The Dog Ate My Homework, And Other Excuses
Posted on Sunday, March 3rd, 2013
Last week I joined a challenge – a blogging challenge – started by Tiffany Dow. I received my nudge to join the challenge by Patti Stafford and it looks like I could use another nudge… no, shove, no kick in the butt. (You can read my first blog post of the challenge by clicking here: The Hardest Thing About Writing Is…
Well, you might notice I wrote one blog post.
The challenge was NOT to write one blog post.
We were challenged to s-t-r-e-t-c-h ourselves and write every day, or every other day, or at the very least a couple times a week.
I wrote once, and stopped.
The reason? Oh, I have reasons, alright, good reasons. Plenty of reasons.
In my last post, I talked about the reasons I find it HARD to write.
Today I’m talking about the excuses I find for not writing. Not the internal struggles, but the excuses. Excuses like…
I had projects to complete, paying projects.
I had to go to a job, a paying job.
I had to do ______________.
I had to go ______________.
The kitchen floor was too cold.
The cat was bugging me for attention.
The husband was bugging me for attention.
The dog ate my homework.
I had a full week with lots and lots of inspiration and ideas for writing. Each time I sat down in front of the computer, I was pulled into other directions. Granted, it didn’t take much tugging to get my mind wandering hither and yon.
My friend Patti Stafford talks about the SOS – Shiny Object Syndrome. That is partly true for me, although in my case I would describe it more as a Scattered Object Syndrome. And, my ‘objects’ happen to be my thoughts right now.
So, this is my post. It’s not full of information or resources. It’s not even very inspiring. But, I hope if someone else out there (butcher, baker, candlestick maker, or writer) is struggling like I am with excuses and Scattered Objects Syndrome, that you know you are not alone.
We may as well join forces and hang in there together. Let’s see if I can get a few more blog posts written this week, eh? Just knowing you’re out there reading this helps. THANKS!
p.s. Please, please, please leave a comment below. I love that you’re reading, but would just love it if you would take a moment just to say “Hello.” It gets lonely here without you!
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Don’t worry- ideas will come!
Thanks, Lisa. You’re right. The ideas do come, eventually. Then the trick is getting them out of my head and written. Well, that’s my challenge! 😀
Oh, I am the QUEEN of Scattered Object Syndrome. You should see my PLR topic list. You should see my idea list for X niche, and my idea list for Y niche, and my list of things I’d like to do here, there and over yonder too.
I am not short on ideas. I am short with attention span, and actual writing, but not short on ideas.
This morning, like yesterday morning, I sat down to work on a few articles. I *did* work on them. I added a paragraph. Go me! It’s now after 3:00 in the afternoon. They should be done. They are not done.
I was also supposed to line out my week, so I can jump on it tomorrow. Whatta I got? More ideas of things I don’t possibly have the time to do because I can’t even focus long enough to finish planning one thing out, much less taking that action thing to get it done.
However, I typed this comment in about 10 seconds without taking a breath—because I *DO* have my priorities straight. 🙂
Oh, and my womanhood is trying to rear its ugly head, so this week, will be my challenge week for sure. Bleh!
I keep asking myself the same question, for like a year or so now, “Why can’t I just do one dang thing, focus on it and do it well?” Why do I have to think I want to do a gazillion things?
Better question—why can’t I just get paid for being goofy? That’s a job I *can* do and do well. LOL.
Just think, you only have 28 posts to go for the 30 Day challenge. So what if your 30 days stretches out over time. Just do 30 posts and count them. 😉 I have 25 to go, so I’m not that far ahead of ya’. {grin}
“paid for being goofy” HA! You crack me up, Patti! Thanks for your support and for sharing your thoughts and struggles with me. It’s just good to know we’re not alone out here, eh? Yeah, ideas I’ve got. Writing them down??? Meh. {HUGS!}
Well honey, you just need to get your woo-woo on! Your timing for a new project is off. Mercury is retrograde so new projects don’t take off so quickly and communication is messed up.
