Confession: I kind of feel like my blog has been sucking lately.
And no, this isn’t an invitation for you to all tell me I’m wrong.
I’m at least a little (or a lot) right.
Ever since the huge, life-chaning event catapulted me into deep outer space, I just haven’t had it in me to write anything of substance. It’s not like there is a lack of good blog material in my life right now. And let me tell you — there is plenty going on. This just isn’t the place to tell those kinds of stories. Yet.
This is the part where I have to tell you all how much I appreciate you hanging tight while I sort this all out.
And while I know this form of “writer’s block” (a term I don’t really believe in) is normal, here’s the problem:
I’m not reading anymore either.
This mostly has to do with my editing job, which has me reading ALL DAY LONG. I’m also concerned that spending so much time online is giving me some mutated version of ADD, because the simple act of sitting down to read a book in peace is nearly impossible. I just can’t concentrate anymore.
And those of you out there who consider yourself to be writerly, know that not reading + not writing = total suckage. And yes, that’s a technical term.
So I’ve made a pact with myself to start reading again. I don’t care if it’s a People magazine or Foucalt’s Pendulum (totally not going to happen, BTW), but I am committed to reading something every day. This means turning off my cell phone and closing the computer and spending some quality time with the written word. On paper. No e-readers or tablets for me thankyouverymuch.
There’s just something about the smell of paper or a leather-bound book, the rustle of the turning of the page, and the feel of running my fingers over an old dog ear.
Plus, if I’m trying to correct this Internet ADD, isn’t using an e-reader sort of like putting rocket fuel on a fire?
Despite my struggles here on ye olde blog, there has been some progress: I do still write some things that turn out pretty ok, for the most part.
Just so you don’t think I’ve completely lost my voice, here are a few recent things I am more than 50% happy with. Oh, how I wish you could see some of the stuff before it gets edited to “corporate editing guidelines.”
- First, I was interviewed for an article about moms who work from home. You can find me quoted in the “Freelance Writer/Editor” section. That’s me!
And here are a couple of my favorite picks from my Mom365 gig. I don’t talk about this job very often, mostly because I don’t find it to be the most inspiring work I have ever done, but I do all their toddler/preschool blogging.
I’m supposed write 4 articles a week, but sometimes I can barely squeeze out two. I love you Barbara!!! (That’s my patient, kind, and understanding editor.)
I love her for many reasons, but mostly because she apologizes when she has to take out the good (aka: snarky) parts of my articles. Oh man I wish you could have read the original version of the post I wrote about Jessica Simpson eating buttered Pop Tarts. I swear, that post needed so much editing that it ended up being like, 3 sentences long.
Oh well, I keep trying to sneak it in!
- Look out Suri Cruise — there’s a new designer looking to corner the market on high heels for toddlers.
- Here’s a list of the Top 10 Ten Things Parents Need to Stop Worrying About.
- Annie has been going through a little potty training regression, which wouldn’t really bother me, except she doesn’t want to use diapers, either. What do you do with a kid who doesn’t want to use the potty OR diapers? (ew)
That’s all I got. For now, anyway.
What do you guys think of this Internet ADD? Is it just me, or are you finding it increasingly difficult to read anything in peace these days?
3 comments
With the two toddlers in the house, I gave up trying to do any reading from home a long, long time ago. When I get home, if I try to read, my kids take it as a direct insult . . . so I don't read. And then, by the time they're asleep, if I'm not asleep myself, reading takes more brain power than I have left.
So, I barely read.
I get my blog reading done between meetings, or during conference calls, at work. I "read" books through audiobooks during my drives and workouts. So far, I'm mostly sane from it. But, that's always subject to change, quickly, and without warning.
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I am so with you. I have a severe case of Internet ADD. Severe. Glad to know I'm not alone.
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I'm new here and found this site just searching the great Google machine but I have to agree with you that the net can cause ADD, or at least one form of it.
Its gotten to the point were I have to force myself to stick to something or else I get distracted like its nothing.
Watching a TV show or movie on my computer leads to me pausing it every 5 minutes to look up some actor or actress. Looking up said actress leads me to their other shows and movies they've done…next thing I know I'm on YouTube looking at cats play with mayonnaise. That 20 minute TV show just turned into a 2 hour internet event.
I remember a period of time that I didn't have internet. The number of books I read, the number of games I was actually able to start playing and actually FINISH (I'm a gamer), the amount of movies and TV shows I watched and was actually able to finish from start to end…I just had all the time in the world for all of it, and enjoyed every second of it. Now what do I do? Oh, whats the origin of the word "now"…be right back…
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