I broke the rules.

When I consult clients on blogging for business, one of the first ‘rules’ is to post on a regular basis. I also suggest that if they are going to experience a particularly busy time or if they are going on vacation to write posts in advance and schedule them to publish during that time. Clearly I failed to follow my own advice.

It’s not that I don’t believe strongly in those things, and over the past four years I’ve followed them. So what happened this time?
Writer’s block? Burnout? A creative hiccup?

All of the above.

Except I didn’t want to admit it.

You see, writing has always been a...Click here to read the rest of this post at the Clerical Advantage Blog.

The Clerical Advantage Blog is authored by VAF member Tina of Clerical Advantage.


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Tina, I just read your post and can totally relate - though I gave up my blogs over a year ago, I too recently realized that I have not read a single non-business book for WAY too long (at least two years - yikes!) Every single thing I picked up was about marketing, social media, tax deductions, SOMETHING to do with business growth or development or similar.... talk about drying out the creativity...

So I recently ordered a stack of summer reading and intend to go through them with much pleasure. And until I have read every single one and have reminded myself just how much I love reading (and writing ), I won't pick up another business-related title.

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Tina, love your post. I too got into the only reading business book funk until my mom recently gave me a stack of fun reading. I guess it is true that mother knows best because that is exactly what I needed. Thanks for sharing your admission with us!

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

I love this post about blogging burnout. Because I am just starting my VA business, I feel so guilty if I pick up a fun book to read instead of just concentrating all my time and energy on my business.

I think taking a break every once in awhile is just the ticket to get your creativity flowing again.

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Jayme Hanson
Your Virtual Assistant Solution

I'm so glad to hear that I'm not the only one that has dealt with not just the blog burnout, but the 'business book' funk. Business books are great, but the overload of them not only seemed to stifle my creativity, but it left me feeling like I needed to implement every single good idea I got from them, which effectively paralyzed me from doing anything.
I was really amazed at the feeling of freedom I had at the end of that first fiction book while on vacation. I had forgotten what it felt like to escape in a good book (or even a not so good) book.
I've made a commitment to keep reading now that I'm home and in business mode again. I'm setting aside time each week to either sit in the sun or on the couch with a cup of coffee and lose myself for just a little while. And not feel guilty that it's not business related!!
Now I know that some you are doing the same.

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~Tina Marie Hilton of Clerical Advantage
& founder of VA Survival School

Great post, Tina!

What I found to be even more *clever* was that you got a great blog post out of a post about not blogging! And that, is creative writing! Fantastic!

Janine

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wow thanks. I haven't thought about this as all I am reading these days is business books. I even saw a series at the store I wanted to get but said
"no I need to buy business books"

Never thought about how it might affect my creativity.
Thanks!

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Kari

Now if only we could convince our governments that these mindless/fiction non-business books are a necessary tax deduction.

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Jenn Kubilis http://jkbusinessservices.ca/blog/
Bookkeeping Solutions