But it is a great time to re-assess, re-novate, re-align, re-new…you get the idea.
How’s THAT for a good excuse?!
Thanks, Pam. I never thought to look to the sky for my excuses! Thanks! BWHAHAHAHAHA!
Hi, Patti.
Great post. I had to laugh -LOUDLY- and then re-read it because it really struck home.
I can beat you on excuses. How about this?
I’ve been working on a memoir blog for 4 months and have added 4 posts that are ready to go. Is the blog up yet? Only the “Coming Soon” page. The reason (s)???
I can’t figure out how to do my link buttons, and I don’t want to “go live” until everything is perfect … which will be never.
Plus, I too am distracted by everything … 3 dogs in my house who constantly bark. My main computer that is so full of photos that it no longer works. Little junky things scattered everywhere — an iPad cord, 4 laundry baskets full of stuff I think I’ll need but have no room for … oh, and speaking of laundry. LOL
I always have an excuse why my blog isn’t up yet. 1)My About Page isn’t ready 2)I have no good photos of myself 3)My elderly mother who lives all the way on the other side of the country, and I seem to thrive on guilt for leaving 4)Taxes are coming up, and 5)see next paragraph.
Having just been diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 62, I am beginning to understand why I was so good at writing but terrible in math when I was a kid. So THAT’S why … my son has it, probably my dad had it, and 2 out of our 3 dogs have it. Heck, you might have it.
Anyway, I enjoy your blog so much and look forward to reading more. Take care.
Hi Deb – It’s a pleasure meeting you, too! I look forward to reading your blog someday. wink wink!
I was fortunate to have a daughter and SIL who are computer/techy/blog/marketing/etc. experts, so I can NOT take ANY credit for getting my blog up and running and keeping it running. The most I can do is write, insert some links, and add a widget or two if I’m careful. BUT, that all came with training, again, from my daughter and SIL… and some other friends along the way out here in the blogosphere. I have a long way to go to understand anything beyond that. I took a look at your blog. Great banner picture. Great name! Kudos on getting that domain name. RaisedOnLove.com – very cool.
I’m guessing Raised On Love is a WordPress site? If that’s the case, there is some fantastic help out there available. Here’s a FREE resource I can recommend. It’s from Paul Taubman. I actually met Paul and he is an absolutely real, honest, no nonsense, just plain talking guy. Sign up for his free 28 day email course by clicking on this link: http://ineedhelpwithwordpress.com/your-free-28-day-website-ecourse/
Yup. You read that right. It’s called “I Need Help With WordPress.” Doesn’t get any simpler than that!
Just fill in your email address and you’ll start getting emails from Paul. I myself put all the emails from Paul in a folder in my email so I can go through them a little at a time since overload is my problem (you understand.) I can’t read an email and follow directions until I’m ready to sit down and focus. You know.
“don’t want to go live until everything is perfect” – very very very common! Perfection leads to procrastination. And that scattered feeling is definitely a difficulty. A blog you need to follow is Patti Stafford. She’s a goof and shoots straight from the hip. Be sure you check out: http://pattistafford.com/blog/embrace-your-new-shiny-object-syndrome/
2 out of 3 dogs might have ADHD? I’m kind of thinking all dogs have ADHD. Ball! Squirrel! Ball! Squirrel! Food! Scratch! Squirrel! and repeat on and on and on… Hahahahahahahaha!
Just hang in there, Deb. It seems the more and more I talk about the difficulties of writing, the more I hear from others that they share the same feelings. That’s really what helps – you are NOT alone! Keep writing. Get those posts you’ve already written published; remember, you can always go back and change the content and add links, etc.
As far as the laundry baskets etc. filled with stuff goes, all I can say is, “Ditto.” I have now shut the door on one whole room filled with piles of stuff I don’t want to even think about sorting. Instead, I think I’ll just write about it. See how that works???!!!
