Oct 01 2007
Choose Your Own Adventure
I’m in a slump. It’s possible you’ve noticed.
When your blog starts to feel like a chore rather than a delight, you know something’s up. For months, I’ve LIVED for blogging—writing and reading. But lately I’ve been avoiding it, writing only the essentials, like Soap Opera Sundays and Wordless Wednesdays (which require no writing…). I’ve even ditched Flashback Fridays lately.
I know.
It’s not that I don’t have anything to say. It’s just that I don’t have anything to say it about.
No, I don’t think that makes sense either. I’m just grabbing at straws here.
So, is it totally lame to ask you all for a little push?
Yes. It is. I know it is. But the life of my blog is in your hands.
It’s like a “choose your own adventure” story!
I need topics. These can be random topics. They can be things you’ve been dying, DYING to know about Brillig—because I’m sure you have a long list of things that keep you up at night: “Oh, if ONLY Brillig would enlighten me on THIS topic!”
Anyway, there’s linky love for anyone who inspires me. And since I know that many of you would do ANYTHING to bump up your Technorati, I figure this might inspire you to inspire me.
How inspiring.
It seems like many are in a slump… is it the moon phase, the season, the neverending war?
I would never be so brazen as to give you an idea, but I will say to take it easy on yourself. I think that writing is just like any other art, and sometimes you need time and space to regenerate.
XOXO
You mentioned in Candianflake’s blog (I think it was hers?) that you had the opportunity to sing with Donny Osmond and were friends with his son . . . that sounds intriguing . . .
And yes, I’m so brazen as to give you an idea . . . or rather a suggestion . . .
But, I do agree with Jennifer . . . take time if you need it to regenerate and regroup . . .
I just did a couple memes. I too have had nothing to say, but you can read what I said about those (over on my own blog).
You’re talking to the queen slumper. Fortunately, at any given time, one of my kids is usually doing something weird or trying my soul….
My favorite part of your blog is the Soap Opera Sunday, so lamely, I’m gonna request more of that.
Yea, familiar ground. You said it well here with, “It’s not that I don’t have anything to say. It’s just that I don’t have anything to say it about.” (I wouldn’t say you’re grabbing at straws there.)
I’ve facilitated a number of writing groups through the years (often out of my home/flat) and I think the “writer’s block” and “slump” that are as natural as the seasons just feel so much more amplified when it’s a blog - when this is the medium of your entire existence within an (online) community. And there are these @#$* timestamps on everything! (What off-line writer would have ever asked for this sort of machine?!? It’s Medieval.)
It ends up feeling downright dramatic to simply turn one’s attention to reading the news (instead of writing something), or to gardening, or to getting hooked into a genre of new music (and simply listening, for a while).
But creative minds need stuff like that, and traditionally, many writers have done it from the start. You can’t journal perpetually.
I think the big bloggers find a way to harvest material either from each other or from something external and constant, such as the news, the Dow, a sports season. I think kids & family don’t really work for that consistently. My blog (justapersona) is like that - if I’m not researching & following news items in the Internet space, I sorta have nothing to write about. But on the other hand, what day of the year is there absolutely nothing to comment about if I look?
One other angle I think can be helpful is to figure out a list of about 6-12 things you’re generally (perpetually) passionate about. Write them on pieces of paper and tape them face-down to a wall. When you’re at a loss, toss 3 darts, and pick one (or something). Sometimes that can open a mental doorway and light you up with something fun to delve into.
Anyhoo, I wouldn’t bash yourself over it. It’s nice to see your eyes back, btw.
I’m supposed to dip into my meager supply of ideas - currently at an all-time low - and just GIVE you one? I don’t think so. I may be nice about some things, but I don’t share … OK, wait - I have been known to share just about everything, including my toothbrushes and underwear, so I guess that’s out. How about a piece on sharing ideas or how blogging cross-pollinates (or fertilizes or something) ideas throughout the world. What? What do you mean that sounds like fertilizer? Hey - I tried.
