I’m feeling experimental with my writing these days. Like I want to see what I can get away with; but not in a naughty way. Not in a way that’s going to get me arrested or shunned in the blogosphere. I just want to put something out there into the universe that surprises some people but resonates with others. #Goals, right?
I’m also feeling some serious writing angst these days. At the same time, I’ve been writing a whole lot. Like every chance I get. While I know this is a good thing, it’s left me feeling anxious. Like a hot mess. Because there’s so much I want to say and I want to put it out there on this blog in just the right way.
The indecision within me about what to finish and publish is really messing with me right now.
The only right thing for me to do, because I’m anal about consistency when it comes to my blog is to just Cut. It. Out. And publish something.
So off I go.
Proof of my anal retentiveness as it relates to this blog of mine: An excerpt from my “planning” draft folder (is this a thing for you too?) from 2018.
5/20:
Review both current WIPs. Decide quickly if either is worthy of being published on Wednesday morning. Morning, dear. If not, don’t sweat it. It’s the small stuff, as cliche as that sounds. But it’s almost completely true. Then just do your best to use this Chromebook during the vacay. Whenever the moment strikes. And maybe the moment won’t strike. It will by 5/28 though. So at most you’ve skipped one week of posting. Don’t get your undies in a bunch over this. Yes, that did remind me that I need new undies as a matter of fact.
Items to look for while on vacation:
Underwear
Also, Amanda’s birthday presents.
Now back to the current moment: In keeping with the thread of this loopy post from the indecisive, high strung hot mess that I am right now, I’m going to just copy and paste some of the random thoughts I’ve been expressing in various draft folders of this blog and call it a day. I’m going to re-type a few random thoughts I captured in various draft folders and call it a day (I can at least make the effort to make it look nice, right?).
Maybe that seems lazy to you. Maybe it seems crazy to me. Maybe it’s a combination of both. I dunno. But I’m going to do it nonetheless.
In no particular order whatsoever, I give you Rhonda’s random writing thoughts found within the vaults of my blog:
11/10:
Notions or Quotes that I’m fond of:
You get what you give.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
This too shall pass.
“The most effective way to do it, is to just do it” Amelia Earhart. That resonates for me writing wise. That’s what I’m doing right now actually, so there.
10/20:
I’m really curious about something. Well, many things really. But today I’m thinking about how I read or heard somewhere that it takes 7 days (or two weeks or six years?) to form a new habit. It’s actually 66 days. Ughh! Which, from today, is 12/25-Christmas Day!
The new habit I am going to start to form in earnest as of today is writing first thing in the morning. I like to say I do that now, but that’s not true. It’s writing before I check the forecast, read the UCC Daily Devotional, check Facebook. It’ll be an experiment. And just for fun, I think I’ll add in a new habit of writing every night too. Just for a little bit. 15 minutes even. The more I write, the more I have to publish. The more I publish, the more likely it is that I will get the attention I’m looking for.
Current moment commentary: I have stuck to this. That’s why there’s so much content within my draft folders now. And also why I’m so damn indecisive today about what to publish.
One last snippet from my draft folders:
10/29:
Right now, I am so tired. Need to get ready for bed. Yet need to capture a few thoughts. Random though they may be. K.I.S.S. It’s mostly Keep. It. Specific. Sister. But it can vary. Mantras, phrases, acronyms, names are all very important to me as a writer. Who am I writing for? Who do I actually want to appreciate my writing? To benefit from it in some small but positive way? I want to make an impact. Push someone else forward so they can push another person forward and so on and so forth. Spread good vibes. Good juju. Good karma.
Okay, now I suppose it’s time to conclude this post. Thanks for sticking with me, people (am I being a tad presumptuous? Probably.)
My aim for my next post is to focus on one topic, or one general idea. I promise!
Me, after I hit publish on this post. Though before would have been a better choice. Hindsight, right?
Rhonda,
What the heck is a draft folder? Oh, wait, I know. Never mind. What I see is that you’re asking the right questions and you are narrowing down your focus and you’re putting some well-thought out plans into action. All good stuff! You’ll figure out how to get to where you’re going eventually. I have faith in you, Woman! Keep rocking! I know sometimes it’s stressful, etc., but you’ve got this!
Also, as you probably know, I always enjoy experimenting with my writing. One of my favorite things to do is to do a whole stream-of-consciousness piece like I did a couple of times about a month or so ago. Now did my audience appreciate it? Most of them didn’t, but a couple of them did. Personally, I really enjoyed it, though; and a couple of others also got what I was doing in my writing group. Stuff like that pushes me to be more creative and coherent in my more traditional writing. Plus it satisfies an itch that can’t be achieved through my more traditional stuff. Sometimes, I find, the best stuff is just below the surface, I think. Plus, I enjoy playing with words in general. Anyway, that’s how my brain works; and I’d be a fool to not honor what makes me unique when I write. Will I do more stream-of-consciousness stuff on my blog? Probably not.
