Back in the days when newspaper columns were popular, a well known daily columnist wrote a one-paragraph column which said essentially that he was not able to come up with anything to write, so this was his column for that day. His readers thought that “column” delightful!
Having written over 1,500 newspaper columns over the years, I have often been asked how I can continually think up new things to write about. My answer to that question is that it is not easy.
Before I explain, I would like to address the issue today concerning the difference between a “Column” and a “Blog.” Unfortunately my research shows that the “experts” don’t agree on the definitions of these two, often confused, types of writing. The Blog is so new that most journalists don’t know how to explain it. Because of the differing explanations I have read, I must conclude that at this moment in time the only difference between the two seems to be that the Blog is much shorter than the column. Yet, I have read Bloggers whose Blogs go on forever and may or may not say much of anything.
So, even though I am no longer publishing my “thing” in any newspaper, I have to consider it a column.
And now, let me address the issue of finding something to write about each week.
For this column, I began looking at the calendar. My birthday falls in this time slot, but then in over thirty years I have written about my birthday dozens of times, telling all the funny stories about childhood birthday parties that went wrong. Also telling a few modern day birthday stories that were funny. So much for my birthday as a topic.
This column also is created not too far from the Fourth of July, a topic with numerous possibilities. But then over the years, as a very patriotic American, I have explored all the avenues of Independence Day in more columns than I can count. I strive not to repeat myself in writing each column!
June is the beginning of hot Texas weather and hurricane season, — aren’t those possibilities? For most writers, yes. For me, no. I do not like to write things which elevate folks’ anxiety and fear levels. I have always believed in the art of positive thinking, which includes humor and light-hearted banter and faith.
Well, there, I’ve done what the well-known columnist did when he couldn’t think of anything to write about. Although I will turn 90 this birthday, I’d just as soon not write about that.
Ray Spitzenberger is a retired WCJC teacher, a retired LCMS pastor, and author of three books, It Must Be the Noodles, Open Prairies, and Tanka Schoen.