Brillig - Would you like to swap brains for a few days, mine needs a rest!
When my creativity is sapping (much like my body these days) I look through my photographs - and stories, memories etc. always jump out at me.
I’m also reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, it’s a course of discovering and rediscovering your creative self - we all need a fresh approach now and then.
Hope you’ll drop by and pick up the very deserving award I’ve posted with your name on it!
I have heard WONDERFUL things about The Artists’ Way! I started it, but had like six other books out and wanted to give it my full attention later.
My problem is time. Seriously, if I could sit here and write all day, I would - at least for a few days. But I can never find the time to do it.
Something I am considering is cafemom’s daily dose blog (written by the Almighty Blog Star, Amalah) offers a weekly challenge. Hello Insomnia (kirida.com) just did last weeks - which I am thinking of doing - it was “A letter to my teenage self.”
Or, you could always get pregnant again! Pregnancies make great blog fodder!
Slumps are such a normal thing. Kudos to you for finding a unique way to battle it!
I haven’t been feeling too inspired/inspiring myself lately, to be honest. I’m hoping taking a bit of a break will help. I’m also going to develop some good filler resources for when the slumps hit. You know, sharing some funny quotes, interesting facts, absurd pictures etc…Maybe I’ll just save a whole whack of mindless posts in draft form so they’re there when I need them…hmm….
Okay, you may find this lame, but I’m always interested in knowing where people thought they would be, compared to where they are. For instance, looking back 10, 15 years, or more, what did you think your life would be like now? My dreams as a child were so BIG, then became more realistic as I matured (but, before kids, I still had some pretty big ideas).
Another idea is LITERALLY your dreams. Always fascinating to find out what’s happening in our heads when our mind is truly free!! I would love to blog about this some time and see what my readers think my dreams are trying to tell me. I’m sure they would have lots of ideas about some of the recurrent themes dancing around in my head.
I would love to hear more about the Brilly babies. What are they up to? What are their most endearing qualities? Their most frustrating? Also-A Day In The Life. Pick a day and type what you did. The best advice you have ever gotten? What keeps you going as a busy mom of 4? OH and don’t forget your wedding!
Hmmm, I know just how this feels.
Rest up if you need, we’ll still be here waiting.
Otherwise I would like you to write about how canapes are different to canopys, or, what might lurk under Magnum PI’s Moustache, or the wierdest thing you have ever overheard.
Hope that helps.
You’ll be fine Brill.
Even if it’s a page full of feelings or shouty bits about how you don’t blumming know what to write about it will be fine.
Chill, Brill.
xxx
OK darlin? Some of the above ideas are hilarious. A day in your life will entertain ANYONE. Talking about your awesome babies is always a great idea because they are hilarious.
I have some other ideas for you . . . scan, publish and comment on pages from your journals from when you were a wee-Brillig.
Notes and letters from Jr. High and High School are always a highlight.
Or, you could talk about me. HAHAHAHA
Oh I snorted when I read what Butrfly wrote. Just go ahead and get pregnant ha ha.
Religion is always a touchy topic but who wants to always play it safe right ?
Have you ever encountered anybody that just outright refused to understand your religion and/or had crazy misconceptions about it.
Expand on that evil Catherine post. We want to know exactly why Brillig is 72% evil. Nope, don’t really want to post about that…ok an email to me will be fine
World Adventures! Home Adventures! Life Adventures! Boy Adventures! Day-to-Day Adventures!
I don’t have technorati, but I still have an idea!
I really really want the story about why you dropped out of high school and how you got kicked out of BYU.
Because I loves me a bad girl story
I’m in a HUGE slump right now. Where has my personality gone in my blogging? It’s just the time of year I think. Tell yourself you can’t blog. In no uncertain terms are you allowed to blog. I bet you’ll find something SO important to blog about in mere hours and then we can all forgive you for breaking your own rule and blogging. Maybe I should try this. Hope you have a fabulous week!
