Overthinking

I have run into writer’s block – an unusual writer’s block. It’s not that I don’t have anything to write about; it’s that I have too many things to write about. I’m unfocused and jumping topics. I’ve started writing a half-dozen posts today and at least as many yesterday.

The first rule of writing is to write about what you know. However, I’m overthinking the writing process. I’m trying too hard to be clever and witty, trying too hard to connect and forgetting to be myself. It’s not wholly unexpected. I mean I’ve only just started writing again, so I’m out of practice. I had a great run with a few of my posts, but then I started to put too much pressure on myself to be an instant internet sensation.

I have to remember that “over-night success” rarely happens over night. It takes hard work and time. I have to constantly remind myself that it’s okay to make mistakes. It’s okay to start over. In fact the quickest path to success is failure. I have to figure out what works and what doesn’t. I have to make myself write something everyday, even if I don’t publish them all.

I have to remind myself that sometimes the only person to see my musings is me. Just Me. If others like it as well, even better, but I’m the audience I am writing for today. I’m the only one who needs to approve of what I write.  What would be the point of writing something that everyone loved but me?

So, here is my impossible challenge to myself: write at least 500 words a day on a topic of my choice whether I publish or not. If I am ever going to get any better at writing (and finish the next great novel, screenplay, teleplay, theater drama, blog), I have to practice.

I didn’t become the dancer I am without hard work and practice. I didn’t become the teacher I am without trial and error. I can’t become the writer I want to be without revising and editing.

In two weeks, my summer holidays will end signaling the end of much of my free time. I will take these two weeks to set up a regular time to write. I will plan what I will write about. I will try new arts and crafts for my classroom, and let you know what I think. In short, I will stop overthinking this blog-post project of mine. I will make myself conform to some kind of routine (which is difficult for my creative side), and get in some regular practice to hone my skills.

I ask one thing of those of you out there in cyberspace. If you happen across this blog and feel the urge to give constructive criticism, please feel free. If you only want to say something negative for the sake of being negative, please keep on keepin’ on. In other words, if you don’t have a positive to add to a negative, your cruel thoughts are not welcome. I don’t appreciate or respect people whose only goal in life is to find fault and tear others down in the hope of elevating their own diminished self-esteem.

If you are also a struggling writer, take heart in the fact that you are not alone. Even the most famous and best-selling authors were once struggling and overthinking their works too.