Keeping It Fresh

After about two-and-a-half years of steady blogging, I've been on somewhat of a hiatus since making the move from Kaufman to Terrell. The break can be attributed to a few different things. I became busier. I was working to re-acclimate myself with the Terrell community. My kids have grown to finally reach the age where they are involved in sports and other activities, reducing my wife and I to glorified taxi drivers speeding from one event to the next.

However, probably the biggest reason I quit blogging is it became tiresome.



Looking back over my blog archives to read the posts I'd made shortly before stepping away, I was disappointed in what I read. There were lots of fun links, plenty of political banter and a few decent photos. For the most part, though, it was just junk.

One of my favorite things to do in this world is write. It's cathartic for me. However, as I saw my words becoming forced and stale, the idea of blogging lost its luster for me. I figured I could find something better to do with my time.

Funny thing is I missed it.

Seeing a few of my friends (check the list to the side) continue their blogging efforts as well as starting new ones has somehow rekindled my interest in returning to the blogosphere. The challenge, though, is to keep it fresh.

I've been doing a lot of reading about how other, more accomplished authors ply their trade. To be honest, it's in hopes of inspiring me to finally write that book I keep saying I will. In doing so, I ran across these words from none other than Stephen King:

"Once I start work on a project, I don’t stop and I don’t slow down unless I absolutely have to. If I don’t write every day, the characters begin to stale off in my mind-they begin to seem like characters isteand of real people. The tale’s narrative cutting edge starts to rust and I begin to lose my hold on the story’s plot and pace. Worst of all, the excitement of spinning something new begins to fade. The work starts to feel like work, and for most writers that is the smooch of death. Writing is at its best-always, always, always-when it is a kind of inspired play for the writer. I can write in cold blod if I have to, but I like it best when it’s fresh and almost too hot to handle.”

Here's to keeping it fresh...and hopefully a little hot as well.

• A few days late for Easter, but this is still pretty cool.

• Terrell ISD is offering parents a last-minute opportunity to get trained as volunteers for end-of-year field trips. If you are interested, swing by Room 24 at Kennedy Elementary School at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

• Today's earworm comes courtesy of the Avett Brothers.