A Blogging Tip: What do you do when inspiration strikes?

It’s not always as simple as sitting down at your computer or with a pen and paper and writing your idea out. What if you are driving, at the beach, outside, lying in bed, or in the shower? What do you do? Do you just hope that you will remember the idea, or do you have some sort of method to record your ideas?

Usually, I use my trusty Samsung Blackjack. It is almost always nearby - I’ve had ideas hit me while lying in bed, so I reach over and grab my Blackjack open the notes program and start typing out the idea. A lot of times I’ll just quickly type the idea and a few main points and then flesh it out later. I also use pen and scratch paper sometimes.  One day in between classes I just started jotting down a bunch of ideas for another blog I was working on. I didn’t have my Blackjack at the time, but this method is much easier when there a lot of different ideas to be written. Now a days, if it is just one main idea I will most likely type it in my Blackjack. If it becomes a whole brainstorming session for a site then pen and paper is better.

What if neither of these are available? If I have some type of writing utensil and anything I can write on, including my hand, then I’m set. Other than that I guess it’s just up to good old memory for me. I suppose you could tell someone you were with and then you double your chance at remembering the idea… but make sure they won’t steal it – haha.

- Michael Hargis

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A Blogging Tip: Are you trying too hard to come up with good post ideas?

Don’t force it - you just have to relax and the ideas will come. You might think you can just go find a nice quiet place or your favorite reading spot, but that is not always going to work. You’ll get there and all you’ll be thinking about is how you really need to come up with a great idea for a post. Sure this place might work most of the time, but there are some days when you just need to switch it up a bit. Try something different. Forget about the peace and quiet and go to the hustle and bustle. Go to a restaurant, a store, or just a walk down the street. Sit and observe people or find a friend (or stranger) and start up a conversation. Get your mind off writing - or whatever the task is. Fresh air, being around people, or just getting outside can really stimulate the mind and help get the good ideas flowing. Just remember, don’t force it - you will just end up going crazy and writing a bad post (or whatever your project is).

Note: these tips can be used for anything not just blogging and writing…

- Michael Hargis

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A Blogging Tip: Having trouble writing those posts? Here is a quick idea…

It seems like every time I sit down and stare at that big blank computer screen I loose all motivation to actually write something. Then procrastination takes over. I start browsing the Internet and tell myself ‘it’s for inspiration.’ I navigate to some of my favorite blogs and start reading their stuff when I should be writing my own. Then I would start to think about how much I really need to write something and how I really want my blog to be successful, but I lack motivation.

I have found a great way around this (for me anyway). I get away from the computer. No, not just to take a break, but to grab my Samsung Blackjack. Yep, that’s right my Blackjack. I open up the notes program and just start typing away - I wrote this post on my Blackjack. Sure typing is a little slower - I’m getting pretty good at it - but for me there just aren’t any distractions when I’m on my Blackjack.

I suggest you get some kind of PDA/Smartphone device with a full QWERTY keyboard - makes it a ton easier to write long posts. My Blackjack only cost me $39.99 (refurb) and then the phone bill stuff which I need a phone anyway, so that doesn’t really count. This may not work for everyone, especially if you are always texting or talking on the phone. Though, if that is the case, you might try using a device that is not also your phone. Give it a try…

- Michael Hargis

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A blogging tip: Motivation and writing multiple posts when you are in the mood to write…

If you really enjoy writing then this might not be a problem for you. If you are like me and are a descent writer but some days (or many days - I have plenty of weeks like this) you just really do not want to write about anything, then I have a simple idea that might help you out.

On those rare days that you are really pumped about writing a new post/article, instead of just writing one, write three or four, or even five if you are feeling crazy. Actually just writing two would be great. Then you have at least one backup you can use at anytime. You don’t want to make this a backup quality posts. You want to write something you plan on using. Get the article into the mix when you feel appropriate, but don’t just sit on that same article forever. You’ll forget about it or lose confidence in it. It should be thought of as writing an article or two ahead. Write something that you want to post in the near future, but keep writing new posts and cycle them in when you are ready. Writing ahead will help you on those days when you are sick, sick of writing, or just need to take the day off - it’s all about balance.

- Michael Hargis

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Do you set goals for yourself? How often? And how do you record them, or do you?

There are short-term goals, which are usually set either day to day, or weekly, mid-term goals, which are more like monthly sets of tasks, and finally there are long term goals, which can be something like six months ahead or a year or more away.

It’s important to set goals for yourself. For me personally they give a little more motivation to get things done. I think setting goals is one thing, but if you don’t actually write them down then you are less likely to act on them. So, get out a piece of paper, or notepad since you are at your computer, and jot down a few short-term goals. It’s very important to start small and not try to overdo it. If you start out setting lofty goals you may get discouraged quickly. Honestly, I was having a hard time getting motivated to do anything extra - like start a blog or work on other personal projects - then I decided I needed to start setting some goals - nothing big - and my first one had nothing to do with blogging or the internet at all. My first goal was to do 100 sit-ups everyday day for a week. At the end of the week I had my 7 days of 100 sit-ups and I felt great about accomplishing that goal. It was a pretty small goal for me, but it made me realize that setting goals really helped to motivate me. So, I grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and wrote down a few more goals. I broke them down into short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals. At that time, getting this blog up and going was one of my mid-term goals.

So, start setting goals for yourself. Write them down and put the paper somewhere you will see it every day. I know some people say set your goals high, but I say you need to start out small to gain some confidence in the fact that you can complete these tasks if you set your mind to it. Get a taste for the great feeling you get when you accomplished a goal or two and you will realize just how much such a simple task can help you.

- Michael Hargis

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Man, I am lazy - I wrote this intro so long ago - such procrastination. Plus, I was a little busy over the summer with starting a new job, going to a bachelor party in Vegas, moving into a new apartment, and being in a wedding in Seattle. Though I could have started this blog in late winter or the spring, I decided to hold off - it just didn’t feel like the right time to start. Now that I have a steady job and am not quite so worried about my finances(still pretty worried), I feel I’ll have more time to put into this site. Anyway, here is the intro I wrote back in February…

The first post - the introduction/welcome to my site please stay awhile and come back often - post. For me, it’s the hardest post to write. Not only does it mean that after you publish it you have officially started your blog, but it also sets the tone for your readers. It can give them a quick depiction of the blog and you - then they make the decision - will they be back - is he/she going to be writing about things that interest me?

Then again, a lot of readers won’t even read your first post. They might find your blog after you already have 20 or so posts and never read your welcome post. Or they might see the welcome in the title and figure they don’t want to waste their time (that’s why I usually use the welcome post as the about page as well).

So, my name is Michael Hargis - that’s where hargism comes from. I am on the internet A LOT and I am constantly researching blogging, monetizing sites, web design and development, and other things. I am not a professional blogger - I don’t claim any Internet fame. I am just a normal guy with information to share about my journey into blogging, trying to stay motivated, and anything else that might interest me. As you will come to find out later, I have a unique way of writing my posts for this blog. As a matter of fact, I am writing this post sitting in the dark because of a power outage due to ice and snow - I want my computer and Internet! Besides being on the net I do enjoy getting outside - playing sports (basketball, soccer, and more), mountain biking, and other outdoor activities. So, that’s a quick bit about me. Hopefully you’ll stick around and learn with me - and probably teach me a thing or two.
- Michael Hargis

link to any current sites I am working on.

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