UPDATE: With the release of Google+, I stumbled across the same kind of meta-awesomeness.

The more I think about it, the more I am realizing that what bugs me about this is solely the visual component of a missing month and not at all the fact that I did not write. That changes today.

Something is Missing

In light of this mishap and as a reminder to myself, I am going to share below seven excellent tips from The Blog Herald that are intended to inspire writing and remind us (me) why it is so important to write often, no matter the topic or time of day.  In fact, I am creating a new category of tags called “Just Because” for exactly this purpose.  With that, here are “7 Ways to Get in the Zone and Optimize Your Blogging” that can be practiced beginning now:

1. Read great writers often.
The first thing I do before I sit down to write a blog post is to spend a while reading bloggers and authors that I admire. If I’m writing an essay-type post, I might read one of Paul Graham’s essays. If I’m working on a longer post, I’ll read Sports Illustrated or even classic literature. Reading a well-crafted piece helps get your mind in a great place for blogging.

2. Grab a drink. 
No lie, orange juice helped me hit at least a half-dozen newspaper deadlines in college. It is amazing how a few gulps of your favorite beverage can stimulate creativity and make you view a syntax or stylistic issue in a different way. Be sure to always have your beverage of choice chilling in a nearby fridge.

3. Listen to the same song over and over again. 
This is one of my favorite writing tricks. I’ve found a work at a much better clip when I have my headphones on and some sort of upbeat electronic song on repeat. The music helps get your mind in a rhythm and the words come out much easier. Everybody has a different genre that gets them going.

4. Write at all hours. 
Unless your blog is your main source of income, you will likely find yourself doing other things for at least 8 hours of the day and squeezing the blogging in elsewhere. I’ve tried to write on a schedule each day, but that never seems to work for me. Sometimes I get a great idea for a post on a lunch break or while I’m laying in bed or while I’m out for a run. Always be ready to write, even if you are just jotting down some ideas for a new post on a napkin or your hand.

5. Eliminate unnecessary distractions. 
Some distractions are good. I have written some of my favorite blog posts in crowded coffee shops or on public transportation. But the little things can trip you up. Put your phone in another room. Sign out of Facebook. Close your email client. One notification or message can derail your train of thought and kill the potential for a great blog post.

6. Start writing in your head.
Both my journalism professors in college and a few of my newsroom colleagues turned me on to this. On my way home from covering an event, I would start writing the lead graf in my head while the most important details were fresh in my mind. For blogging, this works wonders as well. You don’t need pen and paper or a keyboard to start a new post. Do it while you are walking the dog or stuck in traffic. You’ll already have a great post started by the time you reach your computer.

7. Don’t think, just write. 
Don’t stop writing. Worry about the details later. Many of the best blog posts are highly emotional. When you are in that zone, it is vital to get as many words down on paper as possible. Don’t fret over word choice or style; you can touch all of that up later. Keeping the passion level up is key.

As I was going through some old papers recently, I was shocked and excited to come across a crumpled up paper copy that I had somehow saved from high school. I scanned it into the computer and posted it here to be forever persevered, complete with original typos and printer spacing errors.

Reading it now, it’s a bit bizarre that I wrote about “flight” less than 2 months after September 11…

Recently, I came across some videos of a few more musicians who combined a traditional instrument with beatboxing, which reminded me of the great Yuri Harmonica video.  These other videos may not have the same novelty for me as Yuri’s did in 2006, but they certainly caused my jaw to drop and my head to bob in the same emphatic way.  The first is an original beatbox and cello arrangement by Kevin Olusola.  Known as “K.O.,” Kevin has posted several videos in this style on his YouTube channel.  Check out my favorite here:

The last video features beatboxing flute player Greg Pattillo and cello player Eric Stephenson performing at the Union Square subway in NYC.  Now imagine the magic that would happen if the beatboxing cellist and the beatboxing flutist got together for a gig… I can dream, right?

Recently, Doug passed along a shining review of the book from R.R. Keene, a retired USMC MGySgt (Master Gunnery Sergeant) who is also the associate editor of Leatherneck Magazine.  Among other praises, Mr. Keene highlighted my “judiciously tight editing,” for which I am sincerely grateful.  Here are his words:

Author Douglas R. Pricer has penned a historical novella where the central characters are fictional and the historical context in which they are portrayed are true. It is a salute to his father, Private First Class John H. Pricer, who was a rifleman at Guadalcanal and Tarawa during World War II and, who as fictional PFC Billy Ray O’Callaghan, before he dies tells his story to his son, grandsons and great grandson.

Douglas Pricer is a gifted writer: Judiciously tight editing with wonderfully well-crafted dialogue.  This 187-page story is uncommon in its ability to, with subtle emotion, move the reader through a beautifully told and unforgettable story.

Published by Xlibris Corporation, (888) 795-4274, Orders@Xlibris.com (IBSN 978-1-4415-9792-2). Soft cover edition only and more than worth the price: $19. 99 via Xlibris or Amazon.com. Pass it on.

Obama riding a giant corgi. http://tinyurl.com/6yk8u43—
Booooooom™ (@Booooooom) February 08, 2011

And it’s pictures like the one below that we are so fortunate to see because of the internet:

Recently, I feel like I have seen a ton of corgi videos showing up on the interwebs.  When it comes to web-based animal hilarity, everybody knows that no animal can top the popularity and endlessly humorous abundance of cats, but are corgis the most viral and web video worthy breed of dog?  I need to do some research and get back about that.  In the meantime, here are 3 of my favorite corgi videos.

Opening the paper on Monday revealed that my response had been included.  Yay.  Albeit with the wrong last name.  Boo.

Check out my response below and let me know if you agree, disagree or maybe don’t care at all.