I like to have a schedule with at least the next week’s posts planned. They don’t have to be written (they rarely are) but I have to know what I will be talking about each day.
So today, I opened up my schedule as usual, and to my horror today was blank. I must have missed it when I was planning.
What did I do?
Well, I didn’t freak out.
If this had happened last year, I would have freaked. But one of my goals this year was to take a more laid back approach to blogging. Not to the point where I don’t care, but just to the point where if something doesn’t go to plan (or is forgotten about altogether and not planned) then I would be calm.
When I first started blogging, I did this every day. I never had a plan in mind, I just would wing it. Open up a new post and start to write and see what came out.
There is a certain freedom associated with winging it. The list of things you could choose to write about is literally infinite. The world is your oyster. It could be anything you want:
Something that’s on your mind – nothing in particular.
Flower arranging – not really my thing, I prefer flowers growing wild than in a vase.
That new book or show you loved – neither are new as such, but loving Dying For Christmas (book) and How I Met Your Mother (show).
Some tips – Tip: If you plan on winging it, prepare to go slightly crazy.
A list of favourite things – My laptop, my new handbag and my new boots.
The problem that arises for me that there is too much choice. I either clam up completely because there are so many options I don’t know where to start, or I make hundreds of false starts and then think of something better.
So blogger’s block or anti-blogger’s block kicks in.
I don’t know which is worse. Blogger’s block is beyond frustration. Sitting looking at the blank screen, the flashing cursor taunting you. But anti-blogger’s block is just as bad. Your head is left spinning like a waltzer in a million different directions until you want to get off and throw up.
I actually think I would prefer blogger’s block. I know how to deal with that.
Anti-blogger’s block leaves me stumped.
There wouldn’t be enough hours in the week let alone the day to write about every single thing that pops up in the moment but each idea seems better than the last one so you have to try. And if you’re like me, you end up with drafts of 20 posts, none of them ready to go. You choose one, tinker with it and put it out. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
You are still happy though. You have 19 awesome drafts ready to go. Then you look back through them and realise none of them are publishable. And back to the drawing board you go.
So today, rather than face the inevitable choices, I decided to write a post about exactly what was on my schedule. A post about nothing. I opened a new post and just started writing. And this is what happened.
I have no idea if it makes sense and I would bet my last dollar it makes me sound a little weird. I am not going to go back and change anything, it’s going to be a what you see is what you get type of post.
I will still be scheduling my posts in the future, but you know what? It was kind of fun to go back to winging it just this once.
Do you plan your posts or do you wing them? Do you ever suffer from anti-blogger’s block and if so, how do you deal with it? Let me know in the comments 🙂
You can find me here: Twitter Bloglovin Pinterest and Instagram Please do stop by and say hi!
I love the creativity with this post. This is style! I do try to plan my posts, but sometimes I get derailed. Especially if a more timely topic comes up. I did get a planner this year though and am making a conscious effort to be more organized.
Thank you 🙂 I have no problem going off schedule if something in particular comes up that I need to write about there and then, I just like the safety net of having plans in place 🙂
This post is brilliant, I can completely relate. I’ve been winging my posts but going to start planning soon!
Thank you 🙂 I loved the freedom of winging it in the beginning, but after a while I found I needed a schedule!
Hi Debbie, I do like to have blog posts planned, but only loosely. The problem I have with drafts is that often the feelings and thoughts that were in my head at the time of writing the draft have changed and so the post ends up not quite as intended.
At the moment I would say I suffer with anti-bloggers block more often than bloggers block and it can be a nightmare to sifting through the ideas!
xx
Generally the only posts I have fully written in advance are book reviews while the book is still nice and fresh in my mind and my linky post, then I just add the featured post. I only like a topic idea for the others for the same reason you say. I really think anti-blogger’s block is worse! x
I walk a fine line between planned and winging it. Some of my weekly posts are planned to fit in with the linkies, but other days such as Mondays are litterally an anything goes day. I have a book where I jot ideas, and sometimes I even sketch out a post, but from week tonweek I dont know what next Monday will bring, I may go with an idea in the book or something will flit in my head and im off and writing about something completely different.
Thanks for linking, Tracey xx #abitofeverything
I miss the freedom of winging it but after so long it gets hard to do it everyday. I like the idea of one free day a week to just go with whatever I feel like on the day. Thanks for hosting 🙂 x
So interesting reading about your thought processes with writing posts that really come out through this one! I tend to suffer more from blogger’s block rather than anti-blogger’s block but I do have quite a few half-finished draft posts! I used to write most of my posts the night before they went live but I prefer not to have posts scheduled at least a couple of days ahead and find that planning ahead does make things easier. There is a lot to be said for the freedom of winging it though sometimes! 🙂
Thanks, it was weird but felt kind of good too! I often write mine at the time but just knowing what they are going to be helps me a lot. I enjoyed the winging it but I couldn’t go back to doing it everyday, I would be demented lol 🙂
Coming back from #anythinggoes x
Thanks for coming back and for linking up 🙂 x
I try and have a few things in mind for the upcoming week, but often I’ll sit down to write them and realize nothing’s there. Most of my favorite posts are reactionary to something that happens and sets me to writing. i can’t imagine trying to get something out every day
I like writing (and reading) the reactionary ones too, they always seem to flow better! It’s hard sometimes, and it sounds stupid but if I miss even a day I find it so hard to get back into it.
