I didn’t send a “tip of the week” last Saturday. Nor, did I send one the Saturday before that.
Honestly, I just couldn’t think of anything to say. So, I said nothing.
I really try to come up with something useful for you guys every week.
Often, when I can’t come up with a topic, and both of us sit at our computers in awkward silence… I excuse it with a simple sentence. I’ve got writer’s block.
My email list may be small compared to many email lists out there, but every time I sit down to write this weekly note, I feel like I am stepping onto a stage in front of 2,500 people. I am nervous every time I push send.
When I was filming Visual Latin, I felt the same way. I would get nervous in front of the camera. Who knew how many kids could be watching the series someday. Hundreds? Thousands? The thought gave me the jitters.
Then, one of the cameramen said to me: “Don’t teach to the world. Don’t teach to a crowd. Ignore me, too. Forget that I am behind the camera. Pick one of your favorite students and teach to that one student.”
So, that’s what I did. I taught that one kid. For 180 videos, I looked at that one kid.
Whenever I apply the same lesson to writing, I don’t get writer’s block.
I simply picture one of you asking me a question. Then, I sit down and answer that question in a personal email. That is exactly what I am doing right now. Though you didn’t know it, you asked me this morning, “How do I get rid of writer’s block?”
Well. This is how I do it. I sit down and write an email to you. Then, I load that email into MailChimp and push send. So, thank you for asking.
And, if you are a writer (or if you want to be) and you are struggling with writer’s block, don’t write for the world. Don’t try to write something the crowd will love. That may overwhelm you. It overwhelms me.
Instead, just sit down and write a note to a friend.
Then, hit send.
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What I am reading these days:
I read a lot. In many ways, it’s my job. But, I don’t spend all of my time reading about dead Greeks and Romans (though I really enjoy reading that stuff). Sometimes, usually because of my wife, I read something that has nothing to do with Greece and Rome. These days, I am reading Brené Brown’s book Daring Greatly. Though books like this are way out of my comfort zone, I am really enjoying it. Basically, guys… we are all screw-ups with a long history of mistakes. The sooner we let our guard down and admit that we are flawed and vulnerable the faster we can move on to greatness. We can then Dare Greatly. If you need some encouragement, this book might be for you.
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You don’t have to wait until next school year.
Classes are in full swing now. I am uploading 28 new videos every week. If you find yourself stuck in a Latin class and need help, you can still join. I have built my site in such a way that you can join anytime. You don’t have to wait until the beginning of a school year.
Just go here: https://dwanethomas.com/join/
