I think this is my favorite idea for a blog post, because the idea for this blog came about when I was brainstorming ideas, and had none. Nothing. I was staring at my monitor and my mind was blank. Then it hit me, a blog about nothing.

There was a (mostly great) Seinfeld series of episodes about this sitcom they were writing. What was it about? Nothing. Just dumb stuff happening. It was to be a “Show about nothing.” At 2:45 into the linked clip from the show, Costanza makes the pitch “Nothing“.

That is where I started as I had this idea. Nothing to start from except the idea to fill in an article with details about having no idea about how to get started.

Time is an unlimited resource, sort of

The more time I spend writing, and for me, this goes for writing code, articles, books, and even a tweet describing a roller coaster’s shape on a beautiful day, I realize that the more pressure I have to complete a task, the harder it is. You know you have to have something written by a certain time, something original and ideally meaningful. Ah yes, it should have some meaning to it shouldn’t it? A lesson perhaps.

Sometimes you have nothing and you start to pressure yourself so much that the clock starts spinning faster and faster until it fades into a calendar with a pile paper months torn off below as time passes faster and faster.

To be fair it is probably as much of a fever dream that time is swirling by quickly as is this weird calendar that copilot drew for me is. But it does feel that way so very often when you are required to do something that your mind isn’t quite ready to do.

It is not only true for writers writing prose, but is true in so many professionals who create something. Marketers need to come up with marketing ideas. Designers to make a house look better. Influencers need to make a new video that is the same as everyone else, but also very different and better. Fashionistas need to make a new article of clothing that is more compelling than last years. Even programmers have to design and write code to solve a problem in an inventive way. All with this clock ticking.

Just Do Something

When it does, write something else. Maybe even write a blog about not being able to write. Talking about the problem to someone, even yourself, may provide inspiration. In all cases, the best medicine is usually to start. As a writer, this time I started a blog about having no idea. That then reminded me of a song by The Who, named Guitar and Pen, where the musician had to write something. They KNEW it was in them, but getting it out is hard:


“When you take up a pencil and sharpen it up
When you’re kicking the fence and still nothing will budge
When the words are immobile until you sit down
Never feel they’re worth keeping, they’re not easily found”

I love the line “the words are immobile,” because it really does describe the condition. I have tons of ideas. Lists and lists. But I go back to those lists over and over and they don’ feel right. And as I noted in my blog about Distractions, sometimes you get in your own way and need to take a positive break. But the Who song goes on to note that while the struggle is hard, you know you have something to say.

As a programmer, I struggled with this. Like I noted in my article “Art or Science and of course AI?”, we often believe that should be able to just take requirements and scientifically regurgitate results. But it isn’t so simple. There is an art to it, and sometimes that part of your mind just shuts down.

When it does, write something else. Maybe even write a blog about it. Talking about the problem to someone, even yourself, may provide inspiration.

Sometimes Nothing is Something

I know I captured 3 new ideas for future articles writing this blog about nothing. Take that nothing and use it for inspiration!