As is true for many if not most bloggers and podcasters, I give a lot of thought and energy to coming up with new and hopefully interesting content. I keep hearing that content is king, and perhaps it is. My problem is that I struggle with coming up with viable candidates to wear the crown.

I discovered today that my problem may be its own solution. Yesterday I told you about the Prompts app that I found for my iPhone. It provides a few words to start the writing juices flowing. The prompt is followed by an empty note, inviting me to extend the thought.

It seems to be saying, “Here’s a great candidate to assume the throne. You have been introduced to the next king so give him the attention such royalty deserves.” Setting the sexist aspect of this aside for now, let’s meet the king for today. …

Today’s prompt is, “I spend a lot of time thinking about ….”

Are you playing along? All you need to do is finish the sentence or perhaps the paragraph. Once done, you are on your way to being a writer.

Sure, I’m giving it a try too. I spend a lot of time thinking about what will make good content for my blog or podcast. I know, I already told you that. Just saying it again does little to help with the transition from thinking to doing. I could easily spend a day or a week thinking about what to write and still come up short. At some point, only thinking about doing something turns into a colossally empty place where there is nothing but thought without substance, intention without product.

I wonder how much of our time and energy we invest in just thinking about what we want to do, what we should have done, or what we will do later today or get around to tomorrow or perhaps next week. Okay, I admit to that little avoidance tactic. I’m trying to pull you into my issue, talking as if you and everyone else shares my problem. That is a little mental trick I try sometimes to convince myself that my issue is just human nature, has nothing to do specifically with me.

Let me rerun that, seeing if I can avoid my little mental deception. I wonder how much of my time and energy I invest in just thinking about what I want to do, what I should have done, or what I will do later today or get around to tomorrow or perhaps next week. When I put it that way, the answer is pretty easy. – Way too much.

When I make it personal, when I make the shift from our issue to my issue, I can hear the little voice talking to me. It’s saying, “Get a grip my friend. You may think you are putting one over on everyone else but you’re definitely not putting one over on me. Others may buy into your nonsense, but it doesn’t work with me. You know what the real issue is. You’re afraid to commit. You read about bloggers with thousands of readers, podcasters with thousands of listeners and fear that you will come up short. Get over it. You are already coming up short and spending most of your time thinking about it is assuredly not the way to catch up.”

Wow, my little voice does have a way of cutting to the chase. As usual, he is right on point. The only way to be a writer is to write, the only way to be a podcaster is to podcast, the only way to do anything is to do it. Just thinking about it won’t cut it.

There is another element that I am having difficulty sharing with you. It’s awkward and embarrassing. It’s true that I have been thinking about the thousands of readers I don’t have, the thousands of listeners I don’t have. What I have not been thinking nearly enough about is you. You are reading these words, you are listening to James read these words to you. I’m glad you are here and hope what I have had to say has been worth your time and attention. I must remember that I am doing this for you. The thousands who might read, who might listen are still out there somewhere; but you are here today. Thank you.