This post proves that you are meant to be a writer, Deb. I just love your voice and how you lay out your thoughts so clearly. This post about nothing is actually one of my favorite blog posts of yours because it shows so much of your personality! Oh, and by the way, I don’t think it makes you sound weird in the slightest!!! #AnythingGoes
Wow, thank you! When I looked back at it (after publishing so I wasn’t tempted to bin it lol) I actually quite liked the tone and I think I will be trying to edit a bit less on some other posts going forward. I’m glad you don’t think it was too weird lol 🙂
This actually happened to me today as I have been working on setting up my own linky. I’ve been going back and forth with it and I finally made my button. Then, I realized that I haven’t continued my vampire story so I sat down to continue writing it (it’s unfinished) and I drew a blank. So, I decided to catch up on my shows and ended up doing a review about one of them, just in time for your linky! Yay me! Sometimes, you just gotta wing it:) #anythinggoes
Ooh, good luck with your linky! That’s a good idea, to just do something else for a while rather than trying to force it, I’m looking forward to the rest of your vampire story though 🙂 Sometimes you do, well done for going with it!
I enjoyed your post about nothing. It was like a trip into your brain for a few minutes lol It’s interesting to me how different people approach blogging. I don’t have anything in drafts except posts ready to publish. I come up with an idea, write it, then decide which day to publish & that’s it. I don’t work that far in advance but I do have a list of ideas to refer to of things I want to write. As a side note your title reminded me of Seinfeld & he show about nothing! #AnythingGoes x
Thank you 🙂 Lol, now you know all the weird tangents I go off on while writing! That sounds like a good way to do it, finish the post rather than jotting down bits that make no sense when you come back to them. Oh, I wonder if their writers had drawn a complete blank and just decided to roll with it as well haha 🙂 x
Good for you for winging it! As I said previously I don’t know how you manage a blog post everyday 🙂 thanks for having me on #AnythingGoes 🙂 xxx
Thank you! A mix of stupidly late nights and frenzied panic most days lol 😉 Thanks for linking up x
I do a mixture … I work out what I want to write about and do that. But I allow gaps in the schedule for winging it / responding to the outside world. I try to schedule a week in advance, but it doesn’t always work out way!
Enjoyable post about nothing 🙂
I like to know what I’m writing each day, then if something else comes up I want to include at the last minute, I either double post or switch things around a little. Thank you 🙂
I love this post! I never plan my posts, I am far too disorganised for that. Sometimes I panic a little when several days have passed and I haven’t blogged and I worry I need to think of something, anything to share!! Luckily the children usually pull something out of the bag and I can share a photo or a funny little thing they have done, said. I might try and start scheduling my posts….watch this space! #anythinggoes
Thank you 🙂 I don’t have children, but I can imagine you are never short of material when you do lol!
Haha! Pretty interesting and well writtebmn considering it is about nothing! I am new to this and just have a few ideas in my head at any time. The idea of having 19 drafts going is a bit scary to me! #anythinggoes
Thank you 🙂 I’ve been blogging nearly a year now and it’s still scary lol 🙂
Writtbnm? Not sure *what* autocorrect did there!
Lol, they have a mind of their own don’t they!
Great post, verify interesting considering it’s about nothing. Up until recently I haven’t had a plan, just writing about whatever pops in my head when I sit at the laptop. One of my new years resolutions was to be more organised, now I feel so much better having a schedule. I’m not going to stress if things don’t go to plan though. Love this post x #anythinggoes
*very interesting
I love the safety net of having a schedule, but I stay relaxed about it. If something pops up that I want to do more, I will tweak it around a little or double post. Thank you 🙂 x
I do a mixture of planned and winging it. I am a bit of a control freak so do try to have some things in draft that I could use if I hit a blank or if I go away etc. i tend to write more reactively to things that are happening to me at the moment though so it can be hard to plan. I try to keep some things back. Sometimes the words o ideas tumble out and sometimes they don’t.
A mixture is good, that way you have your safety posts but are also free to write whatever pops up. I do like writing reactionary posts, so if one crops up, I tend to re-schedule a few things!
I have so many days like this. I write lots of posts in advance, but they’re scheduled in for certain days and I get really loathe to move them. My problem is that I’m lazy. I get plenty of ideas but they seem too much effort to write up, so they get put off for another day! 🙂 #anythinggoes
I really struggle with that if I have had a day or two off. I ended up extending my Christmas break because I just couldn’t be bothered to get back into it!
Love this – it’s unique! I’m still at the always winging it stage, but it is hectic and stressful doing it that way! I’m not sure whether I actually could plan my posts, though. Certainly not and stick to it – I’d change my plan constantly, I’m sure. But I could certainly try to plan when I will write and post!
However, onto the really important stuff: How I Met Your Mother! Have you see ‘Slapsgiving’ yet?? #anythinggoes
Thank you. I like the safety net of a plan then if something else comes along, I just tweak it around. It might be kind of hard for you to plan though, unless the Toddler performs on cue lol 🙂
Haha, yes, I had the you got slapped song in my head for days!
I’ve only recently started blogging and am winging it. I tried planning, it lasted about a week. I haven’t run out of ideas yet and I also keep a few notebooks so I can jot down ideas as they happen. Trouble is the one by my bed I can’t read what I’ve written! I know it’s the best idea ever, if only I knew what it was lol #abitofeverything
Winging it is great if it works for you and it obviously is working for you! I panic if I don’t have something planned now lol. Oh no, there’s nothing worse than knowing you had a perfect post idea then losing the thread and not being able to fathom out your notes!
I plan to only post once a week, and I try and connect with other blog buddies to agree a title… sometimes I get to Friday night though and haven’t made much progress. Still, I’ve managed not to miss too many weeks over the last couple of years… #AnythingGoes
Oh I like that idea where a group of you plan a title together. It’s sort of like a writing prompt so you know what you’ll be writing about. I think it would be interesting to read everyone else’s perspectives on the topic too.