Thanks for stopping in and commenting and sharing your thoughts with us. I look forward to reading your blog!!
😀
p.s. I just left a comment on your blog, Deb! Ha! Now you’ve got to get something posted in it. tee hee! FYI readers – here’s the link: http://www.raisedonlove.com/author/Deb/
There is no coincidence that I met you guys through Patti W. You all, Patti S., Pam W. and Lisa made my day! I love the honesty and humor about this SOS. Oh my, and it is not that we just sit on the couch – though I would love that too for hours on end with a good book and my dog – it is that scattered creative brain corner that we allow to dictate most of the day, especially when we have time for ourselves. Another good excuse!!
Honestly, it really is fun to react to all the stimuli around us, whether a fly on the wall or a new product or a wonderful post like this one. But think about it, a creative mind is really incompatible with an organized brain that functions in boxes. Another good excuse!
To find a consistent balance means, I started to reason, hard work and giving up the creative fun, the curiosity, the fun reactions, . . . that perk up in full throttle the moment we have some time for ourselves and should curb that delicious creative juice. I just don’t like that! And that is why I don’t get done or too slowly, only to come up with more excuses.
Patti, look what you did to us here!! I had on my list to get that darn opt-in working! How creative is that? Then I would not have had the fun chatting with you all. So, it’s your fault! (LOL) Another excuse – I love it and I love you all, (HUGS to us SOSs)
Hi Ute. You make me smile! 😀
I am so glad we have this little SOS community. Yes, Patti S… you have groupies! Anyone who hasn’t read this yet, really needs to: http://pattistafford.com/blog/embrace-your-new-shiny-object-syndrome/
I LIKE your excuses, Ute. It is more fun to be creative (dare I say daydream?) than to figure out some plugin or other techie thing-a-ma-bob. My brain simply is not wired to enjoy that sort of work.
And if I can provide a bit of distraction for us SOSers (whether that’s a Shiny Object or a Scattered Object for you) I am happy to do so.
Of course, we have to have goals and work hard to achieve them in order to live the lifestyle we want. I know. I have tremendous focus when I have a project/job/task/chore that I am dedicated to. I’m glad I can be creative, both in work for others and myself.
Although, I must say, when I was working as an accountant/bookkeeper for a company, I enjoyed the process of putting numbers in little boxes, tallying them, and making the books come out, and then balancing each account, drawing the lines, and closing the books (literally, that is.) This was in the days before computers, so there was a physical act of doing the books which was rewarding. Why did I enjoy this very uncreative work? I think it was a way to quiet my brain and give it a rest. Plus, it was a feeling of completion. Anyway, that’s another story… but writing this just got me thinking, which reminds me of this quote:
Hello.
Well you said to say hello so I am. (see, you think I never read your blog completely …. ha! proved it).
Love you,
OSS
P.S. I am not a blogger but what if you locked yourself in a room dedicated to writing …. and made yourself sit there for an allotted period of time …. no jumping up to switch laundry loads or unload dw … that maybe would help? At least it would train your brain that “in this room I write”? Just a thought.
Hugs, OSS!
There is truth in what you suggest. As a matter of fact, many great writers find their ‘inspiration’ in… well, let me just include a quote that explains it better than I ever could:
Hi Patti, I’ve been meaning to stop by since we met at NAMS 9 but unfortunately I have the same ailment as most of us do.
I was able to get much more done before I retired. I thought I had tomorrow laid out, art plan and computer work plan, but I gotta go to the gym, shopping with my husband, lunch with my brother and his wife. It’s just too much fun to go loafing, so I have many excuses but not many reasons for getting so little completed.
It was so nice to meet you and share a meal with you and Ute!
Hi Ellene – It was a delight getting to share a meal and a few thoughts with you, as well! I’m glad you found a few minutes to stop by, read, and comment. And, yes, that darn fun gets in the way, doesn’t it. Thanks again, Ellene, for stopping by to say Hello.
😀