Thanks to those who have inquired about the lack of recent posts. (Few, but much-appreciated, inquiries, by the way.)
Things that contribute to writer's block:
1. Starting a post and thinking it's crap. And I don't know how to fix it.
2. Worrying about kayaking son, at this moment likely pitching camp beside a wild-ride Greenland river, hundreds of miles from civilization but close, probably, to polar bears and with hypothermia hovering.
3. Obligations looming with various nonprofits.
4. Mountains of tomatoes to process. Also peppers, eggplants, onions etc. Then come apples.
5. Looking back on fifty-some blog starts that are mostly outdated.(See below)
6. Thinking my blogged words sink into a sea of too much communication. Anybody out there need more words?
7. Inability, so far, to write meaningfully about my now-ancient (almost 97--year-old) mother. She is always on my mind and in my heart. I guess I'm still processing how I feel about her and the inevitability she represents.
8. Weak character that sometimes leads me to watch Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert rather than toil over uncompleted blog posts.
9. Inability to treat blog writing like real work. I wrote for a living and stood (yes, stood) before my computer for several hours a day writing for money. I rarely stand when I write anymore, and blog only in my "spare" time, which is usually after 8 p.m.
10. Adherence to ridiculous expectations that hinder creativity. Any self-respecting list needs 10 points.
Blog posts in draft include:
- life is but a dream, parts 1 and 2
- aging and death
- garden variety volunteers
- a box of baby teeth
- low carb on the road
- smiling for real
- might as well dance
- taking on hard stuff....why?
- old people doing splits
- pepper Paul picked a peck
- the 90s - decade of loss
- no matter your age, you might be old
Wow! So many uplifting topics! Let me know if you see anything of interest.
Please know that, although I have wondered daily yet not taken the time to query the reasons, I have been missing your blogs. I only open my email to see if you've had time to write something or someone is inquiring about boarding a dog. There are a million things I could (should?) be reading but, for lack of time, don't. That is not the case with your work, Mary. When I see you've posted something I stop whatever I'm doing and give myself the great pleasure of savoring your thoughts, the bits of your life you share with us here and feeling a connection to you. I pick 'Life is but a Dream' and 'Might as Well Dance' as topics for continued work. See if you can find a book by Anne Lamott called 'Bird by Bird'. (to read, of course, when the last tomato has been dealt with, there are 3 inches of snow on the ground, Chris has taken up playing the violin and you've been to Africa) That book helped me come to terms with the stultifying aspects of perfectionism in my character. I'm finding life so much more enjoyable once I was able to deconstruct that illusion.
ReplyDeletethank you so much, grace. i can't tell you how much what you wrote means to me.
ReplyDeletei read bird by bird years ago but should revisit. i won't wait until chris takes up the violin however!
anne lamott is a great writer and when i lay out a pedestrian sentence, i sometimes think of her when i press "delete."
I too have been missing your posts. But you have set a challenge that I will have to think about - which topic to request. To be honest, I am like Grace, I'll read whatever you write - always well written and thought provoking. At any rate, I will think about the topics and get back to you! Del in Placentia, CA
ReplyDeletethank you, del. i am inspired by yours and other's responses and am ready to lay myself on the line again soon. like you, i am compelled somehow to write.
ReplyDelete