Post Labelling Paralysis
I've found myself unable to post regularly for all sorts of stupid reasons. One of the stupidest I'll call Post Labeling* Paralysis. In this post, I'll explain the condition, what I did initially to transcend it, and what I'm doing now.
First, the condition. A diagnosis of Post Labeling Paralysis indicated when a one has written a new post, is about to publish it, can't figure out what to label it, and becomes paralyzed. PLP occurs when writers consider labeling a post to be vitally important. If a post is labeled, they reason, it lets readers easily find similar posts to one they found interesting, thus improving their blog-reading experience. Therefore, posts should always be labeled.
PLP's behavioral effects can be mitigated by instructing the PLP-sufferer to say: "Fuck labeling this post. I'm publishing it anyway," and then to hit the Publish button. This is known as Fuck Labeling Therapy, or FLT, and has been shown to be an effective intervention.
After sufficient FLT, a PLP sufferer may enter the post PLP stage, or PPLP. During the PPLP stage one no longer has to apply FLT techniques to publish a post. As one former sufferer says: "You don't think about labeling any more. You just push the fucking button."
Ultimately the PPLP phase may result in a series of Post Labeling Epiphanies (PLEs) during which the proper post label naturally suggests itself and is applied without hesitation. For example, metablogging for this one.
Reversion to PLP, if it does occur, can be handled by further application of FLT.
Note: PLP is Post Labeling Paralysis and FLT is Fuck Labeling Paralysis in the United States only. In Canada and the rest of the English speaking world PLP is Post Labelling Paralysis, and FLT is Fuck Labelling Therapy, with two l's in case you didn't notice. One more example of American Exceptionalism. Spelling reference here. Ridiculously obsessive follow-up post on spelling, here.