If you’re wondering where I’ve been this week, you’re not alone - I’ve been wondering, too. For some reason I’ve contracted one huge case of writer’s block and I can’t seem to break it. I went grocery shopping with my wife on Wednesday, hoping that I would find something to write about, but nothing struck me. I’ve read more personal finance posts than in past weeks and even went searching for new blogs to read, but none of them inspired me to write.
And work hasn’t been helping much, either. Since around the end of December, my work has been in a bit of a lull. Major testing for our next software release is complete, but the package isn’t fielded yet. Because of that, I’m not allowed to do much work on this or even the next version due to confusion on the customer’s needs and deployment schedule. That afforded me much more time at work to read and write for the blog. Unfortunately, that opportunity has passed.
The whole reason for my business trip was to meet with the customer and hash out some details for my major project in the next version of our software. Now that I’m back and have a heavy deadline in July looming over me, work is back to being work instead of “that place I go for 8 hours to collect a paycheck.” Don’t get me wrong, I hated the slowdown and unproductive time, but it was nice to be able to write consistently for the blog.
I guess that means I’m going to have to start devoting my evenings to writing and getting ahead on posts instead of putting it off until I arrive at work to write the day’s post. There may be a bit of a transition period where I figure out my new personal schedule and fit writing posts in amongst the rest of my life. Hopefully I’ll be able to work through this problem soon and get back to loving my writing.
But at least my reading let me find some champion posts for the week:
- The Simple Dollar wrote on how choices can snowball in something much larger.
- No Credit Needed introduced us to the $100-a-day rule to prevent impulse buying.
- Gather Little by Little posted something very near-and-dear to my heart: How to save money when grocery shopping.
- Free Money Finance hosted a guest post examining how purchasing power is crippled by inflation.
- Mrs. Micah learned to love frugal and health benefits of water.
- 20-Something Finance listed interesting ways to save on auto insurance.
- Family and Finances shared a disappointing story on how not to handle an inheritance.
- Five Cent Nickel asked “Are bi-weekly mortgage payments worthwhile?“
- Mighty Bargain Hunter tried to answer part of that question by reminding us to not pay for the “privilege” of setting up bi-weekly payments.
- Frugal Dad turned square foot gardening into a metaphor for managing your investments.
- Get Rich Slowly discovered that the cost of storage could outweigh the value of the stored items.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I understand the work pressures shifting. I hope that your work is fulfilling enough that it’s enjoyable, even if you’re putting in more hours or more intense ones.
As for writer’s block, I wonder if a lot of people are having it this week. *sigh*
Thanks for the mention, and I hope the writer’s block breaks loose for you soon. One idea - look at the dozen or so articles you just linked to. Any ideas you could build off? Any you disagree with? No shame in playing off another blogger’s article, particularly if you send them a little link-love along with it.
My best advice? Stop trying hard - let the ideas come to you. Inspiration often hits when you aren’t looking for it. Now, I’m off to take my own advice because I have nothing stocked for this weekend and I need to write!
Great links and this ended being a good “writers block” post. Like you, over the last month I have had time to focus on the blog as work had been slow, but with the annual budgets decided I have to do some real work. If only my blog could get to a point where I could do it full time….pipe dreams for now.
Andy.
Thanks for the link!
My problem lately has been finding time to blog about the ideas I come up with. I’ve been soooo busy this spring, and it doesn’t look like things are going to slow down anytime soon. Grrr!