Well, your SOS posts have me curious as of to just how many boys you have kissed in your life, how many boyfriends you’ve had in your life, how many friends you’ve had that were friends with benefits and what it was about you that attracted so many boys in the first place? LOL! I’ve had two boyfriends, two different kissers and a total of 5 official date in my entire life. Of course, I couldn’t use your secrets now that I’m married but I’m still curious.
I happened to like your post about having nothing to write. Maybe not completely moving for you to write but certainly great for us to read!
I’m a fan of the “morning pages” from The Artist’s Way.
Slightly cheesy and tough to commit to at first but after awhile it’s very helpful. every morning, three pages of WHATEVER clear your mind,,”my dog needs walking, i have nothing to write-i have nothing to write-i have nothing to write-my ass is itchy….etc.” three pages every morning and then tear them up. She explains it better than me but it works! It’s sort of like a 12 stepper for the creative types!
I’d agree with Jennifer, but I’d also like to know what you did for your Mission (is that the right terminology?) What it was like, what you did, etc., etc.
Oh! Oh! Oh! Pick me! Pick me!
I want to know the story behind MR. BRILLIG. Perhaps you are saving that for a Soap Opera Sunday, but I am dying to hear it NOW.
I would also like to read what is on your list of things to do today.
(Come on, I know you write one of those, even if only in your head. I also know that has got to be worth a chuckle or two.)
And, can you please give us Fashion Police insight from the styles you see on the streets of Provo?
Puh-leaze that’s got to be worth a whole series of posts right there.
Oh! AND…. And delight and educate your readers on the lingo of a Utahn. You know what I’m talking about… from the pronunciation of the word “creek” to the misuse of the word “ignorant”. The world needs to know these things Brillig.
Come on baby, light my fire….
Hum… What book has had the deepest influence on you (or review the last one you read)? Or write about how music has impacted you. Or write something about food…
I love the idea of you scanning in your journal. I’m sure I burned mine or buried it so deep, even Indiana Jones will never find it. SO tell us Brillig . . . if you were a contestant on Survivor and could only have one personal item, what personal item would it be? If you had only one CD in the world to listen to, what would it be? If you were to climb a mountain and come to the top to face something horrific, what would be the most horrifying thing be?
And lastly, why do you write?
I haven’t been here for awhile because blogger has been mean to me and now I am catching up on everything I have missed. If it helps at all, I LOVEEE your stories about your travels when you were young. I have also been waiting to hear more about how you know Donny Osmond’s son..that was an OMG moment when I read that…would love to read more.
I’d love to see a list of favorite things. Fave Opera, Fave color, Fave eyes–oh wait, those are yours.
I’ve been slumping lately too. Everyone I know has. Hope yo come out of it soon.
Brill, I’m totally laughing that everyone wants to know about goofy Don Jr. doesn’t that seem odd to you? Hahahah.
I don’t know you so well yet as I am a fairly new reader, so I am more curious about all the travelling you’ve done in your life….that must result in more pretty crazy situations, or just impressions of different cultures.
But hey, anything could do:stories about your children, recipes, a story about that wacko student job you might have had one day, a rant about a stupid tv show you just watched (didn’t you watch teenage shows???), an ode to your car, ….We’re pretty easy readers :p
I want to know about the food in your life.
I guess that sounds odd.
I mean, I like to know what all sorts of people eat, what are your favorite meals, memorable meals, what your “perfect” foods are.
Can’t help myself- it’s my job to find out these things.
Lots of good ideas here… I’m not sure I could add anything new. Maybe some of Brillig’s misadventures? I’m always glad to read how someone else embarrassed herself… I don’t feel so alone then.
Somewhere around here in this pile of mess I call a home is a game with wierd questions in it. Like, would you rather eat a spider or a cockroach? You know, like if you HAD to. And if it was alive…
Maybe a trip to one of the big box stores for a silly game like that and then you can share your answers with us!
You could write a fictional account of a doctrinal discussion between Joseph Smith and Martin Luther.
