"Make a New Plan, Stan"
“If something's important, you'll make the time”. Montgomery Scott.
I enjoy writing. I find the process helps order my thoughts. Then there’s the pleasure of communicating with others and being part of a community. Therefore, writing is something that I wish to do regularly. Up until 2015 I use to post content on Contains Moderate Peril every day. However, I began to find it a bit of a chore (because I had followed this schedule for 5 years), so subsequently reduced my output. Then in 2016 I had to make further changes due to real life issues, so my writing became even more infrequent, as did my podcasting. However, in recent weeks I cannot help but reflect upon Scotty’s wise words. I do have some leisure time and a degree of flexibility in my weekly schedule. I suspect that although time has been a factor in my reduced content output, motivation has also played a part.
My blog posts, like many other writers, reflect what my current interests are. As I’ve mentioned before my relationship with gaming has changed in recent years. So, it’s been harder to write meaningfully about them of late. Despite having often extolled the virtues of writing for yourself, I do feel I have been reticent about varying the core content of Contains Moderate Peril to drastically. So, I’ve decided to take the plunge and simply write about whatever I want. Contains Moderate Peril is no longer to be a site just about gaming, movies and other aspects of popular culture. It’s effectively going to be a vehicle what’s in my head, what I’m currently interested in, enthused or outraged about. That may be Overwatch, Sam Pekinpah or my love of Cheese. Readers can either join me on the journey or take their leave.
Stop me if any of the following sounds familiar to you. Whenever you decided to implement a new project or plan, rather than just focus on the core idea, you find yourself bogged down in the periphery. For example, because I want to write more and take Contains Moderate Peril in a new direction, part of me wants to rebrand, change blog template and generally mess around with superficial stuff that really isn’t that important to the overall scheme. I spent some time last night pondering such things before realising that such an approach really was unnecessary. So, I’m just going to leave the site as it is. I made some tiny changes to backgrounds and such like but that’s it. The idea is for me to write and that’s what I intend to do. Not everything will be long form criticism or the like. Some posts may well be nothing more than streams of consciousness or immediate thoughts and reactions. However, if I modify my approach to my writing I feel I can do more.
I also spoke with Brian last night regarding the Burton& Scrooge Uncut Podcast. It’s getting put on “the shelf” to be returned to later. The show has become unfocused, irregular and ticks over mainly because our listeners very kindly indulge us. However, I have a specific podcast project that I really want to focus on in 2017, so I am going to sideline any possibly distractions. As to the new show, well I’ll talk about that when it’s ready. That way I hopefully won’t paint myself in to any corners. In the past, I’ve made the mistake of being to specific or changing my mind about something quite quickly, causing confusion among listeners and overall panic in the ranks. Oh, and I’m also quite prepared to gatecrash other people’s podcasts in 2017. I like being a guest. I may also reach out to those other podcasters who find themselves currently at a loose end. You know who you are.
Those who regularly visit here know that I do not set myself tortuous and unrealistic New Year Resolutions. I prefer to set credible goals that can be achieved. Therefore, I’m going to endeavour to keep abreast of more quality blogs this year and strive to comment, retweet and generally provide input and feedback to my fellow content creators. The reasons for this are simple. Such interactions foster a sense of community and I also want the bastards to help me promote my crap as well. Let’s be grown up about this. Life is effectively based upon the notion of quid pro quo. I do feel that the blogging community that I have been part of for five years, has changed a lot but that is to be expected. However, I think with some mutual encouragement we can raise our collective online profile. Mind you, I’m going to leave the Newbie Blogger Initiative to others in 2017.
So, there you have it. My new plan for 2017 as advised by Paul Simon. I sure a lot of you out there may well have similar schemes in development or have thought at least about making some changes. On a serious note, I don’t think it is an appropriate time to retreat into our own respective bubbles. We need to respond to what we see, hear and read. If you have an opinion, then damn well share it. If you want to call someone or something out, then do so. Don’t let others stop you from expressing yourself just because you don’t fit into their world view. We live in an age unparalleled for and sharing ideas. Don’t squander such a golden opportunity. Happy New Year.