Posts tagged writing

So. I am nearing my 200^th post on my site. I guess the experience to date finally qualifies me to be able to answer a question a mentor of mine asked me when I announced my site – “what makes you think anyone is going to want to read what you write?”

It was a damn good question. And I answered honestly to him one-on-one by simply stating “I am egotistical enough to be able to be happy reading what I write myself.” Kind of an audience of one as it may be. (and that seemed okay at the onset)

Another blogger suggested “write like no one is reading.”

Well. Now that I have been writing I am not sure I agree with that. I write about what I want to write about and I do write as if people are reading (and I am pleased to say that there are a larger number of people than I expected reading my stuff). I care about writing as if people do read because … well  … I admit … I want people to come back and read more.

But here is the joy of writing on your own site. The beauty of writing what I write is that I am unencumbered by rules and regulations and the size and scope of what I suggest or talk about. I believe we all wish we could be able to do it in a work environment (but it is very very difficult to do so). And I consult as well so maybe I have honed this particular unencumbered thinking knife a little sharper (but even as a consultant you are often forced to put a dose of reality into what you suggest so that there is some practicality to where you end up).

In an unencumbered fashion I write to share, to maybe make some money some day, to think, certainly not for fame and, sure, I write for myself. The myself portion is that I enjoy the process of putting these thoughts down (oops. I almost wrote “down on paper.”).

But the real fun is to be unencumbered. You get to be a little less careful about how you word things and things you talk about. I hesitate to say I am less politically correct but maybe more importantly I am a lot less worried about having an aligned organization point of view when I write because …. well … I am an organization of one. (I hope I didn’t infringe on the Army’s old army of one trademark there). And sometimes I may get a little lucky by being unencumbered and have a real thought or insight.

Unencumbered also means I can suggest unreasonable things. Ok. They only seem unreasonable when looking at the complexity of implementing. But. Have you ever noticed how common sense like unreasonable solutions appear? But being unencumbered doesn’t mean you get a free pass to stupidity.

Silly sloppy thinking will always remain silly sloppy thinking. Unencumbered doesn’t mean being sloppy in thinking. It just means offering a solution that dismisses some aspects of “what is practical” and “some aspects of reality” but keep within the construct of “what is.” Then maybe you can actually have a good idea (and not a stupid idea).

Also. I often use the quote “change occurs because of unreasonable people.” My site permits me the luxury of being unreasonable on occasion. It permits me to suggest what appears to be impossible. And I like that. Frankly I think a lot of people want what many say is impossible (because many of us cannot understand why it isn’t possible).

About the writing process.

For the few people who have asked me about writing (which is something I have never done like this before).

Did I know I could do it? Nope.

What was my biggest worry? I wouldn’t be able to write enough (the fear I couldn’t think of enough worthwhile things to write about).

Was it difficult in the beginning? Yes and no. I had to find what worked for me. If I focused on one thing to write I freaked. I hated the pressure of that one thing. It made me constantly think about the “when will it be written” and I would never write it (to a satisfactory conclusion). The deadline freaked me out to the point I was afraid to commit to a date because I believed it wouldn’t be done on time (that was the biggest hurdle I had).

So I stopped worrying about writing upfront. I just wrote down ideas. I found if you have a word document and you list 10 items that interest you for potential writing, as you write them down (and maybe add why you are interested) you will find with maybe 5 of them you already have a paragraph. For me the trick is the list instead of focusing on writing one. The one will drive you nuts. It will haunt you sitting there waiting to be written and finished. The many allows you to dabble and maybe have one pop to the finish line while you weren’t looking.

I admit that I write style wise for my benefit but content wise for the reader. If you get something from reading it, I love it. If it’s a laugh, a thought or even an inspiration to get up and do something I love it. I find it difficult to write things in here for the sole reason someone wants me to (but I am receptive to topics because I can never tell if something will spark me to write about it). But I absolutely will not omit something because someone doesn’t want me to write it (and I want to write something).

Where do I go from here?

I know I don’t always express myself perfectly. I chuckle on occasion with my friend who helps me with the site because there are things I write in a word document that looks Hemingwayesque only to have it post and read like Dr Seuss. And then there are things that seem flat until they get posted. I believe part of what makes writing difficult is it can be interpreted so many different ways, so much of it depends on the reader and not the writer (and what truly makes blogging interesting is that when something gets posted then all of a sudden I get in a reader mode and have issues with the writer – okay … maybe not to the extent I stare in the mirror and go “stupid, stupid, stupid” – but rather I read as a reader and take umbrage on how I, as a writer, elected to phrase and say some things). I want to improve.

The wonderful thing about this writing thing is connecting with complete strangers with words. I like to think that my writing makes a difference in the lives of others, no matter how large or small that difference may be. The one thing I am really sure of is that my writing makes a difference, small/medium/large/venti, in my life. And I guess that is what really matters. But. I want to reach more people and see if I can make a change.

So. With that. I will write on.

Just so everyone knows … I do accept topic suggestions (I cannot guarantee I will write about it but if it peaks my interest at some point who knows).

I would imagine my love of quotes, music, common sense and intellectual curiosity will remain the backbone of what I write about. But. If I can write about Blobfish than I imagine I will write about anything. Read on as I write on. Thanks.