Thoughts on Blogging Part 10
“Dear Sir, please send fish. Best wishes, Binky”
The end of Blaugust Festival of Blogging 2019 presents the perfect opportunity to write another entry in my “Thoughts on Blogging” series. According to the Blaugust schedule this is the “lessoned learned week”, although I’m not too keen on that specific phrase. It sounds too much like the sort of bogus, sombre platitudes that politicians trot out in the wake of some national tragedy. But such is the nature of semantics and such is the curious fashion in which my mind works. So rather than worry of the wording, I’ll just simply reflect upon the past month and consider what it means for my writing, both present and future. Because I do believe that over the last month, I have had a minor epiphany with regard to my relationship with blogging.
A month and half ago, I was feeling unmotivated and not particularly disposed towards writing on a regular basis. Yes, I have had demands on my time and a degree of stress brought about by real world issues. But that’s life. There’s always something going down. And such negative mindsets often end up becoming self-fulfilling prophecy. However, along comes Blaugust offering a shot in the arm (or a kick in the butt), as it always does. I find that groups are better at fostering a sense of enthusiasm and momentum for these sorts of activities. So I got busy writing. I composed a few posts that offered advice in the hope that my experience may be of use to others. I also began writing about the things I enjoy again. Only this time it was mainly due to passion, rather than a sense of obligation. I stayed the course and felt good doing it.
“Good for you”…
Blaugust has confirmed a few suspicions I’ve harboured about my own style of writing. I don’t do brevity. If a point is complex then take as much time necessary to explain it properly. Write what you believe to be right, not what you think people want to hear. If you find yourself on the wrong side of a prevailing consensus, then so be it. In fact enjoy the perspective. Also, stop wasting your time waiting for that article you’ve always wanted to read, that says that thing that you passionately believe. Just go write it yourself and be done. Blaugust has also once again proven that I work better to a plan and I need to be organised. Time can be found to do things, if you deem them important enough. I believe Scotty said something like this and who am I to contradict the greatest engineer in fiction?
“Bullshit, Mr Han Man”
So what next? Well I intend to keep writing. Regularly. I see no reason why I can’t continue as I have throughout August. There’s always a film to review or an article over on Massively Overpowered that is wrong and needs to be rebutted (I jest of course. Or do I?). I’m also going to dust off my notes and get back on track with writing my book. The one that is planned, researched and just needs writing. And I believe that a podcast is due. So I’m going to send out emails invites to pressgang some guests and set a recording date. Life is too short and I’m getting old and need to stop being excessively diplomatic and accommodating to other people. To paraphrase a quote from Enter the Dragon “we forge ourselves in the fire of our will”. So unless I hear cries of “Bullshit, Mr Han Man”, I’m just going to crack on and do my thing. Which is write (with emotional content).
