Getting in the Mood to Write

NaBloPoMo asks:

“How do you find the energy to write when you aren’t in the mood?”

     To be honest, I wing it.  Bull$hit goes a long way in creating a great post.  On those days when I have nothing to say I resort to the timeless alternative of a picture post.  It works, you know?  

 

      The biggest energy booster for me when I am not in the mood to write is to take the time to read other blogger’s posts and leave lots of comments.  Even answering all the lovely comments others leave me and responding to each one inspires me to write even more.  Even when I have no idea what I am going to say the words simply flow through my fingertips.  Simply reading posts is enough to inspire me to write my own.  Sometimes surfing you tube and rocking along to my favorite tunes is enough to inspire me to write.  I love music.  Lots of times it is a particular writing prompt that inspires that I can’t resist writing about.

      Whatever the case, writing and commenting is addictive and helps me immensely to put my thoughts into words.  It passes the time and it makes life more meaningful.  I try to never force a blog because then it will never begin to measure up to the quality that I expect and demand of myself.  After all, who wants to post a blog that sucks a$$ for the world to read?  If I am not happy with it, chances are everyone else in cyberspace will think it is horse $hit too.  

       I often am amused by my 12 year old daughter’s tendency to moan and groan when she is expected to complete a writing prompt at school.  I thrive on writing prompts.  I love giving my take on the topic and reading everyone else’s take as well.  If I am sapped of creative energy I sometimes just skip it and hope for better creative inspiration the next day.  A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.  It is a rare day when I have no words to share.  Just like a chatty Kathy doll, I always have plenty to say until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.

 

The Time and Energy Sucker of Blogging

    NaBloPoMo would like to know which blogging task takes the most energy for me.  Without a doubt, I use up more time and energy commenting than doing the actually writing.   Even though I do put a lot of time and effort into producing my blog, I spend more time visiting others and leaving comments.  Generally I participate in blogging challenges where writing prompt is given and a whole slew of people are also participating giving their take on the prompt.  Once I have the topic, I sit down in front of my computer and let my thoughts flow through my fingers.  I pick graphics that best compliment my thoughts.  Most of the time I also include a music video that is on topic which moves me.

     Once I have edited the crap out of what I have written, added graphics and music, I am ready to publish my post.  I used to think my job was done as soon as I hit the publish button, but I soon realized with experience that isn’t the case.   I share my post everywhere I can on social networks.  It is then time to read all my blogging friends blogs and comment away.  I thoroughly enjoy keeping up with other bloggers but I have to admit it is what takes up the most time and energy.  Reading others work and commenting is just as important as posting in my opinion.   It brings me joy and makes me feel apart of an ever growing community.  It is especially satisfying when my fellow writers return the favor and visit me in my little corner of cyberspace.  The comments make it all worthwhile.  Why?  Because you know without a shadow of a doubt that someone actually read your words, connected with you on some level, and was inspired to tell you so or share their thoughts.

 

      Since my husband is on the road more than he is not and my kids are both in school,  blogging and commenting fills up my days.  It keeps me connected with others in the world without ever leaving the house which saves a load on gas!  It keeps me busy and at times sane.  It keeps me from feeling lonely.  It has become a very important facet of my life.  There have been times when I have seriously thought about deleting this blog and hanging it up.  Then I wonder what I would do with myself if I didn‘t write.  I would miss the interaction with others.  I love passing on bloggy love with my comments.  I have always practiced a lesson my mother taught me early in life to find something positive to say always.  If I don’t have something nice to say, say nothing at all she told me repeatedly.  Fortunately there is always something nice that can be said, always.  While I can never see myself as a professional writer penning best sellers, I can see me sharing my personal thoughts here and writing for writing’s sake.  One of my dear friends advised me to always write for me while others insist I must write for my audience.  I have found my friends advice is the best for all.  

      I write for me.   I write for fun.  I love the friends my writing has led me to.  It has become a blessing that has opened a new world for me until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.

When the Sun Goes Down

NaBloPoMo asks today:

“At what time of day do you feel the most energetic?”

