand typewriters have not hit the thousand year mark yet. Much of this comes down to perspective and attitude about writing. If you really believe that everything has already been written, then you probably need to find something else to do. Such a narrow view on life will not carry you very far.
The beauty of writing is that I can take something that has been said and I can give it my very own personal voice. How cool is that? As individuals, we all have our own perspectives. We all have our own unique life experiences that we can use to color our writing palate in vivid hues. And maybe, just maybe the way we write something that has been said will speak to an individual reader and allow them to see a topic in a way that is new and refreshing to them. Honestly, if even one reader takes the time to read my work and it speaks to them, I am a very happy camper indeed. I do write for myself because I love what I do, but I always have this unknown reader in mind.
So the next time you’re stuck, boldly take a topic that’s been “done” a million times and give it your very own spin. See what happens. I guarantee you’ll be happy with the results.
Hi George,
I’m exactly with you on this. Like you, I do have days where I read other blogs and then feel totally empty to write my own post for the day. I found the best way to circumnavigate this personal lack is by writing my post first thing in the morning rather than late at night when my head is full of information (and probably overloaded at that).
Good on you for seeing the world as an opportunity rather than thinking “it has been said before”.
Monika,
I do like the idea of writing the post first thing in the am. I’m usually up an at it by 5am, so as soon as the Rock Star kicks in, I’ll give it a whirl!
George
Very well said. I’ve always been a big proponent of sharing personal stories. We all got them — we’re all unique. We have something that nobody else has. That’s what makes this all worthwhile. Web is an impersonal medium. The personal touch is what makes us connect. “A few principles, infinite applications. ” — me.
ari
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