| As kids we dreamt of writing down a message, | | | | was the speed reader, skimmer let's get this over with |
| sticking it into a bottle and sending it out to sea with the | | | | so I can read the sports page of the newspaper while |
| hopes of someone finding it and contacting us to say | | | | I drink my Diet Pepsi (and then go to the frat party) |
| that our message has been received. While this is a | | | | kind of person. Years later, I rediscovered what I was |
| great thought we do not event think about the barriers | | | | missing in books. Reading someone else is in itself |
| that message in the bottle will face. Sure, there have | | | | powerful as we are able to develop opinions, emotions, |
| been times that the message was received and the | | | | new endings, etc. which lead us to our own thoughts. |
| kid who is not a kid anymore has been tracked down | | | | 3. TV. Oh the tube. A million channels and nothing is on. |
| many years later but most of the time there is not that | | | | At times this almost contributes to being trapped in the |
| happy heartfelt ending that we all love to hear about. | | | | writing bottle until you find that show that gets you |
| But is there? Our writings are our messages and our | | | | hooked and you become so engrossed in the show |
| blog is our bottle. Writing for some comes easy or | | | | that you forget that you were unable to write. You |
| seems to whereas for others it is a struggle to get the | | | | hear watch a character, hear a song, watch a |
| thoughts from your head down to your fingers to walk | | | | commercial and then you find yourself trailing away |
| along the keyboard. For new bloggers starting a blog is | | | | and thinking about new thoughts and ideas. |
| filled with excitement, heart pounding enthusiasm that is | | | | 4. A Walk or Jog. Walking or taking a jog is not only |
| mixed with a bit of fear - will anyone find my bottle | | | | good for the heart, it is good for the mind. At first you |
| and read it? Will they let me know in comments, | | | | focus on what is going on about how you cannot write |
| tweets, links, etc that they have found my bottle? And | | | | and then with each step, you feel your mind relaxing |
| then it happens, the first retweet or twitter mention, the | | | | and the feeling of being lost or the proverbial wall of |
| first comment, the first link. Inspiration to continue writing | | | | writers' block is lifted. Bring paper and a pen. |
| and send our messages out to sea for more to find. | | | | 5. Take a Drive. Not so much of a walker, take a drive. |
| Your adrenaline is pumping with each thought that you | | | | At a light look at everything around you, the other cars, |
| get for a new post, your mind is frantic with new | | | | the kid blasting the music so loud that your car shakes. |
| thoughts and ideas and then, well, the barriers come | | | | Create a story around everyone and everything you |
| crashing harder than a 5 foot wave. You sit down to | | | | see. |
| write and nothing. You stare at the computer or glance | | | | 6. Reach Out to a Friend. Our friend are magical. They |
| at notes and nothing. Just absolutely nothing. How can | | | | really are. They hear it in our voice and just know that |
| this be happening? Your mind is now racing, you | | | | we are needing a friendly pick me up or a good |
| become distracted as you to try and find inspiration. | | | | Charlotte moment. |
| Your message in the bottle is suddenly lost at sea. It | | | | These are just a few ways to stop being trapped in |
| happens. You are in no way unique although in times | | | | writing bottle. You know you and when you start to |
| like that, you feel unique. Thoughts of what should I do, | | | | feel the pressure of having nothing to say or that I |
| am I ever going to be able to write again, am I even in | | | | have to do this, you are lost at sea. Your thoughts and |
| the right niche? Now what? | | | | ideas are yours and I feel that there is always |
| How to Escape Being Trapped in the Writing Bottle | | | | something to say. We experience so much every day |
| 1. Step Away. In situations like this, if you cannot leave, | | | | and taking that experience and sharing it is something |
| the best thing to do is step away. Find a place of | | | | to say. There is always an audience but being feeling |
| comfort to regroup and think. For me, it is cleaning. I get | | | | trapped in the writing bottle will never allow you to |
| lost in thought when I am cleaning. Not the every day | | | | reach that audience. It is not easy as yes the kids get |
| cleaning up of my son's cars that find their way under | | | | sick, or there is practice, work to be done, a house to |
| my feet regularly, no, I mean moving furniture to get to | | | | be cleaned, dinner to be cooked... it goes on and on but |
| baseboards cleaning. I keep paper and a pen nearby | | | | when we believe in, feel or want something bad |
| as before long my mind starts to stray from cleaning | | | | enough there are no barriers. Take your message in |
| and not being able to write to a free flow of thoughts | | | | your bottle and send it out to sea knowing that |
| that start to come together. Look for your place when | | | | someone will find it and let you know. It is not always |
| you are drifting out to sea, remember why you started | | | | about the traffic or the comments, it is about just |
| blogging and your place will bring you back to shore. | | | | about sending it out there for people to find and how |
| 2. Read. Keep a few of your favorite authors on hand | | | | they receive it. |
| and pick them up and get lost in their words. In college I | | | | |