Writing Even when You Don’t Feel Like It

This week I cannot say I even felt like writing. In fact I skipped writing last week. I had been ill and all my motivation was zapped. I even felt quite discouraged too. Physical illness can do that to you.

But what was wonderfuWriting even when you are feeling sickl is despite my illness and discouraged attitude I was reminded of my one word I determined to live by in 2014, commitment.

It took me the better part of last week to get back to normal but I learned some valuable lessons of how to get back on track and keep advancing in my commitment as a writer.

 

Make a Pen and Notebook Your Friends

I honestly felt my head just could not wrap around writing anything. LOL when I was first becoming ill with aches and fever I think I wrote three blog post in my dreams. This is where I should have had my pen and notebook near me.

Even just to jot down the ideas that were coming to my head. My mind has been that committed and even in sickness it is amazing how ideas stream through.

Lessons learned even though your body is aching make a pen and notebook your friends. Notebook and pen for writing.Perhaps at the moment you may dread writing or doing anything but when you get to feeling better you will be so glad you did.

I failed to that this time and now I am left with, “I know I had great post ideas but I do not remember what they were.”

The best time to make sure that you have a pen and notebook is when you are feeling fine.

Make them your buddies. Develop a good habit of jotting ideas down. That way it will be natural for you to do that even when you become ill.

Others First

So let’s just say you are in the same boat like I am this week. I did not jot anything down. My illness left me feeling discouraged. Now how do I get inspired? By putting others first.

I have recently become increasingly involved in reading and commenting in other blogs. In one blog in particular where Adrienne offers excellent advice on blogging and relationships, she warmed my heart.

She is truly a relationship individual and quickly caught on to my words and offered encouragement.

Mind you as I was reading her blog post, “Why Being Everywhere For Traffic Is A Lie,” my head was still feeling groggy from being in bed so long. I was so discouraged but when I put others first I was so blessed and given a motivational boost with Adrienne’s contagious attitude of gratitude.

It took me the rest of the week to finally get to feeling better. And guess where I wanted to visit?

You guessed it Adrienne’s blog. The main reason is because she is so inspiring. This week she had a guest writer, Sheryl and I was so encouraged to start the week off with the right perspective.

So when you find yourself coming out of a difficult time and want motivation to get back to writing put others first. It is amazing how other people’s writings can boost your own ideas. Not to mention their attitude that warms your heart to keep on going.

Create an Idea Bank

There have been times I am just on a roll of topic ideas. So what I do is I jot them down. This way when I am back to writing I simply go to my “idea bank” and start writing.
I have even written entire idea outlines or subtopics to later fill in the blank if you will. But more than likely when I do this I am in such a mood to write that I just go ahead write the outline and fill out right away.

idea

I have found this idea also works with book ideas. I currently have over 10 book ideas in my idea bank. It helps me get it out of my system and later I decide whether or not I will use it. In fact I actually combined a book idea into a fun memoir of our family that I hope to have finished in the early part of 2015.

My idea bank has also worked to spark other blog post. I highly recommend doing this. It is almost like brainstorming but it is for brief spurts where all you are doing is coming up with title or outline ideas. This has been a life saver especially in moments of writer’s block where I just needed a word or two to spark my creative thinking.

Write When You are in the Mood

That is one thing about writers, writing comes easiest when you are in the mood to write. I have learned to channel this energy. In fact I will even restructure my schedule to accommodate my writing mood.

I maintain another blog called Scripture Look, where I share my personal mediations, musings and music that is related to my faith. A few weeks ago I got on a writing roll. I cranked out several blog post but rather than posting them all I reserved them and scheduled them out.

My desire is to write once a week and I filled my content calendar for Scripture Look in two days of writing mood.

This works great especially if you are writing ever green content. The nice thing about ever green content is that if you come up with a time sensitive post you can move the evergreen content for a later day covering your blogging time.

Writing when you are in the mood is my favorite. I feel like I could just write and not get tired. Well that is until my fingers start to feel it.

Which by the way, my mentor and friend, Carol Amato does an amazing job of talking out her content and having it transcribed with a software called Dragon Naturally Speaking. Something I may be looking into.

