I don’t know what’s happening to me but I just can’t settle to write. Even when I do write I run out of steam or fall out of love with the post as I get part way through. I really don’t know what’s happened to me – it’s like I’ve become, tired, dull and lazy, all at the same time. It can’t be writers’ block, before anyone suggests that, because it doesn’t exist. Sensitive types and amateurs get blocked, but I’m not sensitive and I am trying to develop a professional approach.
I am just going to set my alarm and get my head down over the keyboard. Let’s see what happens. Well, a rambling introduction happens, which is always good – that’s used up about half the 250 word target.
I finished my Open Learn course “Creative Writing and Critical Reading”, which didn’t really teach me much. I’m afraid some of them do skim over the subject. It’s always interesting to see something put together as a course, because reading books or the internet can be a bit scrappy. And, of course, if I were doing this to impress an employer, it’s always handy to have it all set out on a screen. I have now completed six courses and am just starting at seventh.
My current course is “Personal Branding for Career Success”. This brings round in a neat circle, as I selected it because I am feeling the need to appear professional to editors, and to make sure they view me as hard working, rather than the sort of person who retires to a darkened room and claims to be blocked.. A personal brand, according to Jeff Bezos, is what people say about you when you are out of the room. In the days when we spoke English and used fewer words, it used to be called “reputation”. I’ve only done about 10% of the course so far, I’ll let you know how it goes as I proceed.
There you go – 299 words and 18 minutes. Just goes to show the benefits of getting your head down and showing a professional attitude.
I will, I expect, spend the remaining 12 minutes messing about with links, tags and photos.
364 words, 29 minutes’ including links, tags and photos. Looks like I’m back…
Apparently, there was an error sending my reply to your post, so in case it turns up I don’t want to repeat. Except to say well done!
I think it has already turned up. 🙂 WP, eh?
I think it’s our Wi-fi. Keeps cutting out. But glad the reply turned up 😊
Good luck with that.
Thank you!
Well done!
I generally find most courses unsatisfactory. Either no depth or too much I don’t understand.
They are a useful discipline for me, as without the format I tend to have a lot of good intentions and very little work to show for them.
Well, if it works for you, you can’t beat it 😊
🙂
I think you have enough wit and originality of you own
Thank you Derrick. 🙂
We will be expecting free gifts to encourage brand loyalty.
If you sign up for 12 months you can have a free pen. I’ll see if Carol Vorderman to do the advert.
I believe that the Duke of Sussex is available for promotional work.
I’m afraid he’s too late. I have abandoned my personal branding scheme.
He will be disappointed.
Do you really want to know what people say when you’re out if the room?
I have a feeling I already know. I’m married to a woman who doesn’t wait for me to leave… 🙂
😉
Wishing you continued success with the writing, Quercus. You have had a good number of acceptances, something to look back on with pride.
Thank you Lavinia. I’ve had a few recent ones I haven’t mentioned too, but I just don’t seem to be able to get myself going. I need to get out more, I think. 🙂
I hesitated to like this but with blogging, like can be seen as a measure of support. I hope. Anyway, do you suppose the pandemic is getting you down? It has been a grinding year. You have had to deal with grief and anxiety and the sheer tedium of being hunkered down in place. I know that like me, you have blessings to count, but that doesn’t minimize the psychological toll that this pandemic has taken on us all, even the fortunate.
It’s possible. I should be happy – a lot of good stuff is happening (which I haven’t written about because it seems a bit boastful). But somehow the succession of small things, including the pointless early return to work, is getting to me. I think I must start getting out more – particularly as I’ve now been vaccinated and don’t need to worry quite so much.
Discouraging times even if there bright bits of good news.
I must work on the positives
Yes, but it’s also important to acknowledge the negatives rather than pretend they don’t exist. Unfortunately, with Americans, everything always has to be fine. That’s one of the ways Donald Trump’s lies were able to convince so many people. Everything was fine, fine, fine. No need to worry about that pesky virus. We know how that worked out. Sigh.
That, as I’ve said before, is because Americans have the Pollyanna Gene. I, on the other hand, model myself on Victor Meldrew. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Meldrew
Spring and sunshine will work wonders. Be kind to yourself Simon, we are all doing hard work these days.
🙂 And today was a lovely spring day…
This is So true, Laurie. My eldest daughter, who lives in Brooklyn, NY, got her first vaccine today. she texted me while she waited the 15 minutes before she could leave and said she was surprised how emotional she was. And I told her that she (and all of us) have no idea the stress we have learned to put up with. We just slowly reacted to the situations as they arose and are making our way through them the best we can. But we won’t know for years what we have actually been through. No wonder she was emotional!
Hugs to you all.
Wonderful that your daughter received her vaccine! Yes, it has been one heck of a year. It’s no wonder we feel either anxious or depressed or a combination of the two.
Good to know that everybody is gradually getting vaccinated. Currently all sorts of people in the UK are now claiming to be special cases as they try to jump the queue. They must have been bottling up their worry for a long time. Many of them, like shop assistants in food shops, so have a good case.