I get embarrassed whenever my friends say I am a man of ideas: because I am neither a genius, nor was I a gifted child.
However, I understand where they’re coming from. Whenever I watch shows, read stuff, interact with people or simply observe the world, at least one idea pops up in my head like a light bulb that you see in the cartoons. In short, ideas keep on coming.
Because of that, I needed an outlet. And writing seems to be the perfect choice. I carry a notebook and a pen. I scurry to them as soon as ideas come, wanting to express them in writing. Not wanting to forget a thing.
I still forget, though. So I needed a tool that works fast. The next thing I knew, this blog was born.
However, the ideas that I want to write and finish are too much for my tools. I wanted to finish all of them at the same time, but that is impossible. Sometimes I catch myself switching from one post to another. Not to mention the distractions that surround me.
As a result, I don’t finish anything. I took a quick glance at my blog’s control panel and here’s what I saw: 10 drafts – posts that I had started but remained unfinished. Some of the posts are finished and only need polishing. Some I still intend to complete and publish in due time. I actually have more drafts but let’s keep it simple. 10 drafts.
At first I thought I was just uninspired. But I immediately nixed the thought because if that was true, how come in my mind, those posts are already done? I knew what to write, I have them completed in my mind. But I couldn’t channel them through my fingers because they couldn’t keep up.
Suddenly, I realized, it isn’t my fingers. It’s my lack of focus. Focus is what separates unrealized ideas from successful posts. Do I want this post to end up as the 11th draft in my control panel?
I do not. So I finished this entry – not because I was pressured – but because I liked to and I wanted to; It is my joy to share and express my thoughts. Therefore, I have to will myself to success.
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And as usual, you’ve done a great job with making your point too! Very good post! (And don’t stay away from posting so long!!!)
Can you share all that inspiration? Is it contagious? I need some.
I am more focused in that I shut everything out when I have something to do, forgetting to eat, hanging on before I really have to visit the bathroom, barely remembering I have a husband and I keep at it until finished. That is not quite the right way either.
Jeni tagged me for a Book Meme and this one is a little more interesting and easy to do if you are so inclined.
Very true on this post. I’m also in a similar situation with quite a few posts on different projects unfinished. But I feel like I’ve only got two modes – overfocused or underfocused. I need balance lol. Thanks for a great post.
Thanks so much for participating in The Seventh Day blog carnival On the Horizon! This post is a wonderful contribution to this week’s carnival.
I hope that you will stop by and check out the other great submissions this week — and participate again in the future.
Blessings,
Hopeful Spirit
On the Horizon
I have a similar experience with other projects. I have discovered that thinking about them is a misery; doing them, a joy. When I finish, I tell nobody but savor the joy for a while. When I’m ready I open myself to feedback.
Thanks for sharing this. God bless.
I’m here via The Seventh Day.
I swear that we are brothers with two different mothers! We have so many of the same traits; it’s crazy! And you must be a Capricorn…LOL. The way I see it bro, the more ideas you have, the less likely you are to be boring. We have to love our gift of over-creativity, because let’s face it, some people really just suck at it.
Lack of focus can certainly be a problem, but it’s only a problem if you want it to be.
As it sits, I currently have about 10 posts that are partially written on my PDA, another five essays that are waiting for a second reading before submission to a national newspaper, two short works of fiction I promised myself I’d finish before summer, and this comment … which I’m ignoring my RSS feeds to write
Sometimes we can have a great idea, but lack the appropriate lexicon to put those thoughts into coherent sentences, paragraphs and posts. Several of the worlds’ greatests authors and journalists have dozens of partially finished works that are always cooking at the back of someone’s mind, but not quite ready for prime time.
My advice, should you wish to read it, is to not worry too much about the number of unfinished posts or lack of focus (unless it’s causing problems when driving or in relationships). Instead, concentrate on what you enjoy most about writing … the thoughts
There are two types of people doers and sayers. It feels great to be able to do something that you think about. Great post, keep it up.
saedel…where have you been bro!?
Hey, that’s a great way to be. I beleive writing to be 90% dross, 10% gold- so it follows 90% of your drafts will remain dross, even with a polish, editing, and another polish, you have to know, as Kenny Rogers said, when to fold em, when to fold em, when to walk away and when to run. be proud of the drafts you never send out, they’re a mark of your pride in quality.
has anyone filed a missing person for saedel? *LOL*…hope all is fine.
Saedel is probably just busy with money making online projects. We do hope to see you back and posting again soon though
Interesting topic. Focus is choice. What do we choose to focus on? Sometimes we have to choose to focus on by what we want to accomplish, by what our goals are, rather than what comes up. Remember the 80/20 rule(Pareto Principle). 80% of your results come from 20% of your activity. We also have to remember that all work and no play makes Jack(or Jill) a dull boy. For me, the goal is to focus on doing what I need to do, so I have more time to do what I want to do.
Thanks, Tom, (TRCoach)
I get a lot of ideas as well, to the point it overwhelms me and I get a scattered feeling. I then have trouble getting the things going because of all the pulls in various directions.
You’ve got to pace yourself. Modern society encourages you to multitask and be frantic all the time, and that’s bad.
Focus is one of the most difficult things to retain with a blog. Especially with all the competing things going on in your life. And you are absolutely correct you have to push yourself through to complete some tasks, especially on those days where you are just not mentally in the game. Great post.
Great blog, wow! 200 commentes that most be a record
The most s been like 5. Lol:
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Will yourself to success I couldn’t have said it better myself. I too am a girl of many ideas and I think that leads to lack of focus. Best of luck to you in 2010.
Focus is a very difficult thing. What i do is set aside 1/2 an hour a day, once you get into a rhythm it becomes much easier.
You’re obviously very talented at writing and it’s possible that you’re being a little too anal with it. You’re no different than a great songwriter who leaves his masterpieces-in-the-making, half-finished, in a tattered notebook under the bed, and later they become million sellers!
People love coming to blogs to see authors’ true feelings about whatever subject they’re writing on, which is why I love the freedom of expression I have when I blog. I’m not too woried about mistakes; that human element is one of the most refreshing aspects of blogging. It’s more important to simply get your point across than to conjgate a verb correctly!
My suggestion is this – don’t be so hard on yourself; finish one of those posts at a time, even if you can only do one aweek so we can all enjoy it. Then just write stuff off the top of your head so we can enjoy and experience what’s in it!
Thanks for the tips, great ones.
Focus can be a problem. What i normally do is to have a bath. There are no distractions. So you can let your mind concentrate on the problem.
I am difficult to focus sometime it easy but I often can’t focus. Great post and thanks
Very interesting quotes indeed. And great idea