Feb 4, 2011 / General Advice & Pro Tips

What to do if you’ve missed a week? or month?

On twitter, someone asked us if we had any advice. They’ve missed a stretch of posts because they’ve had a rough patch.

http://twitter.com/#!/BoltClock/status/33517625124331520

My advice is… you’re already back on track. Posting on twitter is still posting something. You can always just write about why you don’t want to write, or about why you think you should write. Writing is sneaky in that you can write about anything, including writing about writers block.

But what do you guys think? Any other advice for BoltClock, or for all the other lurkers out there who aren’t blogging?

Show Comments

73 Comments

Comments are closed.

Close Comments

Comments

  1. I had a pause of more then two years, but i picked it back up! So try to post even if you don’t feel like it, it might make it easier by time if you do that more and more. Some advice: Don’t give up!

    My blog is a lot about stationary but it started of as a recipe blog, check it out:
    http://appelsenperen.wordpress.com/

    Like

  2. Hi everyone! I just woke up and the first thing I checked was Twitter. I found a mention by @postaday, and followed the link…

    The second thing I’d like to do is to thank Scott for this post and to thank all of you here for your very kind words! I didn’t think Scott would even quote my tweet in the first place, but seeing how doing that has made the post so personal and generated even more personal comments, I’m particularly touched!

    For anyone curious, I celebrated my 19th birthday early this year (it was fantastic!), but a major turnabout in my life just after that put me down all month, causing me to leave my birthday post in the rough. After reading every one of your comments here, my basic plan is to first finish my birthday post and post it backdated to my birthday. Then I’ll put together a new post for today that, as suggested by many of you, explains why I hadn’t posted. Of course, a shout-out to all of you is in order as well!

    I’m considering also filling last month’s gaps by writing about some other matters not related to my troubles, but I guess I’ll do that later; I have a handful of other important tasks to settle yet. Both posts I just mentioned should be up today; I’m spending all day finishing them. I’ll tag them accordingly of course

    Once again, thanks for all your advice! I really, really appreciate it, and I do hope this helps others who are stuck too.

    Like

    1. By the way, my blog @ WordPress.com is located at http://boltclock.wordpress.com (I was thinking my comment author link would point to that, but it doesn’t, d’oh). I’ve been in a really long blogging hiatus, and following Post a Week 2011 was what I hope would break it at least for the year.

      Thanks everyone!

      Like

  3. You can write anything that interests you, even if it is not about that episode in your life. The daily post really gives good topics you can always start from there, even if you write just one line, at least you tried 🙂

    Like

  5. Good to know you’re feeling better because of this. It’s what the community’s for. 🙂

    I’d say don’t beat yourself up for it. Don’t be sad or disappointed. Blogging isn’t supposed to be a source of stress I don’t think. Start writing again when you feel like it. Switch from PostADay to the easier and more realistic PostAWeek. Take a photo and post just that when you’re not in the mood for writing.

    Like

  6. 28 days of consistency forms a habit.

    Chunk you goals. The PostADay is the long view. If you want to catch up make a deal with yourself. “I am going to post twice a day for the next two days.” Then think towards a slightly bigger chunk of days. “That was pretty easy. I am going to do the same thing — post twice a day — for the next three days.” Now you recovered five days towards your catch up, but more importantly, you are five days into forming a habit of posting once a day.

    My own goal is posting at least five times a week as a PostAWeek(er).

    Blessings,

    Michael Reynolds

    Beranda

    Like

  7. hi boltclock, like you I have gaps when I don’t blog: I like doing it, I like that I’ve done it, but sometimes even that isn’t enough to make me feel able to start.
    I’m better if I’ve got some sort of commitment or deadline to make me, so I signed up to Postaday like you. I haven’t managed it (if you add up all the days I missed in January they add up to a whole week) but I blogged now on a lot more days than I’ve missed, and I’m pleased with that! In fact, talking about this may well be my topic for today! Good luck!

    Like

  8. Well it looks as if you’re getting back on track now, which is great. I think you have to live one day at a time. Life is hard enough without self imposed deadlines. Relax, enjoy writing for the pleasure of communicating with other people and do it as and when you can. Good luck

    Like

  9. Just begin again, you don’t need to explain why. Pick up where you left off or start a new series because you are not the same person you were before.
    Airin

    Like

  10. What if you miss a few posts, or a lot of them? This is not really a contest. I have missed quite a few posts and my posts have come down to 2-3 a week from one a day. But I still use the postaday2011 tag. At the end of the year, I will count those tags and see how many days I missed.

