I’ve hit a blogging wall.
My cup hath runneth over and into the sewer, never to be found again, except by the likes of Pennywise the Clown. Ya know, because he lives down there. He’s also the antagonist in one of my favorite books of all time, Stephen King’s It. I swear if you can handle horror, this should be on your Must Read list. The man is a literary genius. Maybe if I ask nicely, he can send me some creativity. Then again, we might end up with veggie blood baths or garlic which mysteriously comes alive and torments my cats at night.
So about that wall.
I’m having trouble penning posts. My funny is taking a sabbatical again, while my literary muse has all but disappeared. It’s rough going over here in Clean Eats, Fast Feets Land, which is not to say life is rough. In fact, if anything it’s improving after a summer of work, work, work and too much retaliation booze. I completed my thirty-day photography class, I hit up the Cleveland garlic festival, I’m cooking and processing produce like a mad woman, and I’m continuously adding to my deep freezer. Success in the form of food.
My kitchen creativity is at an all time high right now. I made some amazing kohlrabi fritters which need sharing, I’ve got big plans for a Roasted Tomato and Garlic Soup, and I finalized the recipe for my newest Granola flavor: Lime Coconut Pineapple, which of course makes me want to sing, ♫”You put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up. You put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up.” ♫
I’ve got recipes to share. I’ve even got more serious posts lined up about Doubts and Insecurities and how to beat those two crones into submission, yet I can’t seem to write them, and sadly there’s nothing funny on the horizon. It’s a problem, and I’m hoping by sharing with it with you, it’ll dissipate and my creativity will resurface faster than the 1.2 seconds it takes for Oscar to make it downstairs for breakfast every day. I have never seen a cat leap thirteen stairs in three easy hops, on a routine basis. He’s a maniac.
In the meantime, thanks for listening and sticking with me while I go through a bit of a dry spell even lubrication can’t help. Perhaps, I should throw some coconut oil on it; it seems to be the solution for everything these days. Stick with me, literally if I decide to bathe in coconut oil, be patient and I’ll dig deep and see if we can’t bring my funny and my inspiration back to the table. Anyone else picturing the Mad Hatter’s tea party in Alice in Wonderful. Just me? Well at least my imagination is still intact.
How do you handle blogging walls? Do you keep writing in hopes creativity will resurface? What have you been up to in the kitchen lately?
Tara @ Rovin' Rambler says
My kitchen has been cranking out a lot of garlic naan pizza, sweet potato burgers, huge salads and other low-effort meals. It’s so damn hot that I can’t be bothered to cook very much. However, I am bookmarking recipes like crazay to make when I have access to a full kitchen and an American grocery store in a couple months. A certain Lemon Blueberry Granola (which has tortured me for months!) is on zee list!
I’m sure you’ll get your blogging mojo back in no time. In the meantime, keep virtually shoving delicious food in my face. I’m cool with that.
Meghan says
I need garlic naan pizza in my life. Wanna come make it for me? I’ll share my garlic.
I love the Lemon Blueberry Granola, although I think the Lime Coconut might be my new favorite. It’s fantastic, especially if citrus is your thing.
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Elsie @ Sharing Healthiness says
Blog walls happen it is normal! I would love for you to keep writing but if you feel you need to take some time off..then take it! Try to do a lot of reading and matching some concepts that are unrelated i.e. Running and ketchup! Maybe the creative genius strikes again! Ha!
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Meghan says
Running and ketchup, now that’s an interesting combo. What if I went with Body Pump and Sweet Potato Fries? I’m craving both right now so it works.
Thanks for understanding. I sure do appreciate it, and I’ll probably keep writing and just force my way through it. I’m kind of like that in all aspects of my life. Some might call it stubborn.
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Khushboo says
Gah the dreaded blogger’s block…they are inevitable, my friend! I normally wait it out- i find that taking a breather almost always helps rejuvenate my blogging groove and the ideas start flowing again. Till then, I expect double action on Instagram from you..gotta get my share of you 🙂
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Meghan says
I’m pretty sure the video I posted on Instagram tonight will suffice. 😉
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Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
You don’t want to know how I handle blogging walls. You’ll discover when you visit Toronto. Please don’t judge.
For the record I still enjoyed this post even if you think you’ve hit a wall!
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Meghan says
If it involves booze, we should hit blogging walls together.
Meghan recently posted…I Must Confess
caren says
Aw….don’t sweat it. Creativity is a fleeting skill and it tends to fade when we’re burning the proverbial candle.
