Today, I received an opinion. Since I have been in creative writing programs for the better part of 20 years, criticism is not only acceptable, it is welcomed. Writers have to have thick skin, otherwise, there is little chance for improvement. When I teach workshops, I explain to my students that feedback is an essential part of the writing process. I encourage them not to take the criticism personally, and to look at it as a positive step toward becoming a better writer. I practice what I preach, and believe in the process.
Jason Cooper, whom I've written about in the past, offered the following bit of information to me: "The last two weeks," he said, "I feel like you've been dialing your blog in...I realize," he continued, "that you are what, 300 or so days into this?" This is post 299 to be exact. "So you may be getting a little burned out. But, I'm just not feeling them, man. And I'm a fan, don't get me wrong."
I'm glad Jason said something. I welcome his opinion. He's a good guy, and I appreciate his honesty. And he's right. To a certain extent. While I'm not really getting burned out, I am finding it more and more difficult to keep digging into my life. Maybe I'm just not that interesting of a person. Maybe I've taken much of what I find interesting in my life and have shared it. Sometimes the blog comes to me. Sometimes I struggle. Sometimes, like today and the next couple days, I am at a convention and am mentally drained (and ready to drown myself in adult beverages).
So, I ask you, dear readers, am I dialing these in? Is there something about me you'd like me to explore. I'm not going to stop this until day 365, so the feedback I get can be fuel and inspiration. Something you recommend might trigger a memory. I'm ready to stop dialing and start writing. Won't you join me in the process?
Cory - I think in blogging we can sometimes get lost in our "following". When we start approaching blogging as what can I put out there that will "entertain" or engage an audience...like all writing, you have to know your audience. IMHO my audience for my blog is me. Others that follow it and read it are icing on the cake, but they aren't who I'm targetting. It's back to why are you writing the blog? For you, or them? I think somewhere along the line you might have gotten lost in the goal. I have to write for 365 days. It's not the daily writing that's the problem, it's the reaching for what to write. Some days it's not going to be a triumphant entry. Some days I'm thinking about the weather and that's what I write about. It's what's on my mind at the moment. Of course, not having a daily writing requirement I don't have to write if the mood isn't there, unlike you...I'm not dogging on the goal, don't get me wrong, it's just you're an artist and you're approaching it as such. And with all art, sometimes the mood is there, and sometimes not. Don't be harsh on yourself when you skim the surface some days. It's even okay once in a while to borrow a ladder. When I need to regenerate my posting/writing, I hit my friend Sophia's blog. She does all sorts of creative things (and she's a daily poster) she goes from memories to current events to lists, etc. And so sometimes I copy an idea and make it my own to feel refreshed. All of it's okay. Just don't quit.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hate when you do the "countdown" it makes me afraid that come day 366 I'll be cut off. What I hope is that you keep blogging, but that you'll realize the freedom to take a day off when you need to once d-day has passed. As for me, I've loved every one of your entries. I've learned more about you than I previously knew, and that's saying a lot. So, stick it out, realize it's okay not to dig deep every single day. And, in the end, this blogging adventure is about you - YOU are the audience.