24 Posts and Nothing To Write

good afternoon, cyberspace!

Today I realized I have 24 posts in my WordPress folder. TWENTY. FOUR. That is a TON of posts, you guys. That’s 24 things that I’ve started writing, and then just . . . stopped. For no apparent reason other than I got distracted from/bored with/forgot about the topic.

And if that doesn’t describe me in a nutshell, I really don’t know what does.

So today, I thought I’d take a moment to clean out my drafts folder. (you know. since it’s getting pretty drafty in there. aha. hahahahahaha. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. okay, i’m done. no more draft jokes) I’m tired of looking at 24 posts and having nothing to write, and I’m ready to fill this thing up with some topics that actually interest today’s me.

Of course, I won’t be going through ALL of the 24 draft topics. Some of them still look relatively interesting, and I want to hang on to a few of them for just a little bit longer. (because I am a sentimental squirrel, apparently.) But I am tossing a few posts into the trash today, so let’s talk about those, shall we?

I. “Words I Despise”

Ah yes. This pretty little number was a giant conglomerate post of–surprise of all surprises–words I despise.

*mindblown*

Upon further consideration, however, it dawned on me that a full-length blog post was not necessary for this. I can give the general low-down for this most pressing topic with nothing more than a simple list:

• moist
• supper
• flatulence

And there you go. Those are all the words I despise. Particularly that last one, if I’m being totally honest.

(also, I’m just realizing as I’m editing through this, but somehow I listed those in a very disturbing chronological order. please ignore that. XD)

II. “Truths Universally Acknowledged”

This particular post was going to be about all of the “universal truths” I’ve learned over the past few years about being a writer. When I started to write it, however, I quickly realized I know absolutely nothing.

#shocker

Anyway, basically all you need to know about this post is that having a support group (a.k.a. friends and family to help you up when you’re feeling down) is literally everything. Us writers like to pretend that we’re these lone creatures bent on wreaking havoc and destruction whilst shunning all sources of light and friendship, but in all actuality, we’re just soft little marshmallow souls who need a pat on the head and a cookie every once in a while.

So get yourself a support group and someone to give you head pats and cookies, and you’re golden, my friend.

III. “Save Jimmy: Keep Your Creative Wells Full”

^^ Literally the only post title worth writing, and I’m tossing the thing in the rubbish bin.

Ah well. The lesson for this post is simple: in order to write good books (and, most importantly, to avoid burnout) you need to be CONSUMING good books.

To take a quote directly from this post’s rather lacking outline. . .

“In order to continue creating creatively, you need to be consuming creativity. Think of your creative well like a giant stomach. In order to poop out good stuff, you need to be eating good stuff.”

And that, my friends, is the behind-the-scenes loveliness of this blog. You’re welcome.

IV. “A World Without Writers”

When I first had the idea for this post, I was EXCITED. Like not just “Oh look, there’s a bunny out in our yard” excited. I was “We’re having chocolate cake for dessert and it has your favorite vanilla icing on top!!!!!” excited.

But, as with a lot of these posts, the excitement for this topic just kind of . . . died. Because really there’s not a whole lot to say on the subject. I wrote exactly 103 words and then stopped. However, in order to show you guys the enthusiasm and professionalism I was going to try and emulate within this smudge, I’ll just pop the full 103 words in here for your perusal and–of course–judgement:

Can you imagine a world without writers?

No, really. Can you do it? Can you imagine a world in which writing simply does not exist? Where stories no longer line our shelves, where books are non-existent, and the only tales we tell are . . . nothing?

Can you imagine a world without writers? A world where the warm embrace of fiction is sharply replaced by the harsh, cold splash of reality. Where fairytales are gone, and the stories we hold so close to our hearts are nothing more than bare branches whistling in the wind?

Can you imagine a world without writers?

Because I can’t.

I mean, that final line, though, am I right? This is basically a completed post within itself. Props to you, past Kenzie.

V. “Writing Is Not Just My Hobby”

I didn’t even have anything written inside this post, you guys. Literally ALL I HAVE is the title.

So there you have it. Writing is not just my hobby. Apparently I wanted to make sure the dust bunnies in my draft folder knew this very interesting tidbit.

VI. “The One About NaNoWriMo”

So this is a relatively new addition to my drafts, and one that I very quickly realized was going nowhere. I was initially inspired to write this post by a question that kept popping up in my mind–“Is it possible to outgrow NaNoWriMo?”

Miraculously enough, the answer to this most pressing conundrum came to me while I was trying to draft it: no.