One of the things I’m still figuring out, like you, is what I can get away with and what works and what resonates with my audience. Boy have I committed some doozy mistakes along the way. I’m sure I’ll commit more as I go along. I’ve also lost several followers. Perhaps what I wrote made them uncomfortable or perhaps they simply have better things to do. I dunno. Anyway, I keep plugging along. Also, whether they continue to read my stuff doesn’t impact whether I continue to follow them. I find that there’s a fine line to staying true to my creativity and giving the people what they want (at least what I think they want.) Don’t ask. I refuse to say those scary thoughts out loud. What I know for sure is that if I go too much to either side, I pay a hefty price. However, staying in the middle doesn’t really allow me to grow. I know I don’t like reading boring, stale, same-ole perspective stuff from one blogger to the next. Of course, I try for amusing and boy do I fall flat on my face at times. Ah well! Such is the life of an outlier! I’ll never quite fit in with everyone else, but hopefully, they still come over on occasion and I give them something to think about our smile about or frown about. BTW, your “undies in a bunch” remark made me giggle. My brain does that too.
Anyway, I hope some of my writing experience benefits you as your sorting stuff out. Though you may have a totally different approach and experience than me! Either way, keep writing, my friend! You have a lot to say and I’m all ears…or eyes! You know what I mean! 🙂 Can’t wait for your next post! Mona
Oh, thank you so much for the encouragement, friend. I am with you 100% on trying new things with blogging. Like it’s my blog, I can do what I want, right? I really appreciate your line about how there’s a fine line between staying true to your creativity and giving people what they want. I think it’s all about finding our tribes, don’t you? Though I think the word “tribe” is overused so I should find a different word to describe it. The whole playing with words is something I think you and I totally have in common. It’s just so much darn fun, right? As long as it keeps being fun, I’m going to keep at it!
Rhonda, Uh oh. That should read, “or smile about” not “our smile about;” and it should also read, “you’re sorting stuff out” and not “your sorting stuff out.” Hate those kinds of mistakes! Ugh. Sorry about that! Mona
Pollyanna's Path 
Your draft folder actually sounds much more coherent than mine!
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Rhonda,
What the heck is a draft folder? Oh, wait, I know. Never mind. What I see is that you’re asking the right questions and you are narrowing down your focus and you’re putting some well-thought out plans into action. All good stuff! You’ll figure out how to get to where you’re going eventually. I have faith in you, Woman! Keep rocking! I know sometimes it’s stressful, etc., but you’ve got this!
Also, as you probably know, I always enjoy experimenting with my writing. One of my favorite things to do is to do a whole stream-of-consciousness piece like I did a couple of times about a month or so ago. Now did my audience appreciate it? Most of them didn’t, but a couple of them did. Personally, I really enjoyed it, though; and a couple of others also got what I was doing in my writing group. Stuff like that pushes me to be more creative and coherent in my more traditional writing. Plus it satisfies an itch that can’t be achieved through my more traditional stuff. Sometimes, I find, the best stuff is just below the surface, I think. Plus, I enjoy playing with words in general. Anyway, that’s how my brain works; and I’d be a fool to not honor what makes me unique when I write. Will I do more stream-of-consciousness stuff on my blog? Probably not.
One of the things I’m still figuring out, like you, is what I can get away with and what works and what resonates with my audience. Boy have I committed some doozy mistakes along the way. I’m sure I’ll commit more as I go along. I’ve also lost several followers. Perhaps what I wrote made them uncomfortable or perhaps they simply have better things to do. I dunno. Anyway, I keep plugging along. Also, whether they continue to read my stuff doesn’t impact whether I continue to follow them. I find that there’s a fine line to staying true to my creativity and giving the people what they want (at least what I think they want.) Don’t ask. I refuse to say those scary thoughts out loud. What I know for sure is that if I go too much to either side, I pay a hefty price. However, staying in the middle doesn’t really allow me to grow. I know I don’t like reading boring, stale, same-ole perspective stuff from one blogger to the next. Of course, I try for amusing and boy do I fall flat on my face at times. Ah well! Such is the life of an outlier! I’ll never quite fit in with everyone else, but hopefully, they still come over on occasion and I give them something to think about our smile about or frown about. BTW, your “undies in a bunch” remark made me giggle. My brain does that too.
Anyway, I hope some of my writing experience benefits you as your sorting stuff out. Though you may have a totally different approach and experience than me! Either way, keep writing, my friend! You have a lot to say and I’m all ears…or eyes! You know what I mean! 🙂 Can’t wait for your next post! Mona
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Oh, thank you so much for the encouragement, friend. I am with you 100% on trying new things with blogging. Like it’s my blog, I can do what I want, right? I really appreciate your line about how there’s a fine line between staying true to your creativity and giving people what they want. I think it’s all about finding our tribes, don’t you? Though I think the word “tribe” is overused so I should find a different word to describe it. The whole playing with words is something I think you and I totally have in common. It’s just so much darn fun, right? As long as it keeps being fun, I’m going to keep at it!
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Rhonda, Uh oh. That should read, “or smile about” not “our smile about;” and it should also read, “you’re sorting stuff out” and not “your sorting stuff out.” Hate those kinds of mistakes! Ugh. Sorry about that! Mona
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You are too funny! Though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a stickler for proper grammar too.
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