My (writing) struggle is real! Trying to do a travel blog (and, right now, travel itself) is a struggle. Especially if you are not a full-time blogger that makes a living doing this. (Even full-time travel bloggers might be struggling now.) I am not complaining, I am trying to break my writer’s block by typing what I am experiencing and seeing if I can make a post about it.
I have started several blog posts in the last couple of months, only to lose steam and stop writing. Several of my personal and work trips have been canceled (some due to weather, some due to Covid, and some due to a weird and sometimes volatile geopolitical world.) I think I have United on speed dial since I called so many times to change plans.
Add to that the urge and itch to travel, but no way to satisfy said urge, and frustration sets in. Every day there are new travel rules across the globe. In fact, I did travel in December, and the rules changed while I was traveling, which made life fun. Even with that change, I thankfully experienced one of my favorite travel adventures…European Christmas Markets! Maybe a post will come out of that adventure. The adventure of missing two separate connecting flights and having to take a train to my final destination. But, the food at the Christmas Market in Frankfurt is AMAZING and well worth the frustration!!!
While drafting my 2022 goals, I listed writing a blog post a month and doing a lot of research and learning to make my blog site better and more successful. It’s February and I didn’t do a post for January. The real world keeps getting in the way. In fact, the weather hit my location so hard in January we were without power or heat for nearly 5 days. While we played a lot of board games and spent time under 4 or 5 blankets, my access to electronics was severely limited and I lost steam writing, again.
One of my other goals was to write about a half dozen short stories this year as well, and I can say I am progressing with that goal. I am 9 pages into a new short story about the Scottish Witch Trials (but hit a bit of writer’s block this past week so I started to write this.) I know all writers hit brick walls with writing. We just need to break through and keep going. But sometimes I find myself just banging my head on the wall with no relief in sight.
At this point, I end up trying to just occupy my brain when I am not working. Since I love history I will read a book, or watch a period drama/documentary. In fact, that is where I get some of my short story ideas. During the fall I was watching shows about Ancient Egypt and archeology. I had a great idea about a short story and sat down and pumped it out. 7,500 words and 13 pages later…a story I was proud of. Yes, I know it needs editing and refinement, but the concept is great and I think the story is entertaining.
For this article, I was staring at my keyboard saying “I’m struggling to come up with ideas” and, boom, out pops this post. It just flowed off the fingers. I’m not even trying. When I catch a spark, it just grows, and words flow out on the paper. Those are the fun days when words and ideas fly off my fingers onto the computer.
Sometimes I take a train to work and I always have a small notebook with me. This way, if an idea happens (or I am already writing something) I don’t waste time bored watching out the train window, I write. A number of my short stories are halfway written in that notebook. Then, I start typing them and finish on the computer. (Although I will say, sometimes I see amazing things out the train window. Like an eagle swooping down for a fish, or a deer in fall antlers sitting atop a hill looking down on the train.)
But I am a bit strange in some ways about my writing. In fact, I am very particular about my writing implements. I tend to have a heavy hand and firm grip on my pencil (I like writing with a pencil so I can erase a mistake…I don’t like crossing it out…it makes the paper look messy.) My pencil needs to be Skillcraft 1.1mm pencils. And they are not easy to find. In fact, I can only order them online. I have never found them in a store. Do you have a favorite writing implement? Or am I the only ‘unique’ one?
I do keep a list of blog ideas from past travels, and go through these ideas and pictures to start writing. But sometimes I’m caught looking at the pictures I took and remembering the excitement and not writing. Sometimes I worry that my information might be outdated and I don’t want to pass along outdated information. Other times I forget what happened except it was a great adventure and I end up with not enough to say.
In order to be relevant to you, I want what I write to be correct, entertaining, and informative. Almost no one wants to read about just filling up the car at the local gas station unless I spilled the gas all over and started a fire (which I have not done.) But maybe you want to read about my adventure that brought me near a camel that hangs out at a gas station outside of Jericho or my belief that you can have sushi from a convenient store and live (as long as it is a 7-11 in Japan.)
Those might be stories you would read. Or, maybe not. I like telling stories; I like writing them down; And I like sharing them with you.
So, I try and write as often as possible. Sometimes I am successful and other times you get rambling like this. For those of you that are writers, feel free to email me at beyondlastwee@outlook.com with ideas on how you get through your writers’ block. Or, if you have an idea about a travel blog, send it my way and I will see what I have in the idea bank.
All in all, I think this was a good way just to get through writer’s block. But, if not, I can always just fall back to watching hockey. Stay tuned for more posts. Sorry, this post was lacking good travel information. As always, thank you for reading, stay safe and I wish you good luck traveling.
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