Deep Meaningful Personal

I really like reading Schmutzie's stuff at schmutzie.com.  Sometimes it's just cute pictures of her cats, or her toes, or a tree and a poem or something.  Sometimes she writes about shoes - super, awesome shoes.  But most of the time it's deep, meaningful and personal.  Like her most recent blog which is hopeful and beautiful while being tragic and sad at the same time.  I hope one day to be as brave as her.  I often feel like I'm reading her diary - which feels voyeuristic and weird.  Then, I remember she's put this out there for me to read.  Which still feels weird when I think about it really hard.

I love to write - the act of writing is satisfying to me.  Do I need others to read it to make it real?  Like that tree in the forest thing - if there are no ears to hear the sound is a sound actually made?  If there's no one else to validate the writing has the act been worthwhile?  Well, sure - I write in my journal and it's very cathartic.  But, would I feel comfortable having others read it - strangers who live a million miles away and have never met me?  Would it be easier for strangers to read it and less comfortable to have friends read it?  Or vice versa?  If I write a book that an agent actually reads it won't be my diary, but it will still be part of me.  Part of me on the page, in black and white for all to see.  That sounds a little scary.  And, yet, I really appreciate the posts that Schmutzie puts out there.  They are heart-warming and heart-breaking.  I love that connection  I make with another human being when I read her stuff.  And, I'm an extreme introvert, so I don't make connections quickly. Of course, in a way I've known her for over 20 years - but, not really.

It's amazing what you can do with a piece of paper and a pen, or a keyboard and a website!  Bare your soul and connect with others in deep, meaningful and personal ways.

Cheers!

Write What You Like

Thanks to Austin Kleon for his post about being an artist.  His third suggestion for being an artist/writer is 'Write the book you want to read', and he gave me permission to 'write what I like'.  As he says, the maxim 'write what you know', is not only cliche but boring.  I have to agree - I'm pretty sure that no one is really interested in a long, meandering story about a woman (nearly forty and lowering her cholesterol) who spends her days as an assistant to a university vice-president and her evenings and weekends as an amateur burlesque performer ... hmmm.  Seriously, my life is actually quite mundane and would not make for interesting reading.  However, what I like is mystery novels and history.  And, I can write that!

My plan is for this blog to become an exercise in 'publishing' something at least once a month - I'm trying not to be too ambitious.  I'd love to publish a post once a week, but I don't know if I have that much resolve.  My dear friend at A Blissful Life posts about once a week and I love it!  So, hopefully I can do the same.

For now this is a small blog.  My personal exercise in writing what I like and doing it often!

Cheers!