I apologize for not having more new content up here. Blogging is one of those odd little activities that I wind up having a lot of feelings and plans, but I find myself juggling doubts and worries as well. It becomes one of those semi-competitive things where it isn't that I want to be better than the other blogs I read, I just don't want to be that much worse.
I'm a pantser, fly by the seat of my whimsy sort of blogger, but I started questioning that too. For while I want to maintain the freedom to just climb up on my blog and say whatever I'm thinking about, I recognize that in sitting down, typing something out and hitting send. Well... it's not the best way to present quality writing.
Then my brain starts to worry that people who read my unedited and sometimes sub-par blogging will assume that this is how I WRITE, and dear god they're JUDGING ME! What if they assume my book (which isn't even finished or being shopped yet) is TERRIBLE based on my mad slapdash approach??
This led to me not blogging, anything, because after I wrote it I'd set it down to edit 'later' and then I'd spend all my time editing, revising and writing on my MS that the blog entries just got abandoned. So clearly that much planning isn't going to work either.
So I'm going to compromise. I'm going to write my blog posts nicely, and neatly as I can in Word. I'll check my spelling and commas like a good girl, and then after a quick copy edit I will post them with the understanding that this is NOT my best work, but I am saving my best work for my actual novels. I'm not saying I'll deliberately put anything here that's not a unique idea, the writing I put here I am to have good content. I just don't have the sort of focus to regularly update a blog with perfectly polished entries.
Books are easier. Books I plan the end and middle and beginning before I start, I poke and prod and write and rewrite. My blog is more a stream of consciousness ramble that starts out with a point, eventually gets there, then sometimes continues on to a new question. It's not the prettiest most planned thing in the world.
But frankly, I need it. I need a place to write the words that are topical and important to me without having to worry about if it'll still be relevant in three weeks or a month, or a year. I want to write about what matters when it matters so I can work these thoughts out in catharsis, and maybe even spawn a meaningful discussion.
I intend to have more regular content here. I intend to link to other blogs that are relevant and interesting. I intend to do vocal, interesting, and possibly NSFW book reviews. (If I review a book with profanity, there might be profanity in the review. If I review erotica, there will be discussion of sex scenes. Don't be scared.) I intend to rant about possibly triggery subjects like rape culture, the phenomenon of 'the creeper' (related), and how to be less awkward in public (A process I'm still learning.).
I will probably discuss depression/anxiety/OCD my specific problems with those, how they relate to writing. I also hope to use this space for occasional musings on things that I love, things that inspire.
It's very likely that I won't hold myself to any sort of specific format, some posts might be long, some short, others might simply be a link and a quote to something I think is thought provoking.
All said and done, my goal is to use this space, to add to my scope here, and not just limit the freedom of my thoughts to twitter. This will be me, uncensored and not super focused. It'll be me trying to gather my thoughts, internet wandering, writing, and reading to one place so anyone interested can join me. Hope you enjoy that.
Additionally... this is like a New Years Resolution. I really hope I can stick to it. :-)
Liz
I look at blogging as a chance to write where either the character limits of Twitter or the posturing of Facebook are a detriment to full articulation of whatever it is I'm trying to express. (I also have no hopes that I'll ever beat my record of 45 hits in one day, but that's me. I write it for approximately four people.) Your plan sounds like a good one, though, especially the writing in Word first. But if people are anything like me, they aren't going to judge you too harshly for the occasional typo or misplaced comma. I've seen them on big name professional author's blogs, so you can rest assured that there is probably a little wiggle room for error. As long as what you are writing is articulate and clear you should be safe from judgement.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in summation, write 'em and I'll read 'em.
Yay! I'm glad to know you'll be reading. I go through blogging phases where I either blurt out whatever is on my mind, or I get an attack of concern that my blog needs to BE something, that I shouldn't say X or Y for fear of updating too much or looking 'unprofessional'.
ReplyDeleteBut it really is exactly what you said, sometimes I need a space that isn't limited by characters, or prone to the kind of drama and trolling you see on Facebook. I'm actually excited to just use the blog as a blog, and stop having such crazy high expectations of myself.
Yay! You have a blog! :D I'm glad you tweeted the link for this, because I've been wanting to read stuff you've written. *is impatiently awaiting the next post*
ReplyDeleteYay! I have many ideas, so far inspiration has been striking at bedtime, so I'm hoping to get something down that's coherent.
Delete