I think a lot of bloggers make the mistake of pushing through these moments and end up losing the quality of their voice or just getting resentful and giving up. I think you’re doing the right thing – being honest that you’re just a little dried up at the moment and leaving it at that.
We can all certainly relate.
Holy garlic btw!!! I’m jealy!
Meghan says
Thanks love. I’m pretty sure my wick is just low from overuse in other areas. Sh#t happens. I’ll bounce back and until then, I’ll eat copious amounts of garlic.
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caren says
and wine!!! that helps too~~ lol
Meghan says
It certainly does. 🙂
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Meghan says
It certainly does.
Meghan recently posted…I Must Confess
Laura@FitFreshandFunny says
I’m in a drought too-hoping yours dissipates for you! I am still working through mine and hopefully the words will flow like…well, I’ve got a constipation metaphor going through my mind that hopefully you get the gist of because I feel dirty spelling it out for you.
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Meghan says
You said constipation. Ha, ha. Ha, ha.
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Liz says
I’m sure you are the only one disappointed with your writing because I am eating up every post like a brunch date (even when I don’t comment!) I definitely want to see your kohlrabi recipe because kohlrabi at this house is wa-wa-wa…. The lime coconut pineapple granola sounds blissful! Some of my favorite flavors and ones I never see in granola. You get an A+ and extra credit for creativity on that one!!
Meghan says
Aw thanks Liz. I appreciate your comment and YOU!!
I’ll text you the kohlrabi recipe because it’s a winner, and I even agree with your household consensus: wa-wa-wa. I had to do something with it to get past that point. This does that.
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Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut says
I totally get this! Sometimes I think I get so overwhelmed with a. the number of things I have to share and b. the amount of time it takes my perfectionist personality to put together a post. So…sometimes I take a bit of a break. It happens! Don’t stress and pretty please don’t quit! <3 <3
I think it's a temperamental artist thing to go through periods of inspiration and then hit "walls." Which means you must be a true artist. 😉
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Meghan says
No worries. I’m here to stay; I just wanted to explain my mediocre (in my mind) content. If it feels forced for me, it probably feels forced for the reader too so I wanted to talk about the elephant in the room. Or at least the elephant in my room. Oh boy…I think I’ve lost my train of thought. Eep. You know what I’m saying.
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Lucie says
We are the perfect match. You can give me some of your kitchen energy while I pass on some of my writing flow. I never really know where it comes from, but when I start to write (means – I pour my brain on the keyboard) it goes on and on. Yet, I stand in the kitchen, scratch my head, then clap my hands over it, throw some eggs into the microwave and go back to watch tv. So much for my recipe creativity……not the best news, but maybe it makes you feel a little better.
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Meghan says
There’s usually a trigger sentence or thought and once I have it, I can write for days. That trigger hasn’t happened lately, so yes I need to borrow your brain. In turn, I shall give you some of my kitchen antics, dance moves and all, although I did have eggs for dinner last night. I paired it with a hatch chile corn tomato recipe though so I declare it winning.
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Shannyn says
Writing blocks happen. When it does to me, I do up a draft version and just type stream of consciously and come back to it later. Or I go bake some quasi-guilty treats and re-watch just the Danaerys parts in Game of Thrones until I’m feeling more in the mood.
Real life invades and sometimes you just don’t have much left over for anyone else but keeping your own spark going. But it seems to me that you’re doing just fine.
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Meghan says
Thanks Shannyn. I think this is a classic case of real life taking over so all that’s left is to keep myself going. That being said, I think I should watch some Danaerys scenes just because. Did you ever see this post where I compared myself to her? http://cleaneatsfastfeets.com/2014/04/02/currently-april-2014/
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Shannyn says
LOL of course you are JUST like Dani. She’s super awesome and I don’t care what anyone else says. She kicks serious ass and I want to be her.
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Brittany says
My blogging went from daily, to every other day, to every two days, to now…whenever I can. I just go with it and know that blogging is something I enjoy as a hobby and will always be there, but if I don’t have any worthy content I AIN’T GONNA BLOG!
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Meghan says
You’re a smart cookie Ms. Britt. I remember when I first started, I tried to blog five days a week and pretty quickly I learned, ain’t nobody got time for that. 🙂
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Arman @ thebigmansworld says
I think the moment when you have to force the pen to paper per se, it’s a sign that something which has or is a ‘hobby’ is slowly morphing into a chore- and we never want to see that from QUALITY bloggers. You take a break- whether than be 2 hours, 2 days or 2 months. You’ll find that itch again and you’ll crow pose over to the computer and go gaga. OR add it to a list.