So there you go, folks. It’s not possible to outgrow NaNoWriMo. #themoreyouknow

VII. “Do The Thing.”

I . . . really have no clue what this was supposed to be, actually. I think it was going to be some sort of inspirational, “you can do all things you set your mind to!” kind of post, but . . . yeah. I have no clue what this is. “Do The Thing” is literally all that was written in this draft, and I’m really hoping this wasn’t some sort of vague reminder for my future self.

Aha.

VIII. “~ Books That Are Extremely Aesthetically Pleasing To The Senses (and make me want to stroke their covers whilst squealing like a Pterodactyl hatchling)”

shoutout to myself for never knowing how many numbered points I’m going to have before I start drafting, so I just slap a ~ in there and call it good. *thumbs up*

Ah yes. This particular post is a real doozy, folks. Not to alarm anyone or anything, but I first started drafting this post in April of 2017.

APRIL. OF 2017.

That was like over two years ago, you guys. TWO !!!! YEARS !!! How on earth is it even still in my draft folder? Did I really think that after even one year I was going to miraculously pick it back up and finish the thing? I’m pretty sure this draft has been eaten up by moths and neglect by now.

However, the real issue that I have with this post isn’t it’s age, but rather the fact that simply reading through it shows me just how much my writing voice has changed over the past two years. Like, when I sit down to write a blog post today, I don’t really feel like I’ve changed that much since 2017. But then I look at this post and find sentences like:

Now, this is probably a book that you have never read before. And it’s also probably a book that you’ve never even heard of before. And you might be currently finding yourself scratching your rather itchy head and thinking, “Chanda who?”

(^^WHAT EVEN WAS I TRYING TO SAY IN THAT PARAGRAPH??? ????)

and. . .

First of all, we have this delectable jacket. I mean, just look at that glorious detail! It’s all gold and beautiful, and slightly pop-uppy (#totallyaword), which is always a plus, as I like to run my fingers over pop-uppy detail, because #fun.

and. . .

(actually, I would be the happiest bean in the world if I had an endless supply of cookies and the ability to eat them all without getting sick and unhealthy, but changing the structure of every single book in existence is more of an achievable dream, obviously)

and. . .

I mean, as much as I love stripping the jackets off my books so that they’re not slipping and sliding all over the place like a soggy slug while I’m trying to read. . .

Okay. To be fair that last one still makes me laugh to this day.

BUT OH MY GOODNESS ME, YOU GUYS. What on earth was I doing? Why on earth did anyone ever read my old posts? Did I know nothing about run-on sentences? Did I just throw all knowledge of grammar and readability to the wind and call it good? I’m pretty sure I got myself drugged up on sugar and Popsicle sticks before sitting down to write or something. This is just way too painful and clunky to read, and I would like to offer copious apologies to anyone who has ever suffered through to the ends of my old posts.

Or possibly even my current posts. Because let’s be honest, guys–I don’t think I’ve really changed as much as I’d like to believe.

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TALK TO ME, PEASANTS!

Well, there you have it, folks! Eight posts from my drafts folder that I’m tossing out (with MAYBE the exception of that last one, because I like to read it occasionally and gouge my eyes out with a chopstick. it’s fine. I’m fine.). There were quite a few other drafts in there that I’m throwing out, as well, but these are the more memorable selections, and therefore must be preserved in a blog post till the end of time. It’s kind of weird throwing these posts out, though, because I’m a very sentimental person, and I can’t help but have my heart squeal, “WAIT! We might be able to USE one of these later!!!!” every single time I toss a draft. To which my brain calmly responds, “Dude. Some of these have been sitting in here for years. Let it go, already.” And since I’ve finally gotten into the spring cleaning mood, I’m going to listen to my brain on this one.

. . .I think.

*sweats nervously*

But anyway, that’s enough from me, I think! Let’s hear from you!: What kinds of posts do YOU currently have lurking in your drafts folder? Do you find yourself jotting down multiple post ideas (and maybe even starting to draft some of them) but then never go back to actually write them? Do any of these posts that I’m tossing sound like something you would have liked to read here on Smudged Thoughts? (please say they all sound like garbage so I don’t feel so awkward throwing them out.) and most importantly. . .

DO YOU THINK MY BLOGGING VOICE HAS CHANGED???

And if it has, has it changed for the better? Because holy guacamole and cheddar, some of my past posts are painful to read. . . But maybe my current posts are painful to read, too. . . *begins existential crisis*

Anyway, let’s talk about ALL OF THE THINGS! down in the comments below, and as always, until next time. . .

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Featured Photo by Ella Jardim on Unsplash