How’s that?
Brillig — address anything on religion and politics and you’re going to tick people off, encourage them, enlighten them . . . whatever it will be it’ll get the comments flying.
But here are some ideas for you:
Take one of those silly tests that are everywhere and then write about how different you really are from those predictions.
Write about what your family has brought to your life.
Book or movie reviews are always fun, and you get to read a book or watch a movie to do one. Always a plus.
Write about the things you have passion about, family life, country, God . . .
And above all else, take the time you need to fill that well within. It is more important than you know.
Hi Brillig - I’m brand new to your site and sorry to hear you are in a writing funk. If it’s any consolation seems to be going around : P I’m a little sapped too… which is probably why I have been spending so much time playing around at Buzz - thanks for being the first to welcome me there BTW : ) Fun place! Anyway, I don’t have any brilliant suggestions… Maybe re-post some oldies from your archives that deserve another going over by some of us newbies? I’m of to have a look and see what I can dig up in there : )
Share a beauty, make-up trick, or grooming technique that you have never let anyone know or see you do.
(okay maybe except for mr.brillig…but even more fantastic if mr.brill doesn’t know)
1. it may be so liberating you may finally be able to quit doing it based on responses from your friends in real life.
2. it is bound to be funny.
3. you may end up helping someone!
Gee — people don’t want you to stop. But if you need a break, please take it. We’ll be back, waiting breathlessly in anticipation.
However, you’ll notice I need music ideas for the last 25 years (go read my blog and this will make sense). Why not write about songs and what they mean to you or memories?
For instance I admitted in an email reply to someone that Madonna’s Music from 2000 reminds me of expressing milk for the boys when they were in the NICU. I don’t think that is what she had in mind when she put that tune together!!
I get into these bloggy slumps too - quite often in fact. Why don’t you do a blog on housework - that would be riveting indeed - or on why Governments should supply free housekeepers and gourmet chefs to all women who have 2 children or more!
Seriously - I’m always interested to hear how slack (or not) other women are in the domestic arena…. gawd - how boring am I?
Oh, heck if I know. I’m new to blogging, and I even have a hard time coming up with things to blog about. I’m a notoriously boring individual. But I hope you come up with some doozies! Good luck!
Ugh. Who hasn’t been suffering the evils of blogstipation lately? I know I have.
And as for a topic, how about picking one monumental moment in your life and imagining if that never happened, how your life would be different. Like maybe you made a minor decision that resulted in you never meeting your husband and you ended up a crazy old cat lady. Or something like that…
Okay, how about:
Books you read when you were little
Books you read but wish you hadn’t
Really bad recipes no one will eat
Bizarre interpretations for dreams
Homemade home decor ideas
Links to blogs that are just too weird for words
Alternate lyrics to popular songs
Alternate endings to popular movies
Is this helping at all?
Oh Darlin’! I’ve been dealing with my own crises lately and am just now catching up on my blog reading. So I give you a thought exercise — knowing how your present is so different from what you pictured for yourself when you were in your teens, what do you think you life will look like in 10 years? 20 years? What will you do when you retire? Where will you live? Who will you dedicate your award speech to (whatever award you see yourself winning!)?
Hope this inspires you a bit!! Hugs & Happy thoughts your way!
Still reeling over the tidbit about YOU SINGING WITH DONNY OSMOND.
Okay.
Okay.
You’ve gotten a lot of great ideas from your faithful readership; not sure I have anything to add other than the fact that I totally relate to the slump.
I have a great sleepwalking/sleep-peeing story I’d love to share on the blog, but since the protagonist is one of my most faithful readers, I’ll probably have to forbear….
I had a slump exactly like this…right after I published my post about my post partum depression in July, I felt like I had just emptied myself, and had nothing else to write about. I almost felt deflated…it was weird. I ended up taking 2 months off for myself, which allowed me to get out of my funk a little, and deal with the house reno/sale/purchase and Zander’s eating problems.
I hope you will find the joy in blogging again soon!
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