Nothing special
Trying to find something to write about… that’s the problem. Writer’s block, but it’s really not writer’s block, I’m not a writer, heck I’m barley a blogger anymore. A lot of people will tell you that you need to step away from the keyboard when you get stuck but I don’t know how much merit that has to it.
It could be that by creativity is waning as I get older, but I’m not really old, just 29. I guess it could fade a little. I don’t think that’s it, I still feel pretty creative. My passion could be diminishing, that’s a distinct possibility; but I do still very much enjoy pulling up a chair at a local coffee shop and dumping the contents of my brain onto a keyboard (much like I’m doing now).
I’m sitting here in Brighton, MA at CafeNation sipping my Mocha Latte (spare me the condescending thoughts), all that’s missing is an untucked plaid button-down shirt and thick black glasses.
I signed up for this writing challenge. More of a personal challenge to get myself in the habit of writing again. It’s on 750words.com . It sends me daily reminders to write at least 750 words a day. I’ve been doing it for about a month and a half and I’ve only completed 2 days. It’s something you have to force yourself to do. With all the garbage surrounding a cross-country move, apartment hunting, settling into a new job, blah, blah, blah, I have to remind myself about the things I’m interested in.
I like building Web sites, I like writing, I like speaking, and I’m starting to like to read for fun more and more. I have to remind myself of these things because frankly, I don’t feel like doing any of them right now. I force myself to write, design sites for fun, speak and read; and I feel better for it. I even do some math exercises to keep up that side of my brain. I does help, I’ve been a lot more relaxed since I’ve forced myself into doing things I enjoy. Its the difference between losing interest in something and making myself do it even though I don’t feel like it; in my head I know it’s something I’ve enjoyed recently in the past so naturally I assume I’ll enjoy it in the future.
Some day I’m sure I won’t like doing some of that stuff, but I don’t want it to be because of laziness, I want it to because I’ve genuinely moved on to something else.
I’ve decided that writer’s block has nothing to do with a mental state, writing starts in your hands. I’m not really writing about anything special, but breaking through the wall is all about moving your fingers and typing whatever you want, it doesn’t matter, you just have to force yourself to get the wheels moving.
So, in a nutshell, I have this list of things in my head that I know I like to do and I force myself to do them. And ya know what? It turns out that I actually know myself pretty well, so when I’m all done forcing myself to do something… I usually feel a lot better than I did beforehand.
I really didn’t feel like driving to a coffee shop today, but I did because I know I like the atmosphere and how I’m able to focus and get some stuff done (even if it’s just writing a stupid blog post). I’m sure I’ll feel better after doing this than I would if I stayed cooped up in my apartment doing the same thing. It’s nice to get out, you know it, I know it, so why don’t we do it more?
I have yet to reach my 750 word goal, looking at the counter, I’m about 100 words away. I’m going to push forward though (see? forcing myself).
I think this coffee shop, I don’t like driving to it, but as far as coffee shops go, it’s a good one. I got really spoiled in Santa Monica having a great place only a block away. I need to stop comparing everything to “the way it was”, overall, so far Boston is pretty good. It obviously has it’s downside (weather, cost of living, apartment hunting) but so did LA (smog, traffic, cost of living). But whatever, ever since I applied to Virginia Tech, I’ve been going where ever life takes me, Raleigh, LA, Boston. Might as well keep doing it.
That was a quick 100 words.
Leave one