Write On…
why…
An outlet. A diary. A place to entertain. It doesn’t matter what your blog is, what it started out as or what it’s turned into. It is what it is. And it doesn’t matter why. Because in the long run, when you look back, when you reflect on what went out over the world wide web, all that will be remembered is that you shared. That your feelings were expressed. That your creative outlet was plugged into.
I’ve heard it all. People saying that when they first started their weblog, it was to vent, to air out their personal dirty laundry. But once people started reading… and leaving their .02, things changed. Suddenly, their laundry started stinking a little too much to share anymore… the fact that people were reading their words made them less apt to share, less apt to be themselves. They began sharing less of themselves and more of an alter ego of sorts… one that was less fulfilling but tasted great. They played to the crowd, gave the people what they wanted… and not what THEY needed.
And you know what? That’s fine. Because again… it doesn’t really matter.
Let me tell you… there are so many reasons for a person to start a weblog in the first place. Mine, well, I write for a living. Write about serious topics all day, everyday. It’s me reporting on the stories of our communities, our schools, our lives. So this blog, and the one from Season One, is a creative outlet for me. It’s a place for me to share stories of my past and present as well as a place to put creative thoughts out there. And sometimes, when I get to collaborate with fellow bloggers, as in the case of the Surreal Life Blogger’s Edition–I live for that. Being a part of an ensemble was fulfilling for me. Being a part of a continuous storyline–a cast of sorts–made my day. Made me step up my game. Made me rise to their level. Hopefully I did that. LOL
But again… if I didn’t… it doesn’t really matter. The main point of being a part of it was the exercise itself. The exercise in sharing, in accomplishment, in doing it. I now have a network from New York to Chicago, DC to Atlanta with many points and ports in between. A network I didn’t count on when I started my blog. But really, aren’t some of the best things that happen to us in life the most unexpected?
To me, that’s what blogging is all about.
True, most of us use daily events as fodder for our blogs. Do it! Those are some of the most fascinating posts to me. To see that others go through things similar to me? Love it. Who doesn’t? It’s that ability to identify with the blogger that keeps us coming back for more.
And the creative posts meant for nothing else but entertainment purposes? Yeah… love those, too. How can you not love being entertained? Whether the posts make you spit out your morning coffee, laugh out loud or roll on the floor laughing your ass off… the mission was accomplished. The ability to make others laugh is a gift. Those that possess that gift are as important to the blog world as scientists are to the real world. Their dissection of our funny bones is priceless.
And those that share their personal stories, both of triumph and grief, the good and the bad? I love those the most. There is where they unmask themselves, bare their souls and let people into their world, one word at a time. It takes A LOT to share intimacies… something I’ve yet to really do on these pages. And they do it because it’s important to them. Yes, they care what people think… and sometimes even ask for advice… but their caring has less to do with what people say in response as it does with the message they’re sharing. How it could affect others. How it could help others to not go through what they went through. Those are the most courageous. Their blogs may not have started out that way, with all of the sharing. But they saw a need within themselves to share… and they did.
Much respect to them.
And to everyone in the blog world. It’s definitely admirable when people share their thoughts, their wishes, their dreams, their joy and their pain. There are so many of us out here. Sharing. And that’s the most important aspect of keeping a web log. The sharing.
True, it may have started out as something different than what it is. We may not always have something to post. Sometimes, just like in life, the ideas don’t flow like we feel they should. And sometimes real life just takes over, forces us to live it with no time to write about it.
But the network is there. The foundation has been laid. The ideas have been shared. All because you put it out there–whatever it is. And THAT is the most important thing.
Everything else… doesn’t really matter. Please… just WRITE ON!
Indeed.
By the way, I don’t want to have to do it, but here goes…WHEN WILL I GET AN E-MAIL THAT GIVES ME LOOSE DETAILS ABOUT HOW I CAN GET THE FANCINESS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR ENTRIES??
Comment by Kajuana — 08.15.05 @ 10:21 am
That’s true. You’ve got to have an appreciation for the different varities of blogs.
Comment by SimplyDiva — 08.15.05 @ 10:38 am
Hmm… *wondering if you think that the non-topic that is this entry has escaped me after your lovely “SHOUT OUT” on my site expressing a hope that my weekend give me something to blog about* Lovely and well-written. I give you a B+… ehh fuggit an A-. LOL
Comment by Xquizzyt1 — 08.15.05 @ 10:39 am
I love the fact that people have something to say when they blog. Whether it’s very little or a lot, they say it, and that’s a good thing.
Comment by Nikki — 08.15.05 @ 11:26 am
definitely is what it is, though, sometimes I wish I could make it more…hope you had a great weekend!
