Seriously, I came across the “Info Freako, or who’s already past arguing about syndication formats?” post again, and it made me think, because you came up with some great ideas (that I’d like to steal!) Creativity is like that, sometime it works, sometimes it just ain’t there.

Take a break, and when the inspiration hits, go with it. Or not, it’s up to you. I just think you’ve fallen into the trap (again) of not living up to some sort of expectations with your writing…

I started working on it to a) teach myself new skills and b) allow me flexibility that other tools didn’t offer (at the time). Now, as all the other tools are maturing, I’m caught up in a feature-race that I don’t have time to win, and my interest has subsided.

Personally, I’m just waiting for a flash of inspiration. They always come at the most unlikely time, just gotta be patient.

I can understand what you’re saying and you should do what feels right for you. But I’ve always appreciated your humor, and you’re calm amidst the flames.

However, if it isn’t fun, don’t do it. Or stop until it feels like fun again.

Or invent a fourth syndication format — that will get things lively….

I find that I can’t stay away, though. I’ve got at least two dozen thoughts, ideas, stories and neat discoveries that have been rattling around in my head with nowhere to go. Eventually I’ll have to put them up just to exorcize them from my short-term memory.

I’m looking forward to that time (which I anticipate will be pretty soon) in both your case and mine. Between now and then, though, don’t worry about it. It don’t mean a thing, after all, if it ain’t got that swing. Wait until it comes naturally.

(and I loved your Wishlist series of articles, in passing. They were terrific, easily fit for publication)

meta-blogging, blogging about blogging, and link blogging all have one thing in common: they are all intensely boring activities that only the obsessive-compulsive could enjoy. I’ve seen you when you’re writing something real. You’re better than that. Write about real things. If you have nothing to say, then don’t say anything for a while. It’s not the end of the world if the site is quiet for a while.

The centipede said: ” I have been walking all my life, but I have not thought about it. Now that you ask, I will think about it and than I will tell you.”

For the first time thought entered the centipede’s consciousness. Really, the frog was right – which leg should be moved first? The centipede stood there for a few minutes, couldn’t movewobbled, sand felt down. And he said to the frog: “Please don’t ask another centipede this question I have been walking my whole life and it was never a problem, and now you have killed me completely! I cannot move. A hundred legs to move! How can I manage?”

;)

“I resemble that remark.”

“No I don’t.”

“Yes, I do.”

“No, I don’t.”

“…”

Why Blog? http://www.ensight.org/archives/2004/04/25/why_blog_zat_is_ze_qwestion.html
Blogging Plateaus: http://www.ensight.org/archives/2003/12/08/blogging_pressure.html

Feel free to erase this comment, I couldn’t quickly find your email to just email this to you.

There was something different and significant in your choices of material and your presentation of technical ideas. Actually, I put your blog on my top level and looked forward to your new material. I admit to wondering what was up with you, because I have noticed the obvious dropoff in your posts. So, I do want to let you know that your contributions to the technical blogging aether have at least influenced one senior software architect.

Blogging, to me, is an opportunity for which a great many people in the past would have given an arm or leg. To be able to self-publish? Not to have to wait in line only to be told that your thoughts are not “commercially acceptable at this time?” No incompetent editors or rejection slips? No censors? Hmmmmmm. What is that worth to an active, creative mind?

As with any art, the deepest problems come in finding something of worth to say. Craft without content, technique without point, writing without meaning, playing sounds without feeling the music, blogging without inspiration — these dull both the art and the creator.

When you have nothing to say, don’t blog. Write or read or think in private to explore the endless well of ideas that will teach you what you, uniquely, should — and will want to — communicate. If blogging is not an art that helps you achieve meaningful contact with other fellow humans, then I suggest finding another art that will. We humans have a great many arts from which to choose!

Definitely, do not feel imposed upon to blog. This is one possible method to change input into output, adding the value of your mind, heart, and soul in the process.

My final advice comes from Zen:

“When hungry, eat; when blungry, blog!”

PS Now that you have inspired me to think through this, I’m going to post my answer on my own blog (http://weblogs.asp.net/jtobler/archive/2004/08/14/214728.aspx). See? Uour blogging does affect someone.

Thanks!

http://www.livejournal.com/users/marnina/635.html

Wired article found in memigo. It was referred to by 4 source(s).
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