Just write.
(You’re in for a wild ride on this post. If you’re a skimmer, skip to the bottom and look for the asterisk)*
That’s what I keep hearing at least, or maybe that’s what I keep thinking to myself. Either way my mind keeps telling me that I need to stop talking about writing and just write. My problem is I like to write my stories and post them to my site. The old grey matter does better when I’m posting it here for everyone to see allowing me to get feedback. I shouldn’t do that though because posting stories on your blog makes it hard to get said stories published later. Fick.
Except, I shouldn’t be writing, I should be editing. The problem with that is it’s not been long enough between last sentence and divorcing myself from my story to edit. Or was that referencing being critiqued? Wait . . . I’m getting confused.
This post is about writing, but not.
Oh, let me cover a little more territory real fast. Rational Absurdity nominated me for a Versatile Blogger Award. What a nice thing to do!
Oh, hey! Thanks for the Nom!
—-
Aside: I have no clue why people like me. I’m not fishing for compliments, I’m just making a statement. I don’t have a clue what it is about me that anyone could find even remotely interesting. When people tell me they miss me, I always wonder why. I also wonder why people clamor to spend time with me. I’m really not that interesting. I’m abrupt and snarky. Maybe it’s my cuteness that keeps them coming back?
Me on New Years Eve. My tummy pokes out
Nah. That’s not it. I don’t know what it is then.
—-
Back on task
Here are the rules:
- In a post on your blog, nominate 7 fellow bloggers for The Versatile Blogger Award.
- In the same post, add the Versatile Blogger Award.
- In the same post, thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link back to their blog.
- In the same post, share 7 completely random pieces of information about yourself.
- In the same post, include this set of rules.
- Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.
My picks
- Suggestivetongue: Very knowledgable about sexual education topics.
- Moths To A Flame: Best dating stories. Ever. Period. Laugh out loud funny.
- Madison Woods: Hosts some outstanding prompts and an all-around cool lady
- Nick Rolynd: Great story-teller
- 1 Story A Week : also a spectacular teller of stories.
- Feisty Red Head : I love the homey, sweet feeling I get when I read her posts.
- You (or anyone reading this. It’s hard to “Pick” people because you think about all the people you’re leaving out. I like a lot of different people.)
Random crap you (probably) didn’t (want to) know about me. We’ll keep it short and sweet.
- I used to cross stitch and draw
- I have a 4 tattoos
- I’ll turn 30 in 2 years and plan on going on vacation for 2 weeks. I freaked out when I turned 20 so I don’t anticipate this will go well for me.
- I will friend my students on Facebook, but not on Twitter. Ever.
- I really like guys with muscles.
- I don’t watch much prime time TV. I like travel channel a lot because I love to travel
- I’m going to Japan in July for my birthday.
Pre picture of the tattoo on my left side. Hurt like no one's business
Boo ya!
*For those who skipped to the bottom.
Reader’s Digest version of this post is: I’m procrastinating. I have to teach tomorrow and I feel (mostly) ready. Also, I want to write, but editing is what I need to do. Lastly, I need to quit writing about writing before I scare off all my readers. Lastly (wait, didn’t I already say lastly?), I printed off my most recent story, but something I read said you should wait like six weeks before you edit. Plus, I haven’t heard back from enough people who I sent my rough draft to.
So, for those who read all this (and to those who skimmed to the bottom or just looked at the pictures), you were brave for making it this far. I would have abandoned ship at the first paragraph. Points for perseverance. Have a cookie!
Sorry, I took a bite first. You can have the rest though!
i read it all, don’t underestimate your talent, you have all the makings of a great writer
Thanks for reading the whole thing. Having read some of your stuff, I’ll take that as a high compliment. Thanks for stopping by.
i agree with Kyle. plus you are funny. the cookie had me roll’in
In my head I think I’m funny, but I never know if that actually translates to other people. I hope you took the cookie!
1. I see no tummy poking out whatsoever. (is that one word??)
2. I’m glad that you are a Cancer, assuming that you are. Maybe you’re a Leo, which is fine too.
3. I never really get why people like me either.
4. I have no tattoos but I have a piercing.
5. Thanks for the cookie!!! D you have to separate the two sides, eat the middle and then the separated cookies? Me too! Otherwise I hate Oreos.
I do believe whatsoever is a word. I’m actually a Leo, July 30. My birthday is my favorite holiday as a rule. I’m trying to talk myself into (or out of?) another tattoo on my other side. And you’re welcome on the cookie. I usually just eat them whole. I want it in my belly immediately. I have issues with sensory feelings that I just don’t want to get into, but know taste is a big deal and I don’t like much to get in the way of that.
I really like your blog and I actually read it all (no skimming) and I am a skimmer. How could you not be in this day and age?? Thanks for sharing.
I’m terrible about looking at word lengths for posts before I read and then I have to decide how interested in the topic I am if it’s a long post. Sometimes, it’s okay to skim. First and the last paragraph tell you what you need to know typically. Thanks for commenting!