    This is a hard question for me to answer but after much consideration I would have to say it goes in phases.  I can be energetic early in the morning and be equally energetic late at night.  It is early afternoon when I feel the most sluggish.  Sometimes I take a power nap in the middle of the day to get my second wind and then I can rock right along into the night.

 

    As far as productivity goes, my best time to get things done is after the sun goes down.  What can I say?  I am more night owl than early bird until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.

Recharging Creative Juices

       Christmas is over, and the New Year has come.  My husband is back on the road again after a couple weeks home to celebrate the holidays and in a few more days the kids will be back to school.  What’s a girl to do?  The answer would be to write.  Once again I have signed on for NaBloPoMo and today’s prompt is:


“What is your favorite way to recharge when you feel drained of energy?”

      A nice hot shower does me a world of good.   I love standing in the hot water and having it roll off of me.  There is nothing like a good night’s sleep either.    I love to read and I find settling down with a good book does me a world of good.  As Christmas approached I realized I needed a break from writing.  Since my husband was to be home for the duration I decided to take time away from the internet.  I have to admit it was the best Christmas and New Years holidays ever.  Now that the holidays are behind me and my world is returning back to the normalcy I have grown used to, I find that it is time to get back to blogging.  

       Now that a new year has arrived I am ready to recharge my creative juices and write again.  Sometimes when you become burned out on writing, you simply have to step away and take a break.  I think the break did me a world of good!  So Happy New Year to each and every one of you!!  Let’s get the party started with another year of glimpses into the life of a trucker’s wife.

 

Energy

       Ever since the Writer’s Post blog hop challenge was posted Thursday I have been trying to figure out what to write about energy.  What do I know about it??  All I have been able to come up with is that I need more of it!!  I could have written a long drawn out post about the benefits of solar power or some other equally scientific rambling that in the long run I didn’t truly give a rat’s a$$ about.  I racked my brain for ways to get energized from eating, sleeping, to the wild idea of sticking energizer batteries up my butt.  It works for that little pink bunny after all!!  Honestly, I am being silly.  Don't anyone try that one at home!!

        When I searched the internet I discovered that one of the best things to elevate the old energy level was to exercise. Yes, you read that right!  Another biggie is to drink plenty of water.  Sure you can guzzle pop loaded with caffeine, but I have found that really wasn’t giving me a boost.  Aside from the increased need to pee, I still felt lackluster and depleted.  Even after sleeping in this morning, I still felt exhausted.  Since Santa Claus decided to leave a pedometer in my Christmas sock, the idea of walking had been planted in my brains for quite a while.  I decided even though it was a bit chilly out today I wanted to test out this theory.  Would a little exercise put lead in my pencil and give me the kick in the a$$ I needed to get on with life with a smile on my face?

         Armed with my pedometer, my kids and I took off for a walk that took us to my son’s school and back.  While we were there the kids enjoyed time on the playground while I played Angry Birds on my cell phone while swinging.  We took an old ball with us from home and eventually yours truly participated in a rousing game of kick ball.  It was fun!  I got a little winded, but hey!  No one can say I didn’t exercise.  My kids were shocked to see me run.  Yes, I CAN run.  I was on the cross country team in high school.  This was no marathon though.  It was a little sprinting to a base.  Still it was more running than I had done in years.  As the minutes on the clock ticked past 6:00 pm, we started back.  Amazingly enough when I reached home I no longer felt exhausted.  I felt energized!  The cold air had cleared my head of cobwebs.  I arrived home ready to take on the world. I could kick start a 747.  Well maybe not, but you get the idea.  I feel like I am on the top of the world and can just about take on anything.

        Before I left I had looked up just how many steps equaled a mile.  I knew from that search that about 2000 steps equaled approximately a  mile and was thrilled to realize upon arriving home that I had traveled over 2 ½ miles on my own power.  Not only did I not die from the added extra exertion, I actually felt really good!


        
      Who would have believed that getting out and exercising would really truly help me feel  more alive than I had felt in days?  I had felt so tired and depleted before the walk.  Amazing that walking 2 ½ miles and playing kick ball with my kids would give me the jump start of energy I desperately needed, but it did.  A little exercise made all the difference in the world until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.