Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Guatemala

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Blogging vs. Writing

I find blogging addictive. Anyone else have that problem? You get online to check your email, check your favorite blog, respond to comments, maybe write a new post, and before you know it, it's been THREE HOURS!!!

This week I started my new schedule. Turn on computer early, check emails and blogs, then move to my wip. Write two hours. Period. Rest of day, whatever. Who cares as long as I get my two hours of real writing in.

But I've run into a problem with switching gears from writing on blogs to writing creatively. They seem to use different brain cells or something. Especially when the blogging goes on too long, then I switch over to my novel and huh??? I can't focus on the words, I don't remember what it's about, I keep thinking of switching back to the internet and checking blogs. But I can't, I can't.

Blogging doesn't get you a finished novel, I remind myself. Working on your chapters is what gets you a finished novel.

I'm here now, writing this post, because I DID put in my two hours on my chapters. I am feeling GOOD!! So I'm rewarding myself by writing just a simple little blog post. Now, computer off, go do my normal Saturday stuff, and peace, out! See you on Monday!

14 comments:

  1. I'm proud of you putting in your two hours. I keep telling myself I won't click that darn internet icon until I have accomplished my writing goals for the day. Rarely happens!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good for you! I need to get back into this habit, bigtime. Oh, siren song of the internet...

    I certainly find that my voice is a lot more casual and silly in my blog than in my written work. It's more my day-to-day, chatting with friends voice, as opposed to my at-work, "I'm a professional" voice.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Author Commrade:

    I'm the anonymous who commented at LDSP and then at your friends Blog and since you commented about my comment I figured I could comment here about your comment.

    Now a less about repetition in your writing. Good to meet you. And should you happen to go back to your Chicken friend's blog, you know, the one about mud and chickens, tell her I said happy Saturday.

    Now more about repetition. Later.

    Have a great one.

    Elizabeth/Dave/Kim Et. al....

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ahh, structure. It always feels so good to stick to a schedule. Simple actions take on more meaning when you get to cross them off a list.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous, You are so funny. If only I knew your real identity! Because you obviously know your stuff where writing is concerned, judging by your comments on LDSP. Hey! Maybe YOU are LDSP?

    Maybe Genius, Interesting isn't it how the voice changes? Maybe that's why when I go to my wip after blogging, I feel all confused and unable to focus? Because my narrator voice is NOT the same as my blogger voice. Hmmm, interesting concept.

    Cami, and you're twittering too! How do you get anything done lol? I need to get your book. I want to read it.

    Jane, yes, I ate fudge today.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dang it, and I wasn't going to come back here til Monday!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I know exactly what you mean! I turn on the computer, check blogs, write a post, reply to comments and three hours have passed! How does it happen?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I was messing with my blog last night and flipped on the TV to watch the end of one of my favorite movies, THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, and the Major Clipton character is walking around saying "madness, madness" and then I just went back to messing with my blog. Yeah, it's kind of like that sometimes.
    Lee
    http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi!

    You are just too organized! Good for you. And so disciplined too. Darn I wish i could be all these!

    I need to have both blog, various other sites, word.doc, cat, and a big glass of solpadeine (soluble paracetemol) to the ready to be creative. My mind works crazily - it needs to be occupied not by one thing but by many - otherwise I get very, very, very bored. Which explains why I'm not getting very far with my creative endeavours!

    Is that why I've diversified to short story/flash fic writing? cos they're short and sweet (like me - hahahaha! Oh I can't do the evil laugh) whereas a novel is well - HUGE.

    Do you slot in a time to book read too? When I was younger I'd devour books like Cookie monster but now, now, I'm hooked on anything pc based more than sitting down quietly and reading.

    I need to sit-down and re-prioritise really I do.

    :-)

    Have a great weekend and see you on Monday!

    Take care
    x

    ReplyDelete
  10. A week on from Nicola's blog party I am back visiting with a bunch of flowers and a bottle of good wine to say I am sorry if I was an ass... I am sure I was an ass somewhere... I am sometimes, when I have had a drink at parties... once argued in defence of good punctuation for two hours at a party. Put up a strong defence too,

    Anyway. Good to hear that you managed the creative writing... two hours is a good start. I know what you mean about blogging versus creating... one seems easier than the other... but, oh the thrill that goes with having created... you can't beat that.

    best of luck (and enjoy the flowers and the wine)

    Douglas

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think waiting to blog until AFTER you write your chapters and words is a great idea. I believe you're right about the different brain cells being used. I am instituting a no blog/email check rule till AFTER I write as well.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Since I don't write on Sundays, I give myself permission to read and comment on blogs lol. What can I say? It's just plain fun to do.

    Plus after adding so many new blogs to my list, it's a thrill to click on and see what's new.

    Welcome to all those visiting here for the first or second time, and thanks for following and commenting. I've been enjoying your blogs as well. There's quite an eclectic variety, which keeps it interesting.

    Douglas, if you're referring to that discussion last week about the "debate" on who's stealing who's ideas, well, I just thought that was a welcome bit of drama on what might otherwise be a routine blogging day.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Kitty, as for reading books..well, yes, I have that scheduled too. I was always a voracious reader and then got away from it for a long time for one reason or another. This year I gave up TV and replaced it with reading. I used to go to bed at 8, knit and watch tv till 10. Now I go to bed and read till 10. So my reading has picked up and that's going to help my writing, I'm sure of it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Isn't it because blogging is easy and creative writing is hard? Sadly I pick the easy thing over the hard work 9 times out of 10. And then I blame it on the fact that my children are still on holiday from school :)

    ReplyDelete