    Like

  11. Look at all these responses! Jee Whiz! So I reckon like this…everyone has something to say…to contribute…because everyone’s been there! Ha!

    I…WILL…GET…THROUGH…THIS…

    Like

  12. When stuck for topics, and facing the need to “catch up,” one thing I recommend is writing reviews. Pick some movies, books, music albums, plays, whatever, that you’ve already seen/heard and write a quick review of them.

    Like

  16. Daniel Tan,

    Write about your depressive episode.  Many people don’t talk about their depression until someone else leads the way.  Going through a hard is a waste of time unless afterward, we lend a helping hand to others.

    Like

  17. Thanks to BoltClock for the question and thank you Scott for your answer. Blogging is new to me but I have been determined to post “something” every day and so far I have done good. I may have missed 2 days since the first of the year. But there have been days that I “wasn’t feeling it” or just got busy but I wrote something and it is good to know that I am on the right track.

    Like

  18. Wow, this really hit home since I’m also going through a “depressive episode.” I still try to post every day, even if it’s bitter and angry and depressed, though. Of course, I go look back at it later and cringe, but I think I’d rather still write every day, regardless of how terrible I feel, than miss a day or two or ten because I’m depressed.

    Like

  19. I have trouble keeping up because of a busy schedule and I often pressure myself to write something with substance rather than just meaningless post. But I understand that just posting something is better than not at all.

    Like

  20. Posting pictures is a good way of sharing. It doesn’t have to be a photograph you’ve taken, it can be something you saw online, artwork. Or posting poetry. Sometimes, it doesn’t have to be your written word. Sometimes it’s good to share something from someone else 🙂

    Like

  21. You know, sometimes you fall off a horse–andwhat you have to do is get right back on, otherwise, you might fear the horse if you let it go too long. You have to start writing again. Just write without thinking that you’ve missed a month. Write about your depression and what caused it. And go on from there. Good luck

    Like

  22. A common cause of “writer’s block” is having too much to say – after taking a month off, and having dealt with serious issues in your life, it’s really hard to make the decision of what to write about next.

    So maybe first think about how you are making your decision – what makes you normally decide to write?

    Eiter way, just write something – you can always start small, say 100-300 words, just saying something about something, and go from there.

    Like

  23. You can post a thought for the day or even a youtube video that you liked. It doesn’t have to be much, just something. Use your blog to vent! It could help with what you have been dealing with.

    Like

  25. I agree with jeanne, you can use youtube videos as your starting posts. Sometimes, I search for quotes that would help me perk up my day and then I’d even post it in my blog. Just post anyway. If you have something to share, just write your thoughts in a notebook first then type them. Writing it makes it easier if you choose to. Sometimes, even depression can lead us to be more creative. =)

    Like

  27. Do you have a gut reaction to a story in the newspaper or television? Have you heard an “eavesdrop” that was interesting? What was the weather today? Or just how you feel—depressed, sad, happy, glad—with or without an explanation.
    And don’t forget ditties about your child, your pet, your grandparent—or even your gripe, what you wanted when you went shopping, etc. Just daily life stuff.
    Currently, I’m experiencing an adoption connection, a full sister who discovered our family. Concurrently, Oprah did a show on the half-sister who found her. I posted a tongue in cheek writing on that: Oprah and I: Adoption Reunion Experiences.
    Anywhere you connect—or don’t connect—with life can become a post.
    Carolyn
    http://www.carolyncholland.wordpress.com
    http://www.carolyncholland2011.wordpress.com
    http://www.beanerywriters.wordpress.com
    http://www.intertwinedlove.wordpress.com

    Like

  28. The worst thing anyone can do is concentrate on the negatives. If you’ve missed a few days – pretend that you haven’t and get back to it. Nobody is keeping score and there isn’t any winners. Actually scratch that last bit, there are winners, they are all of us who get to enjoy each others blogs. 🙂

    Like

  29. check whose birthday it is…famous anniversaries…make up your own famous anniversary…I did ‘national megaphone day’ and concocted a whole story about king James and ‘national javelin throwing day’. I have had a few of dark times this year and things like this have helped a lot. I also post a song every day from a youtube link..often with a link to my post…sometimes even just a photo, invent your own PHOTO OF THE DAY, PHOTO OF THE WEEK category . I take photos of almost everything I see , just in case.. one bad week I decided on a theme and posted a photo every day with the same theme….hope some of this helps x x x

    Like

  30. I think writing is actually great for depression. It clears your head and teaches you how to use your feelings to be brave. Writing provides healing! It brings back reason. Just do it. #basedonexperience

    Like