Recharging Batteries

This is your yearly reminder that I write on an inspiration basis. I am a columnist without a newspaper. A features writer who should be writing features alongside actual news stories except there's no actual news stories here. I do write game articles, obviously, but they're more the "here's where my emotions went when the ball was deflected" type instead of "here's exactly what happened right after halftime."

Because of that – and it took me a long time to figure this out – I operate on a fuel cell basis. For the words to come out, I have to be constantly charging the batteries and pouring fuel in the tank. If I concentrate on that, the words will flow. I'll be able to see the frame and paint the picture, win or lose. If I'm drained, not many words will come out. Win or lose.

I draw a lot of fuel from interactions on Twitter. It's why I've always ignored the suggestion that I not read my mentions (people directing something "at" me on Twitter). Many of those interactions help me understand what I need to write about, so I can't just mute the whole thing. I have to wade through the bad to get to the good.