It?s inevitable. ?If you blog, sooner or later, you?ll run out of ideas for posts. ?Especially if you restrict your blog to how-to and self-improvement articles. ?As I continue to blog, I continue to critically evaluate my blogging style and my vision for danerickson.net. ?I?m creative. ?I like to write story, poem, and song. ?I?m also organized, which lends itself to the nonfiction, how-to genre. ?As I continue to blog, I?m leaning more toward the creative side than the how-to side. ?Like a hod-carrier, (the guy who mixes the mortar), I?m seeking the perfect blend of water and sand. ?I?m also learning to incorporate real-life experiences, as much or more than quick advice. ?In this post, I?ll attempt to use some of my own life experience to relate to trusting your instincts as a writer.
My dog Shep
About a year ago a friend of mine tried to persuade me not to get a dog. ?He listed a dozen terrorizing reasons from bites to chewed up shoes. ?I didn?t listen to him. ?I found the right dog and rescued him. ?I was nearly certain Shep would be a good dog. ?I trusted my instincts. ?I was right. ?Shep has been a great dog. ?The same friend once told me I have good instincts for choosing used cars. ?I have a knack for getting good deals on great used cars that last for years. ?I guess I do alright with used cars and mixed breeds. ?So what?s that have to do with writing? ?Simple: learn to trust your instincts.
As writers we make mistakes. ?As a songwriter I?ve written some weak songs. ?As a poet I?ve written some mediocre poems. ?As a blogger I?ve gone the wrong direction more than once and written some poor posts. It?s all part of the learning curve. ?We improve by accepting the bad with the good. ?However, I?ve also learned to trust my instincts. ?One of the reasons I haven?t written songs lately is that my instincts tell me it?s not time. ?By writing regularly on this blog, my instincts are guiding me in the best direction for the blog. ?I?m not going to write to show you how smart I am or to convince you I have information that you can?t live without. ?I?m not going to write to prove I?m clever with words and language. ?I?m not going to write for the monetizing factor. ?I?m going to write to combine creativity with usable material. ?I want readers to walk away entertained, inspired, and perhaps a tad smarter or wiser.
I keep most of my writing. ?My instincts tell me that although every piece of writing may not be my best work, most are worthy of being saved, if only for the record. ?On the other hand, I?m also willing to throw things away. ?I?ve hit the delete button on several half and full-written articles for this blog. ?My instincts told me the articles weren?t right. ?I?ve deleted large chunks from my novels and even trashed a 30-page start. ?At times I go through old writing and eliminate songs, poems, articles that weren?t up to my own standards. ?How do I choose? ?That?s hard to explain. ?I just know what to keep and what to trash. ?I have never regretted any of my decisions in that regard. ?For me it?s like used cars and mixed breeds. ?I trust my instincts. ?As writers we have to be willing to make errors or we?ll never lift a pen. ?We also must be willing to be critical and delete when necessary. ?Trust your instincts.
Questions:?Do you find it harder to start the writing process or to decide what to keep and what to delete? ?Do you trust your instincts? ?Please post your comments below:
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Source: http://danerickson.net/?p=5185
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