Comment by sun — 08.15.05 @ 11:34 am
Yeah Will. I love it! Your post and blogging that is.
Comment by Edwige — 08.15.05 @ 11:34 am
I agree with Kajuana- can we get an online “make my blog read like a magazine” course???
I felt everything you said on this post. I sometimes feel as though blogging made me lose something out of my normal life. I was often accused of the blog community as being this virtual “other woman” instead of just a place where I could do me and just…write.
My initial goal in ‘03 was to start a blog to step my writing game up. It has evolved into an emotional outlet - but I still think the primary objective hasn’t been lost. Well, whatever it is now…it’s all about getting it out so we don’t die trying to hold it in.
Comment by Fave — 08.15.05 @ 11:36 am
I love reading blogs. Since I sometimes like to diary, that’s kinda the way my blog began. It now has a life of it’s own, I just roll with it. The whole network thing is wondeful though. Never expected that, that’s for sure. Great.Post.
Comment by Keish, The Producer... — 08.15.05 @ 11:46 am
So much has come from blogging. I started, like Fave, as a way to up my writing game. It turned into a meeting of minds.
I’ve met so many good people through the world of blogging. Some, I hope, will remain friends for years to come. I look at states now and it’s like, hey, I know somebody there. It’s the coolest.
I still write for me, but I’ve learned how to share other parts of me with others. Hence the creation of Yanni’s Block.
Great post, Will!
*Umm, Will, I think I figured out your blurbs. Only thing–I have nothing to use it on, since I’ve been kicked out of Blogsome Bay. LMAO*
Comment by I'm A Blogger — 08.15.05 @ 12:13 pm
I’m with Kajuana! Can I get cc’d on that please!
Comment by Golden — 08.15.05 @ 1:57 pm
Not to sound like a know it all. But the code that Will is using is basic HTML or XML google it. You can get tutorials on it.
Comment by carmelcomplexion — 08.15.05 @ 3:20 pm
Oh one more thing, the best way to write the code is use an editor(HTML kit). And then transfer the code over to blogsome.
Comment by carmelcomplexion — 08.15.05 @ 3:27 pm
*co-signing w/ everyone else and taking back the Blogsome Bay Male Hottie t-shirt that I bought for your b-day* Yeah, it’s all good that you like all of these blogs (actually this post is FANTASTIC and pretty much sums up why I’ve become a bloggins addict/stalker), but I’m still salty that you haven’t shared your fancy tips with us yet….
Comment by Beloved — 08.15.05 @ 3:30 pm
I hate when I try to do clever things in italics and forget the end tag…
Comment by Beloved — 08.15.05 @ 3:31 pm
Will.Will.Will…. WOW, what can I say?… You amaze me! You definitely have a talent and I’m glad you found it within your writing abilities!!!! Your post has left me speachless! Your words reached out and grabbed me from the first sentence, held on to me with every sentence in between, and set me free, (feeling liberated) with the last!!! You have definitely found your passion and I’m so honored to be a part of it! Thank you for a wonderful read!
XOXOXOXO, Coley
Comment by Coley — 08.15.05 @ 6:05 pm
wonderful words by Will the GREAT. Nicely put and I can add nothing more profound to it. Keep writing, you have to!
Comment by Wise Diva — 08.15.05 @ 10:05 pm
Heart strings have been pulled so hard from this post, like a man on some serious “Sunshine,” it sprung me into blog-gear. I’ll be back soon. I unpacked the boxes and put everything back in its place. You so hit the nail on the head when you last visited. Things is cray-zee for me right now, but I feel even worse when I don’t connect via the air waves. I’ll be back “in my write mind” soon. Thanks for the heart-felt post.
Comment by Proactiff — 08.16.05 @ 2:56 pm
Write on brotha!!!! I LOVED this entry Will!!! Ok. I don’t have time for long comments. Just know that I loved it. IF you’ve been keeping up with me, you know that I’m having issues with my computer and I only have a limited amount of time on this here computer that I’m using. But I am so glad I read this entry. I always enjoy your Will. Ok…bye. Gotta go.
Comment by Brown Sugar — 08.16.05 @ 8:39 pm
Wow, you are really droppin’ it like it’s hot all in my head, Will. We are *so* >>YOU are and into a caricature of what will garner the ^5’s and box full o’ comments with LOL’s. Great, great entry.
)
Comment by TriniPrincess — 08.18.05 @ 9:14 am
I’d like to echo the other comments. Reading blogs like yours make me want to make my writing that much better! Thanks for the inspiration.
Comment by mellow — 08.18.05 @ 12:25 pm
People deserve wealthy life time and business loans or just consolidation loan would make it better. Just because freedom depends on money state.
Comment by BarronAbby28 — 03.23.12 @ 11:41 am