Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Forcing Inspiration




When I was in school, I used to finish my homework the day it was due.  I think I took homework home in grade school, but somewhere around junior high, I almost never did my homework at home.  This meant there were many days when I could be found working on my 4th period book report in 3rd period Algebra, and so forth

This method seemed to work well enough for me, since I was able to achieve A's and B's for my grades, and even made the honor roll.  However, there was always that stress associated with racing to get something done in the eleventh hour.  Waiting until the last minute seemed to make me focus better on whatever task I had to work on, but at a price.  To this day, I've been told that I sometimes come across as angry when in fact I'm just extremely focused on a task that has to get done right away.

As I got older, though, I wanted to get away from the stress of waiting until the last minute to finish (or even start) a project.  Yes, I had been able to make things work that way--and quite often, they turned out amazingly well--but I grew tired of being stressed out, and knowing that it could've been even better if I'd only taken more time. 

So when I first started writing my other blog, I set aside a certain day to write each week's post, allowing myself a few days for revisions.  There were weeks when things got in the way of revisions, and I would scramble the day before, or even an hour before I posted the blog, but I was always able to produce my blog every Friday.

Then, when I joined WWK, I learned that it was possible to schedule posts for days or even weeks in advance.  Don't ask me why I didn't learn that in my almost two years at my other blog, because I don't know the answer to that.  Chalk it up to not learning all the ins and outs of that program, and just focusing on the writing.  But, when I learned that here, I thought "WooHoo!"  Now I could write blogs in advance, have them all set up, and I wouldn't have to remember to go post at a certain time of the day.  I usually have a month's worth of blogs lined up here at WWK, and I'm working towards that at my other site.

Now all I have to remember is to go to each blog on the days they post, and respond to the comments that get left . . . which sometimes gets a little tricky, I have to admit.  The one downside to setting things up in advance is that it's not foremost in my thoughts anymore.  I've written it, and scheduled it, so my work seems done.

There are still times when I use the last-minute panic mode, to be honest.  Even if I have things all scheduled, every now and then I get a flash of inspiration for a blog that I just HAVE to write, and that would work better for this week's post.  So, I just brush off my panic-mode hat, and get to work.

This week’s post wasn’t like that, though.  ;o)

11 comments:

  1. i admit I was one of those students who had his homework done early. In college during finals when other were mainlining coffee taking pills to stay awake. I went to be early the night before the final exam to get plenty of sleep. I have worked with final grains of sand running out of the hourglass. I just prefer things calm.

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  2. Warren, I was more like Alyx in school. I was always daydreaming in class and playing catch-up at the last minute, but it was easy for me to do it that way. I also had a lot of responsibilities at home.

    When I went back to school as an adult with teenagers and a toddler, I did everything I could ahead of time. I couldn't take my little one to the library to research, so I went in early in the semester with a topic for each paper and checked out books to use. (No internet in those days.) I might write the paper at the last minute (I worked two jobs and wrote freelance to support us as well as going to school full-time)but I had all the research done early.

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  3. I admit that I was an over-caffeinated college student who stayed up all night studying before finals. When I was young I worked better under deadlines in a fast paced atmosphere but now I prefer to plan ahead and have a somewhat predictable, calm life.

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  4. I'm a prograstinator. I wasn't so bad during school when I had tests to study for or papers due, but I still cut it close. I'm worse when I'm expecting guests for dinner. Then I'm either running around sweeping the floor or making a salad as guests drive in. Someday I'm going to have everything ready and waiting so I can greet my guests calm and collected and sit down to have a glass of wine or coffee with them.

    It's the same way with my blog. I have lots of ideas perking in my brain, but inevitably a new one pops in several days before it's to be posted so it's a bit of a rush to get it written and sent for review and then posted and scheduled. But I am going to get better. Yes, I am.

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  5. Nice, Warren. Yes, it's much nicer when things get done early & you have time to relax.

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  6. LOL Yes, Gloria, you will get better. Like I said, there are still times when I'm scrambling to get something done last-minute, but it's SO much nicer when I don't have to do it that way.

    You just have to take the time to reprogram your brain & habits.

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  7. I was like Warren. I got it done so I didn't have to worry about it. But I also discovered that there were times that I needed more time once I started on a project. The night before exams--like Warren, I went to bed if not early, then on time.

    Blogging is a lot of work. I've already had my blog written, submitted for edits and then realized that I forgot to post it! Oh well--it becomes routine after a while.

    What takes time? Reading books that maybe you wouldn't normally read so that you can do an interview for Welcome Wednesday. I invite and implore all of you to try it. Maybe Warren and I do most of the interviews because we are early starters. Never realized that aspect could be a factor.

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  8. Long ago I realized this was a manifestation of genetics at work. My brother - left everything until the last minute and then soared through the adrenalin rush. Me - always well in advance or I'd be in such a panic my brain would completely fail to function.

    So it's a case of whatever works for you and probably best not to fight it.

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  9. EB, in my case, I do two series on my own blog where I review books or interview authors--"Books of Interest by Writers of Color" and "Literary Mystery Novelists." That's why I don't do the Welcome Wednesday posts. I'm already behind in my own reviews and interviews.

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  10. I didn't realize, Linda. Yes, you are doing double duty. So far Warren and I have handle it okay.

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  11. You might be right, Maddy, that it's something genetic, but I also believe you can change your spots, if you really want to.

    Now, I like getting things done on time, but I also like being able to tap into the panic mode, when the situation necessitates it.

    Thanks for stopping by, Maddy.

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