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Help! I’ve got hypergraphia!

...Not really. People with hypergraphia are compelled to write a lot, and actually do. I, on the other hand, want to write about a lot of things but actually don’t, although I’d write a lot more if I had the time.

Seems I read about bloggers (and other writers) who have dry spells, writer’s block, etc. and I wonder what’s wrong with me...my list of things to write about is so long I can’t keep track of it; my system of cataloging ideas woefully inadequate. I don’t spend much time doing things I probably should, like learning about blog tech or reading the news, for example, and taking care of other aspects of my life, because I’m trying to think and write about so many things (and tend to my primary responsibilities). Certainly my treatment of topics also suffers as a result.

I’m just wondering, does anyone else deal with this? Any words of wisdom for me?

Comments

Maybe. My blogging system (Blogger) includes drafts. So I start a post, then (sometimes) work on it some more, then finish it later. I don't have to look it up on my computer, or even be at my computer, since the drafts are on-line. That helps me.

Posted by: Martin LaBar at August 9, 2007 4:33 PM

I get writer's block. I think it hit me after receiving my masters. I'm ready to go back to school!!!

Posted by: sarah at August 9, 2007 10:20 PM

Thanks, Martin.

Sarah -- would you like a few of my lists? ;-D

Posted by: Bonnie at August 10, 2007 7:21 PM

Like Martin, I love the "save draft" button in LiveWriter. I can run from the shower (where I do most of my best thinking, unfortunately...) and jot a few notes, save it to draft, and at least I won't forget where my brain was going with that topic. Sometimes it turns into a post, sometimes not.

I don't really have goals for how much to write or expectations of a great blog or anything, so I guess that relieves some pressure :) I think I'm also still trying out the whole blogging thing and figuring out how much time and energy I can invest in it (I'm years away from learning about new blog tech and reading the news being regular parts of my schedule).

I'm also not totally sure yet how I feel about having my thoughts "out there" for other people to interact with. There is a part of me that loves the dialogue, but another part that hates the vulnerability when my thoughts are still (as they always are) in process. It's one thing to share them in verbal communication while in process, another totally different thing to have them recorded in concrete words.

Overall, though, I am compelled to write--to put my thoughts down into words so I can sort through them and make sense of them better in my own mind. Blogging provides a venue for doing that, either by actually posting those thoughts or "jotting" them down until I have a mile long stash of partially formulated drafts!

Posted by: eclexia at August 10, 2007 8:55 PM

Oops--I'm embarrassed to see that my comment is longer than the original post. Sorry about that.

Posted by: eclexia at August 10, 2007 8:56 PM

"comment is longer than the original post"

Actually, that can be a good thing :)

Posted by: ilona at August 10, 2007 10:23 PM
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