Tag: Writing Habit

I write because…

In which I’m not sure why I type a few hundred words a day.

When I started this blog, and the one that came before it, it was because I was looking for inspiration, although I still don’t know what I want to be inspired to do. Initially I started writing these posts for two main reasons:

  • To vent some of the pressure and anger I was feeling,
  • Something to do

My previous attempt to start a blog seemed to sway more to 1 than 2 and became more of a chore than enjoyment, and I don’t enjoy chores (seriously – I need to really do some vacuuming at home). Most of us will only have 36 million minutes on this planet so even to waste 60 of them each night not having fun seems a bit of a waste. It also seems to be a bit foolish to spend my time ranting to the environs of the internet rather than actually trying to resolve the problems in reality.

Yet, I still want to do this.

Continue reading “I write because…”

Borrowed from the past

In which I borrow from my past.

I’ve been lazy recently. Anybody who has been following for a while may notice certain themes repeating themselves, in fact it may even look like I’m duplicating posts. I hope that appears to be the case as that is exactly what has happened, and that’s because I’m being lazy.

This liberal delving of the archives is not entirely what I had planned to do this year, I was all ready to write 100% new content. Then a new job happened, and a new child, and the craziness of the existing progeny. In the end my determination to post once a day overrode my ability to create anew.

So I have borrowed on more than one occasion.

Continue reading “Borrowed from the past”

Don’t have feelings

In which I’d like to build a snowman.

When I started this blog, and the ones that came before it, it was because I was looking for inspiration, although I still don’t know what I want to be inspired to do. Initially I started writing these posts for two main reasons:

  • To vent some of the pressure and anger I was feeling
  • Something to do

It was a way to illuminate the darkness I was feeling and remove the mask of madness. Over time those feelings have waxed and waned between fun and something that became more of a chore than enjoyment, and I don’t enjoy chores (seriously – I need to really do some vacuuming at home). Most of us will only have 36 million minutes on this planet so even to waste 60 of them each night not having fun seems a bit of a waste. It also seems to be a bit foolish to spend my time ranting to the environs of the internet rather than actually trying to resolve the problems in reality.

It is when this new moon feeling hits that I often have little madness to hide.

Continue reading “Don’t have feelings”

WordPress for Numpties

In which I provide terrible advice for those who have never heard of WordPress.

Cover of "WordPress For Dummies"

For the last week I have been reading the excellent WordPress For Dummies, partly to get more ideas on how to run this blog.

So what have I learnt about how to use this blogging platform? I thought I was fairly adept at it all until I go to the section on coding. I know nothing about code, with the exception of a bit of VBA so I had to stop after chapter five (I’ve added PHP For Dummies and CSS Web Design For Dummies to my list though!)

What I learnt this week: Continue reading “WordPress for Numpties”

Habitual writing

In which I continue my daily posting habit.

I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself, normally my commitment span for any hobby is a couple of weeks top. Like many people I get it in my mind to do something and then my endeavor comes to a halt. Learning the trumpet or teaching orphans to crochet…month max, but I’ve been writing for nearly five years.

Plus this year I have so far completed a post a day as well. It’s like this has become a regular thing. You may even call it a habit.

Maybe that’s what writing currently is for me, just a habit. I’m reaching the point where I would be disappointed in myself if I didn’t make it to December 31st. So even with prompts to write where I am not totally motivated I still put fingers to keys.

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Writing to write

In which I ruminate on my failure as a novelist.

I have a continual process of checking and reposting old pieces of writing, I am constantly discovering new ways to say what I thought I had said but did not do it very clearly. Added to this it is always nice to resurrect an old post from archive oblivion.

As I was going through last winter’s posts I discovered my feeble attempt at NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and was embarrassed by:

This was the point in which I gave up trying to be a writer and jus to be happy as someone who wrote.

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The space to write

In which I sit down and just start typing.

Giving up the morning hassle of driving has freed up a lot more time in my life. Instead of spending two hours a day trying to find a piece of music I like (or not getting angry at the volume of adverts on chat radio) I now spend my life with the pleasure of my fellow commuters on the British rail network (…and I love it so).

Although I don’t get all 120 minutes back I do have half it, and this is fantastic for my productivity. Where I used to have to find some time to sit down and write a few hundred words (because the daily target is three hundred) now I have the perfect amount of time to sit down and tap away at a keyboard.

There is only one place to write and that is alone at a typewriter. The writer who has to go into the streets is a writer who does not know the streets. . . . when you leave your typewriter you leave your machine gun and the rats come pouring through.
— Charles Bukowski, Notes of a Dirty Old Man

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Having my day

In which I declare today Geek Ergo Sum day.

Today is Geek Ergo Sum Day, although it could be my week as I’ve had one birthday and a celebration of fatherhood to come, but it is just Geek Ergo Sum Day today. It also sees me surpass the record number of posts in a year.

This seems to call for a Global Holiday, or at least will in years to come when this site is finally recognised by more than a handful of readers as super-awesome. That’s what I keep telling myself at least, an if I’m not recognised for being able to type a few hundred words a day I will make it essential reading when I become the Supreme Ruler of the Earth.

There will be the usual parades in my honour, probably the floats left over from the birthday celebrations in June and November (for like The Queen I should have more than one birthday a year). Not as big and fancy as the twice yearly parade but a more intimate affair, maybe only a hundred or so. There will be at least one marching band per float, although this may require a change in education policy to ensure that there are enough brass band players in the future.

Continue reading “Having my day”