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January 2009 
Stirrings and Confusion
jdp
I've started and stopped too many blogs. Set up a livejournal, let it wither and die. Set up a myspace, let it drift into space. Was invited to blog on a professional site and turned it down.
What is it about blogging that is such a non-starter for me?
My disjointed brain. Yep, I think it all leads back to that. ETA - that and a supreme disappointment that my blogging will never coincide with a natural starting point in my life - with the most influential friendship of my life budding, with becoming a new parent, with working through illnesses... too much has gone by and not been blogged and seems impossible to recap. It seems wrong to skip over it because it made me this.
I have too many interests, loves, pursuits, things to reflect on, things to remember. The same thing happens with my personal journals at home. I have ones for different topics and none gets the attention they deserve especially when I am exploring writing fiction. And of course, lack of time (I spend too much time enJOYing to spend some recording).
This is my tentative and secluded first step to blogging, for real.
Things to ponder:
1) Do people have more than one blog? By topic? By web location?
2) How often to blog?
3) How formal to write in a blog?
4) How are the best blogs organized? How best would MY blog be organized? (see the diff? as I'm ever normal <snort>)
5) ETA #5 - where to start??? YIKES!
Topics of interest:
1) Parenting - my son, scary, but he's my life, poor thing.
2) Personal spiritual growth
3) Personal intellectual growth (not limited to philosophical but real learning)
4) My world - new passion after moving to my new town and loving being outside and how it connects #1, #2, #3!
5) Life blurbs - honestly, some of the silliest little moments become very profound for me and I don't know that it should ever be part of a blog because I don't think anyone will get it but maybe they'd get a good laugh.
My personal, new, zaadz-inspired pledge? Use this wonderfully organized site, zaadz.com and the tools given here to 'get with' the whole blogging thing. My goals are here, my interests are here and there are unlimited resources and sources. Get busy.
Access: Public
Well, it looks to me like you did what you said you were going to do. You blogged every two days for a while, and then stopped. I don't know if you got overwhelmed by it or not, or if you've just been too busy.
Maybe I can offer advice?
Even as a writer I used to find writing to be a daunting task. That was, until I began just doing it. Writing is one of those things that you get better at the more you do it. I've been writing regularly for about a decade. I know I'm only 22…but writing is and always has been my passion. It's as natural to me now as the air I breathe; the thoughts I think. Also, like the air I breathe, I sincerely think I would die without it. It's a MUST for me, but that's because I just do it to express. I can write essays, journals, diaries, stories, chapters (I still don't think I'm skilled enough to tackle a whole novel, but I'm working on it), poems, poetic essays, and whatever else suits my fancy. This is why I LOVE to blog! A blog is a great thing because it is whatever you make it. You don't have to blog paragraphs, or chapters, or entire histories. You don't have to tell us all about yourself in on fail swoop. We'll peice it together as we read along, and if we have questions, we'll ask. I blog poems, thoughts, ideas, articles, projects, and moments. Sometimes I'll just write about a thought, or an instance. Tell us something funny that happened today, or about a poem or book you read. Recommend a CD or artist. We don't have to know everything. Take it all one day at a time, and you'll find yourself enjoying it. Don't look at as a task, look at it as an expression. It's a way to communicate and get feedback. You can even post pictures and tell stories! I like blogging because I see it as a way to inspire. Whatever inspiration you find within yourself, share it! Please. We'd love to hear.
I hope that helps you. You are yourself, though, so your blog will be whatever you make it. Some people post quotes, thoughts, poems, creations, links to articles…whatever. A blog is just a place to share. If you want to share something, post it.
If you would like an example, I have a more extensive blog on myspace. The link is on my profile. Most of the entries are for friends, but you said you had a myspace, so you can friend me if you want and read them.
Good luck to you! Don't get discouraged!
~Jax
LOL! Thank you Jax! My helpful kick in the rear!
Didn't just give up. Buffetted by life at the moment and placed a higher value on staying connected in pods I care about and with zaadz friends I care about than piping off here on my blog. Don't have a computer at home so typing time is limited but I've got the skeletons of a few blogs going on scrap papers in my busy-pockets (purse).
Hoping to recover after an insanely busy next 4 days or so and a trip to an oral surgeon to post the blogs I've been working on here.
Maybe I'll do a blog about how life will remind us of priorities. I'd gotten so wrapped up in my interests I forgot to take an interest in my health. Body reminding me of my current limitations. Maybe a nudge of what I need to be seeking from more zaadzters?
Thank you Jax! I'm so glad you stopped by!
Re writing - I understand. But my blog this last week or so would have only been whining about how awful I feel. Instead I try and use any spare energy to reach out to someone else needing a hand. Helps me feel better faster. You can see blog like nuggets in some of my posts. I think until more people know me they'll be more likely to read my posts than my blog.
Can't wait to check out your blogs as well!
And I share your passion re writing. I'm not poetic but the rest we have in common. Except novels. A friend finally convinced me (oh my gosh a year tomorrow) to DO something with my writing. In the last year I have written 2 complete novels and have 3 others started as well as a series of stories I am writing with my 3 yr old son. I just let them flow onto the paper (yes I use actual paper and pen) and there they be. Sometimes I revisit and rewrite, sometimes I write new, sometimes I'm only jotting notes for other ideas. But mostly likely if I am awake and not at my job I am either playing with my son outdoors, reading or writing. Sometimes it even interferes with sleep. My next big leap will ever to call a story done and take a risk and see if someone else would like to read it. But I won't do that until I am prepared for my inspiration to cease. I think thinking these are for me only is what makes them come out of my head.
Thanks again Jax!