Writing
Just a word or two about writing. Since I’ve been able to do a great deal of writing in my life, I thought I’d pass along one suggestion that may help if you are one who has always wanted to write but didn’t know how to get started. It used to be when I sat down to write that I’d always wait until I was “in the mood” for writing. That was OK, except for one thing-I rarely was in the mood! That bothered me, because I just couldn’t make any headway that way. It’s what they call writers’ block. Then, I began to muse about how those newspaper guys could write fairly readable columns every day ! How did they do it? To think of it, they didn’t even have the incentive I had-they were simply out to make a buck; I wanted to minister through writing. Then, it came to me. Eureka! They must write whether they feel like it or not.
So, I decided that I would sit down and write-whether I felt like it or not. I did, and I found out that to do so was the way to “get into the mood.” Sometimes it takes a paragraph-or even a whole page of writing-before the “mood” comes over me, but inevitably, whether tired, invigorated (as much as an 80 yr old can get), or whatever, it happens! So, I suggest, have at it, you inspired writers. There’s no better way to start than to start. Sure, you may have to throw a page or so away, but then turn the next page into the first one. It’s only by then that you’ve probably got something worth saying anyway!
Source: http://www.nouthetic.org/blog/?p=82#more-82Another example is a blog on Don't Ask Me (Does this title remind you of a programme on ZNBC TV in years gone by?)
Don’t Ask Me
“It’s time someone said something about it!”, or “You ought to write a book about . . . ” I hear those sorts of things all the time. But, wait a minute-why should I be the one to do it? What about you? If you’re the person with the burden, you ought to write the book-or the article-or do that ‘something’–or keep quiet! I’m about up to here [look up into the sky at a passing cloud, please] with people who see needs, express their desires for others to meet them, and themselves do nothing but talk. When they pressure others to “do something,” they seem to think that they’ve exhausted their responsibility. Not so!
Now, another thing (since I’m at it) let me tell you that all of that pressuring usually will get you nowhere. At least with me. If I write about a matter, it’s because I want to do so-not because I’ve been pressured into it. I once wrote something under such pressure, but it was the worst thing I ever wrote (except, come to think of it, some papers in college). I’m sure that others besides me have experienced people with pet concerns grabbing their arms and demanding, “You must do something about that!” If they are bold enough to tell you what to do, why don’t they show some of that boldness by doing it themselves?
There are people who have clout who could do what the rest of us can’t do as well-but won’t. There are people without clout who could do what the rest of us can’t do as well-but won’t. It runs both ways. But whether or not you have clout-do that something you always keep talking about, and we won’t have to struggle to overcome your insistence that we do something you could do better anyway.
Sure, I know-You’ve “never done that before,’ have no expertise, training, or whatever. So what? Try anyway. There was a time when the rest of us who are doing something couldn’t either. But we had to get started. 95% of the task is right there-get started, make a first attempt. Then stick to it until you achieve your purpose. Get the resources, if you need them. Learn the skills necessary to pull it off, if you haven’t yet acquired them. Spend time discovering what is necessary to get the job done. Then, do it rather than wasting your time and theirs trying to convince others to fulfill your desires or dreams! At any rate, get with it-do something and stop bugging others to do it for you!
Source: http://www.nouthetic.org/blog/?p=21#more-21
I hope you enjoy Adam's blog and read it frequently.
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