I had thought of a topic to write about today. I had some ideas about it, but I figured I’d “remember” it later so I didn’t write it down. However, between eating dinner (Mango Chicken and Roti Canai) and just being too excited about taking my first class class with Connie Ragen Green, it just totally skipped my mind.
During our webinar, Connie was discussing blogs and WordPress and that’s when I remembered I had an idea earlier tonight, but I couldn’t remember what the idea was. So, while Connie was talking and answering questions, I was writing down everything that came to mind “was that it?” ”no”, ”is what I was going to talk about?” ”no”. I’m sure you’ve experience the “right-on-the-tip-of-my-tongue” syndrome. You know, when you feel if you squint your eyes just enough and hold your hand up with the pointy finger pointing at the person who you just want to “hush” for one moment, your brain will squeeze out that one little tiny fact that you can’t quite remember.
Well brains are amazing things – memories are amazing things. Sometimes it takes just one little stimulus to bring to the surface things you felt you would never be able to recall again. So, after a couple of hours, I found the stimulus that I needed on MJ’s blog. Right there on one of her posts, the word “example”. I saw it then remembered everything.
Of course now that I’ve written this, I will write about that some other time 
With this post, I’m finally getting around to what I said I would in my first post from the 30 Day Blog Challenge. I said I would give you a tip for remembering ideas you have for your blog posts. The tip is to take advantage of the Drafts feature of WordPress (I think Blogger has it too). Whenever you are surfing the web and see something that gives you an idea for a post, pop into your WordPress and create a new post. Type as much as you can so you will know what your point was when you read it later. Just type in some notes, don’t write the full post unless you are truly inspired to. Then save it as a draft – and free that space in your mind for more stuff. Every time you get an inkling of an idea, put it in your Drafts – even if it’s just the title.
Now, when you need something to write about you will probably have a very big selection to choose from. Some won’t make sense to you anymore – some may have only one or two sentences – some may be mostly complete and just need a spelling and grammar check. My post from April 16th was one I found in my Drafts. I think the date was from October 2009! I just added the blurbs about Connie, John and Geoff.
I hope this tip was helpful!
Follow me on Twitter: melaniekissell
Fantastic organizational idea, Gwen!
Sometimes I walk up the steps and head into my bedroom … then I can’t remember what the heck I went up there for! You’re definitely NOT alone when it comes to forgetting things once in a while.
I think our minds are too preoccupied and cluttered with so many thoughts, we eventually experience a short circuit!
Instead of plunking blog post ideas into my notepad, I’ll just keep creating drafts on WordPress.
Thanks!
Melanie
Melanie Kissell´s last blog ..I’m Stumped For A Blog Post Topic
Follow me on Twitter: TheHighRoad
Gwen you wouldn’t believe how many drafts I have saved now. Draft in WP is a way of life. You are right on with this one. I use that and the “Read It Later” plugin for Fire fox. The only downfall: when I put something up on a shelf I tend to forget it.
But when I do go back & finish what I started its all good.
Follow me on Twitter: gwenatanner
In response to Vernon’s comment:
Hi Vernon,
Hmmm, I going to look at the plugin. I know a lot of people probably don’t use drafts because they want their post to be perfect, so they will wait until they feel ready to sit down and write it out (and still wont post it unless it’s perfect). But your blog is always a URL away, a good way to keep notes!
Thanks for visiting,
Gwen
Follow me on Twitter: BobbyeMiddendor
Great advice. But don’t do what I did today. Had a great run going on a post, got up for lunch, came back, and none of what I’d written was there. oops. Instead it was a previous iteration. I forgot to save what I’d worked on. I was one sad pup at that point. So: savesavesave. Yes, the notes in drafts are good, (and remember to SAVE them!) I’ve started doing the notes/drafts with lots of the great its gleaned from my colleagues here in #blog30. Thanks for the good ideas.
Bobbye Middendorf
The Write Synergies Guru
Bobbye Middendorf´s last blog ..Write Synergies: What It Means — Blog Challenge Post 25
Follow me on Twitter: gwenatanner
In response to Bobbye’s comment:
Hi Bobbye,
Oh no!! Sorry to hear that. I go through that every night, the posts just dont want to save and I have to reload the page and check to see if it was autosaved. Yes save save save is the best motto. Funny how with all this “technology” we are still victims of forgetting to click that button LOL
Thanks for visiting,
Gwen
Follow me on Twitter: joycerhansen
Hi Gwen,
Thanks for the great idea of saving the blog ideas as a draft in WordPress. Oh we women are so crafty! Thanks for sharing a part of your brain with the rest of us.
Follow me on Twitter: gwenatanner
In response to Joyce’s comment:
Hi Joyce,
I appreciate the compliments. Yes, we are crafty!!! And we have magnificent brains LOL Speaking of which I enjoyed your post on Super Brain Yoga
Thanks for visiting,
Gwen