Another way to write faster than you can type is to speak out your writing and have a person transcribe it. This way you can offer an audio as well. Just some side note ideas to help you crank out your writing content.

Now it is your turn: What other ideas do you have that help you write or crank out content?

To your Success, Ann Moore (Mom Internet)

About Ann Moore

Follower of Jesus Christ, wife and Mom of a houseful of kiddos. Ann is co-author of "How To Sell On eBay - Your Step-By-Step Guide To Selling On eBay" In addition to her home management and administration skills, Ann is an entrepreneur at heart who loves to write. Her passionate writing topics include: Christian faith and living, Internet Marketing, Home Business Tips and Ideas, Time Management, Self-improvement and Travel.
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  • http://www.carolamato.com/ Carol Amato

    Hi Ann,

    I am so very sorry that you’ve been sick, and I completely understand about discouragement coming from being physically down… It definitely happens. Sometimes it does take time to get back on track, I can identify with that. Glad you’re feeling better now. :-)

    It’s funny you mention about a pen and notebook being your friends… because I often dictate a few notes while lying in bed in the dark, I reach for my iPhone tap it and start dictating so as to do a brain dump – don’t want to lose these golden nuggets. However, when you’re sick, that’s not always possible.

    I also keep a white board with jotted notes about upcoming projects. Love your “Idea Bank” suggestion! I do keep an Evernote section for brainstorming and clips of info that I want to research and cover in my publications.

    Creating content in batches is a smart idea, and one I often use. You get in the “Zone” and things just flow. It’s a lot of work, but the result is fantastic.

    Thanks for the mention, Ann – I certainly do enjoy dictating (speaking) instead of typing. I wouldn’t be without voice recognition software or text expander software ever again.

    In fact, this comment was dictated. :-)

    I enjoyed your excellent article, keep up the great work!

    Have a blessed weekend,
    – Carol

    • http://mominternet.com/ MomInternet

      Carol,

      I finally made it back! I I don’t think I slowed down much since Friday. Been busy involved in our ministry work. But that is what we I love about working online I can shift gears when needed.

      Great suggestions! Thanks so much for your input. I use to use Evernote on my old computer when I wrote articles. I am seriously thinking about using it again this time like you mentioned for research snippet. Evernote is a time saver.

      Memory dump dictation, great idea. I will have to try it some time.

      You are welcome on the mention. It is also a reminder for me to look into the Dragon Naturally speaking. I was wondering if the older versions work with Windows8. So, I still have to research that.

      Thanks for dropping by,
      Ann Moore (Mom Internet)

  • http://www.adriennesmith.net/ Adrienne

    Oh Ann, I’m truly touched. Thank you so very much and I’m so glad you’re feeling better.

    I know that when I’m under the weather my mind is gone. I’m not thinking about blogging or anything else for that matter. I just want to get to feeling better and with you and a family to take care of I’m sure you had so many other things on your mind.

    We’re only human right! I did make a commitment to myself as well though but I have also realized that life gets in the way at times and as long as we pick ourselves back up and get back to it that’s all we really can do.

    I have a pen and paper right next to me every single day so I’m always jotting things down. Sometimes they pan out while other times not so much! LOL!!!

    I took Carol’s advice too and bought that software. I’m still trying to break it in, I get frustrated when it’s not working exactly right but I’ll get it, eventually.

    Good luck with that and glad you’re feeling better. Thanks you again for the mention.

    ~Adrienne

    • http://mominternet.com/ MomInternet

      Adrienne,

      My mind get gone too. It is awful. But I have learned not to fight it and just relaxed with one of my favorite thoughts, “This too will pass.” LOL favorite because with 8 kiddos it is a consolation.

      Thanks for your input. Talk about a weight off my shoulders because sometimes when it feels like you are trying to catch up, the world seems to be moving on and you are relentlessly running in slow motion. Thank you so much for your encouragement and reminder that life does gets hard even when we make commitments but the key is go get back up.

      I appreciate your visit and well wishes.

      Talk to you soon,
      Ann Moore (Mom Internet)