I have been blogging for six months now. Over six months. It is indeed a sobering thought, and yes, I am feeling rather uninebriated. Twenty-five weeks of yakking happily on [and whinging. And procrastinating - Ed]. Oh, very well, that too.
For what, Gentle Readers, is the point? Oh, I don’t mean in that in an ‘I’m going outside now, I may be some time,’ way. I’m enjoying myself hugely [When you’re not ‘moping’, you idle young trout - Ed] and in the process I am discovering an astonishing thing: I do actually have some thoughts on writing, incoherent and footling as they may be. And I am not the only person on this planet who finds myself amusing. Glory be. Having established that I can do this without boring anyone’s ears off, I am now planning on striking out for Cape Pointful, by actually discussing writing a little more intelligently and mayhap toning down the self-pity just a gnat’s eyelash [Hallelujah].
But is there any point at all in this for the Gentle Reader? Will I be blogging myself off into a dusty little corner marked ‘Please ignore - contents tedious’ if I persist in versifying and maybe reviewing books in a temper? Or is that where whining and venting will land me? Like Buridan’s ass in reverse. I am now, and alas probably forever will be, sorely afflicted by the fear that you’ll realise it’s all some kind of trick and I’m not actually interesting at all and then you’ll all laugh harshly and storm out [Impostor Syndrome, this is called, apparently. It may well be an arse to have, but by God it’s an arse to sit next to].
And anyway, what makes a sticky blog? Is it having a point, a mission [however woolly and self-indulgent]? Is it wittiness and clever writing? Being as regular as that writer’s senna, coffee, can make you? Is it being faithful to your readers? Does this blog have the fabled sticky?
Or are you all just being nice to me because you’re my friends?
[Oy vey, with the self-doubt again].
We are all your friends, of course. But we also find you talented and witty and charming and all those other nice adjectives. *hugs*
So when you say you want to discuss writing, do you mean nuts and bolts or others writing or what? I mean, do you want to write something and put it up and then discuss it or discuss the act of writing in general terms? Like an online wrioters club or something? Actually I don’t know what I mean. Just ignore me.
Left by Hypatia on August 23rd, 2006
*Beams with pleasure, hugs delightedly back*
Actually I don’t know what I mean either (hence woolly and vague). I think I want to do all of the above - discuss nuts and bolts (I have some notes for a post on exactly what it is I do when I ‘revise’ a poem), discuss other people’s writing (the book reviews, blog reviews even, maybe), general stuff about aspects of the writing life, writers block, genre, how I’m doing with one or other of the many novels, and things that make me go ‘You what?’ It could be messy. But trying to put ‘writing’ into one neat category is like trying to force an octopus into a bucket.
Left by Reed on August 23rd, 2006
It’s fine if it’s a big basket! And writing is certainly a big category.
I think I’d find all of the above interesting.
Left by Singing Librarian on August 23rd, 2006
It is a big category. But one that is of interest to everyone here. We’re all frustrated authors or we probably wouldn’t have gotten involved with hootoo in the first place. Not all of us are natural writers like you are, though.
Okay. You and David and I of all people know that there are lots of published novels that are absolute rubbish. I think it’s important to keep reminding ourselves of this because it illustrates that it is possible to have a writing career if we really truly want one. And I think it’s good to talk about it because things that will inspire and encourage one of us might help others of us as well.
Left by Hyp on August 24th, 2006
Not only are there novels that are absolute rubbish, some of them are on the Best Seller list!
I think your proposed subject sounds fun and fascinating and hope to participate.
A blog gets sticky when it is fun to talk to each other on it. For me, Reed, your blog is very sticky. I visited it regularly the whole time you were on break and sighed disappointedly when there was not a new post. Then I went to check my own blog and wondered why nobody is visiting it. Are my posts to long? Are they stupid? Are they just boring? Why am I doing it?
Then I realized nobody knew I had a blog since I had not told anyone, so I notified all my friends and relations and had a surge of visits which has tapered off again. And I find it doesn’t really matter. I think the act of pushing the button labelled “Publish” gives me a thrill and seeing my words in “print” where any casual passerby can read them is satisfying.
Must go crush the wine grapes NOW
Left by healingmagichands on August 25th, 2006