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Meghan says
It’s always on the list and the irony is I want to blog. I have all these ideas but I can’t seem to write about them. I think my attention is so focused on the other things in my life, I have no creativity left for actually writing.
You called my QUALITY in CAPS no less. I like that.
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Charlotte @ Commitness to Fitness says
Ahh yes, writing blocks. i can’t remember where i read this or what brilliant author said it- but it was something along the lines of “just keep writing, and hope the muse shows up”– theres nothing wrong with sprinkling an otherwise funny blog with some serious posts- it shows your human, personal side. Sometimes i start writing what i think is going to be the most depressing post ever, and as i work through it it gets funnier (and sometimes the complete opposite is true:) ) Also drawing things sometimes helps spur writing, I find.
Also- Lime Coconut Pineapple granola needs to be in my kitchen stat.
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Meghan says
Yes, you need to try the Coconut Lime Pineapple Granola. As soon as I publish that recipe, which hopefully will be very soon. If you want it now though, let me know and I’ll email it to you.
I think your advice is sound, and I’m going to try it. Thanks.
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Chelsea says
I think everyone hits walls, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of! I feel like everyone needs time away from obligations and responsibilities – I mean, we call that vacation, but I don’t necessarily mean taking a trip. Just relaxing! Sometimes writing, as much as we enjoy it, seems like a chore and a burden. Revel in your stellar kitchen creations! I’m sure the funny and the writing bug will find their ways back. 🙂
P.S. I’ve actually bathed in coconut oil (added about 1/4 cup to my bathwater) and my skin was super, super soft afterwards. Just sayin’.
Meghan says
You bathed in coconut oil? Wow, now that IS impressive. I’m going to have to try it now, just because.
Thanks for the thoughts.
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Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
Walk away for awhile. That’s how I handle them. We all need a timeout at times. And there is no shame in taking one. You will come back fresher & better.
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Meghan says
I’m more of a break on through type girl. Ha, although if it gets to be too much, I will walk away.
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Jennifer L says
Lime Coconut Granola sounds awesome!! I can’t wait for that recipe.
Don’t be hard on yourself about blogging – you may “feel” uninspired, that your “mojo” is hibernating like a bear, in the winter, in a cave, on a rock, in the cold, in the dark…(okay, I’ll stop with the prepositions now), BUT even though you feel uninspired, I personally always find your writing enjoyable. Actually, one of my favorite blogs to read. I like your quirky (dare, I saw corny) writing style and attitude (probably because we tend to like people who are like us??? Oh, a “deep” thought to ponder)….
Keep it up, you are more inspiring than you give yourself credit for. 🙂 Ok….I feel like a cheeseball *gag* 🙂
Meghan says
I love this comment for so many reasons I think we should list them. 🙂
1) All those prepositions sound like a Dr. Suess book. I will eat them in a car, in a house, with a mouse.
2) I love when people compliment me, and you are no exception, although we’re going to have to talk about this corny thing.
3) You are a fellow number cruncher and that’s make me happy.
4) and last but most certainly not least, you mentioned cheese. Swoon.
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Lindsey @HalfDimeHomestead says
Your funny has gone nowhere – it’s just shoved over to let creativity come in.
I have hit the blogging wall 2-3 times. The latest one is where I realized I wasn’t gonna make any money off my blog. Then I thought about deleting the whole damn thing. Then I stopped myself and reminded my addled brain that making money was NOT the reason I got into blogging. Having fun, writing, and meeting amazing people is why I got into blogging. I’m never gonna make money at it because making money at it is not my value.
What’s your blog value?
Why did you start it?
Is it time to re-tool, make a new blog, revamp the old one, change your format or unleash the flying monkeys?
We sure love you. We’ll come along for the ride. Promise!
Be well – and thank you for the granola recipes. THEY ARE SO GOOD.
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Meghan says
I think it’s time to unleash the flying monkeys. 🙂
People make money off blogging. You’re kidding me; I outta look into that. I’m okay with not monetizing the blog because it’s never been one of the end goals for me. My creative energy is going into work and my kitchen right now, so that’s not much left for writing. I’m trying to change that so I can get my groove back.
I am thrilled to hear you like my granola recipes. THRILLED. Seriously, you made my day.
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