What do you do when you have SQL writer’s block?
You talk about SQL writer’s block, of course.
I’ve been a blogger for some years now, and done my fair share already of thinking and talking about blogging. And as happens periodically, I’m currently suffering what is, apparently, a bout of writer’s block.
The basic problem is the same for almost everyone: you put together a blog (or plan to do so), read a few other blogs to see what people are doing. And then you’re utterly stumped, because “there’s no WAY I could write anything that good!” It’s because we read the popular blogs, the good blogs, the ones that get re-linked-to and retweeted many a time. We read the professional writers, in short, and then quickly conclude that our piddling efforts aren’t worth a whack. This is, of course, patent bullpucky. Nobody would become a top-tier writer – or indeed, a mid-tier writer – if they didn’t just jump in, knowing full well they’re not (yet) a top-tier guy. Anything worth doing is worth doing at your level, so you can learn to do it well.
Even I, who have given this talk multitudinous times, am subject to the same effect. Why else do you think I’d give that talk?
Getting yourself going again (or for the first time ever) boils down to your own personal stash of inspiration. A self pep-talk (like this). A quick vent on Twitter. A throwaway blog you’ll likely never publish.
But for Pete’s sake, start writing again.
Happy days,
Jen McCown
http://www.MidnightDBA.com/Jen
P.S. We’ll be on a SQLCruise all next week, so no DBAs@Midnight webshow again until February 8. Check out the archives at www.MidnightDBA.com, won’t you?
When I get blocked on writing or coding, I stop reading related material and do something else for a brief while. Then I come back and write something, anything, a rant, a review, a tutorial, a blog comment and the words begin to flow. Or I build the outline, paste in the code examples, screenshots and then I explain the process. Bingo! Finished documentation.
Most importantly, I don’t care about the professional writers or the experts in the field when I’m writing. 99% of the authors in my fields will always have more talent and experience than me. But I’m not writing for them, I’m writing for my coworkers, our clients, my peers and myself, the other 99%.