Thank you for the nice words and award
I’ll try to fulfill my recipient duties later this evening or tonight. Oh, and THANKS for the cookie! Now I want more, and real ones with milk…
Go crazy and have two cookies with milk.
I used to cross-stitch too! Lovely post …
I need to pick it back up. Thanks for stopping by! In retrospect, I wish I had nominated you as well.
No worries … but thank you!
I disagree! Respectfully, of course. Meta-writing is fun! It’s quirky, it’s exciting, and it helps you realize things you didn’t see before in your own writing. As long as you are examining. Granted, you should be going back and revising/re-imaging your work, but have some fun and write about writing!
This isn’t really an example of writing about writing; it’s more writing about fiction. In any case, Margaret Atwood’s “Happy Endings” is an absolute work of art:
http://users.ipfw.edu/ruflethe/endings.htm
I like writing about writing, I was just remarking about how people say you shouldn’t. I was feeling feisty when I wrote this.
Kind of upset lol … wish I had read this earlier before I suffered bloggers block!
40 hit me pretty hard, and my oldest’s 19th birthday this year hit me even worse than that. I should be ok now, until my youngrst turns 18, i have 4 years to go!
I told my hubby I don’t plan to grow old gracefully; I’m gonna go kicking and screaming the whole way. Hang in there kid. It will get better.
I used to cross stitch religiously in my 20s and 30s. It was the first thing of many I gave up when I started working full time. I miss it, but in it’s place over the past few years I’ve taken up jewelry making, wood turning, and reunited with my very first creative love: writing.
Keep posting. I’ll keep reading.
The fact that you’re a skimmer and you still read my posts makes this newbie Ll warm and fuzzy. 
I’m hoping I can handle getting older. It’s going to be dicey! It’s just that decade change that I seem to have the biggest issue with.
I’m similarly confused about blogging–but for different reasons. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and I feel as though my work should be at the publishable level by the time I write it. I’m currently working in a scientific field, and I’d much rather be writing for The Atlantic, Smithsonian or something like SPIN Magazine.
But how do you get “noticed” by potential employers, or (in your case) publishers? Sometimes I feel like my best content is not reaching the audience that I’d like it to as well, which is a whole separate issue.
I think I’ve begun to figure out what I’m blogging about–I post daily on the weekdays with songs that I enjoy, and either provide a brief narrative relating to the song, or offer some critical analysis on the piece or the artist’s work. But for me, other people’s content, songs, and videos have been the driving factor for visitors to my site (with the exception of posts like the one I wrote yesterday, and other “featured posts” on my site). That makes your storytelling both challenging and very rewarding when you publish your work online, in spite of your anxieties. Any feedback you get from people, all positive remarks–they’re all related to your own thoughts exclusively. It’s pretty cool:)
I think your blog is great. I’ll have to browse around a bit more. Thanks for taking a look at mine!
Oh, and I wrote a meta-post about writing as well, right as I started going on my page. Here it is, in case you’d like a comrade in confusion! http://bloggerphobic.com/2012/01/06/ugh/
I guess I don’t think about this as a venue to garner large amounts of attention. In my mind, I think about building friendships so my topics revolve around the fact that it’s a struggle to be a writer (nothing new there) and how every writer can relate to that. As I work toward publishing, the hope is as I connect to other writers and bring in readers, I can use this as a platform to promote my book(s). That’s ideally. Reality says this site will always be the place where I complain about my life. That’s my topic of choice.
I really liked that post you put up. As someone guilty of skimming, I read that whole thing and found it to be well thought out and very intelligent as well as entertaining. In other words, you write well. Thanks for stopping by
You know, when you put in those terms it’s hard not to like how it sounds
“Attention” is not what I’m going for so much as readership. But the real purpose of my blog is two-fold: to write about something that I’m passionate about and to share that pasion with people, and to practice writing. I graduated from college last May, and I haven’t really had an opportunity to push myself in a creative or analytical direction until I started typing.
I did not expect to find or build friendships online via the blogosphere–so when a thoughtful reader or an eager up-and-coming band or creative group stumbles across my blog, I’ve always been very warmly surprised by their support and interest. This is a much friendlier place than I expected. It’s not why I started writing online, but it’s certainly a big benefit. Without that community, I’d feel a bit like I was shouting into the wind. I guess that’s why at least some readership is important to me.
I hate to do this to you, but I think you’d really like this (shorter) post that I’m about to link you too. Last one! But it’s my mission statement for starting this blog. I think you’d like it…
http://bit.ly/zTIUaA
“I shouldn’t do that though because posting stories on your blog makes it hard to get said stories published later.”
Is that true??? *gasp*
That’s what I’d seen. I took down novels I posted on here because I definitely didn’t want it to hurt my ability to really publish them once they’re edited. It’s what I’d seen at least.