I don’t think I’ve ever written about a product that inspired me.
Well, I’ve tweeted about the Squatty Potty. It’s changing my life. Hands down, the best $25 I’ve spent. Actually, I didn’t spend the money. I asked my girlfriend for it for Christmas. How’s that for a trusting relationship? We had only been dating around four months at the time. Anyway, I recommend you check it out. Trust me.
I’ve written several times about how most evenings I have no idea about what’s I’m going to discuss on the blog. Ideas don’t often pop into my head earlier in the day. Most of the time I’m filled with a low-level fear that I won’t be able think of anything good. I let that fear overtake me for a full year in 2013.
Back in 2012 I participated in the Ultimate Blog Challenge. This is where you motivate yourself to write every day for a month. I pushed through the difficulties and ended up writing four hundred days without a miss. Then I hit a wall and needed a break. I got out of the habit and only published around seventy-five entries over the past year. I’ve re-committed to posting every day this January. We’ll see what happens after that.
The book that really kicked my ass into gear creatively, is The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
In the book Pressfield states there are only two types of creatives – amateurs and pros. He is militant in his beliefs that writers need to write as often as possible. That they’re not supposed to strive for perfection – that will just paralyze and halt the ability to create. He posits that you have to be willing to “turn pro” which means you are no longer a sidelines observer, that you take time every day to do your work.
This book was just the reminder I needed that when I sit down and “do my work” I find the greatest reward. I feel satisfied creatively. People have asked me over the years how to find a blog audience. I tell them to write with truth and vulnerability. Everyone wants to connect through shared experience.
But I also tell them one other thing – write for yourself. Here’s why. It’s not because it’s the noble thing to do – there’s nothing wrong with wanting to find readers. The reason to write for yourself is because YOU get to feel good.
Here’s my process. I sit down at the computer. I’m terrified and doubtful that I have anything to say. Most of the time nothing comes for fifteen or twenty minutes. I write anyway. Something begins to take shape. I’m still doubting the entire way until the last sentence. I re-read the piece three times more and remove extraneous words. I still feel unsure. I finish editing, hit publish, and call it a night.
The next morning, on the way to work (I take the subway) I re-read what I had completed the night before. The strangest thing happens – I start to feel good. Not because every sentence is perfect – I’m probably critical of 80% of the content. But I find a few gems in each post and I feel more pride than just about anywhere else in my life. At that point I don’t care if anyone reads it, comments it, or shares it on Facebook. I’m satisfied with what I wrote and nothing can alter that feeling.
From there anyone who reads the post or comments or shares is gravy. The fact that people want to read this stuff is a very gratifying experience. As such I try to connect back to them through comment replies and reading their content should they be a writer.
I encourage you to read Pressfield’s book. It’s not for the faint of heart. He’ll kick you up and down the creative hall. He takes no prisoners. But at the end – he’s right. You get to feel satisfied when you beat your resistance (we all have it) and sit down to do your work. It’s just about the best feeling in the world.
kate says:
Thanks for the insight and advice on blogging. I love writing and I am considering starting a blog so I enjoyed this post, thanks 🙂 Also, I am totally going to buy a squatty potty.
D.J. Paris says:
Stop considering and do it! Even if it sucks! Especially if it sucks! Mine sucks! But I keep doing it anyway. Ha!
Steve Braun says:
Good stuff DJ. I’m not sure I can tackle the every day challenge but I think that all makes sense. I often won’t sit down at the computer unless I feel like I already have a great idea written in my head. Thanks for the advice.
D.J. Paris says:
Yeah – you have to write for the wastepaper basket like the dude who wrote Moon River user to say. Just write. Something good will come out occasionally. Well, at least I hope. 🙂
Anastasia Wake says:
I read that book a year or two ago and what it did for me was make me very aware of my resistance. Now, instead of just choosing to clean the bathroom instead of writing, I am filled with a certain amount of guilt/self-loathing because I know what I’m doing and I do it anyway. Sometimes too much self-awareness kinda sucks.
D.J. Paris says:
I disagree – it’s part of the process. Being self-aware of why we eat the chocolate is the first step – then we’re self aware and still eat the chocolate. The trick is not to feel shame and just to get curious – “What was I feeling that made me want to eat the chocolate?” You’re on the right track, guaranteed. Stop the beating yourself up! I command thee!
Ray says:
Thanks for the inspiration and giving a good process. Fairly similar to the way I write my blogs, and while in 2010-2011 I was on the ball the last couple of years I have returned to mostly an amateur status. Kicking that back down and going pro again this year is the plan.
D.J. Paris says:
Nice! Going pro is the biggest challenge I’ve encountered and it’s a battle I fight every day. But it’s a worthwhile battle in my opinion. Keep it up!
Casi says:
Thanks for sharing. I always wonder if the things that I write off the cuff are any good. I know that some of the posts are appreciated by my family (because I post about things that my little family is doing), and I know that some of them are mind clearing exercises (like today’s blog post). However, some days I just don’t know what to write, even when I’m staring at a list of possible posts.
Thanks for making me want to sit down and start typing.
D.J. Paris says:
They’re only “good” if you like them. I read your post and I liked it! But it doesn’t matter if I like it – you should have reasonable expectation about what you can produce and find something that you like in every post. I have no idea what I’m going to write today, yet I’ll do something. And it might suck! Ha.
Gillie says:
I write for a living and the one thing I have learned is that there isn’t going to be a product if you don’t sit down and write. Even if 99% of it is rubbish. But still I struggle 🙂
The squatty potty is fascinating. I can see the logic (years in Africa taught me to perfect my squat) In my desire to multipurpose as many items in my house as possible I am investigating storage box heights.
D.J. Paris says:
Oh man, you can totally build your own. I put the inventor right up there with Jesus. Maybe better than Jesus. Yes, I just decided. Better than Jesus. I may be a heathen, but I’m a heathen with awesome bowel movements.
Jamie @Momma Without a Clue says:
Definitely going to check it out – I need a little kick in the pants with my writing. Thanks!
D.J. Paris says:
No problem! If you have a blog, next time make sure to fill out the url field and it will automatically link to your latest post. Free blog hits! Yes, I rule.
Kate Hall says:
One more person talking about this War of Art book. I need to just get it instead of thinking about it.
D.J. Paris says:
It’s definitely a great read. Let me know what you think!