“Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow…”
— Lawrence Clark Powell quotes (American Librarian, Writer and Critic, 1906-2001)
I love to blog. I love to blog about anything. A thought. An idea. Something personal. Something that’s happened. Something that’s happening. In short, I love to blog. I love to blog and I love to read blogs. I can spend all day, seriously, reading and pondering many different posts or the entire blogs themselves. I learn from blogs and from blogging. You can say both make me think; critically. Similar to that class in high school that you are mandated to take, Critical Thinking. Or really what I was mandated. Maybe not you. I don’t really remember what was taught in the class, but I am sure it involved some pretty heavy critical thinking.
I’m not a “professional” blogger. By any means. I know, you are as shocked as I am. I’m just a wee babe, we’ve got some time. If you want to throw me monies now, I’ll gracefully oblige. You don’t? Yeah, I wouldn’t throw any of my pennies your way either. Times are tough and my stomach is not going to feed itself. So with not being a “professional” blogger it feels even less appropriate when someone writes an article on a current thought or idea they have and you’re thinking they could have done better. The piece was missing something. Maybe it wasn’t deep enough. Maybe it lacked organization — I’m highly skilled at that. In fact, stick ‘lack’ in front of anything and I’m sure you’ll find me. Yet even as a “professional” blogger what gives you any right to give pointers or critique someone else’s writing? Can you imagine Dooce and TheBloggess dropping each other pointers on how they could do better? Yeah, not very pretty.
It takes my all not to comment what I really feel about a post. I will stare at the post contemplating if I can state eloquently my thoughts or opinions. If I realize I cannot, I will simply move on, but with that urge taking it’s time to ruminate and ever so slowly dissipate or not. I will, however, lack (see?) eloquence if what you say on my blog leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I think that may be why I’m more censored on others. You can find a way to thank me later. Seriously, save your Christmas money for someone else. So, essentially if what I read from you ruminates in my mind enough, I will make a post about it, without calling you out. I’m just too damned kind; sickeningly sweet.
So writing and critiques, writing and critiques. I read a post recently (could mean within the last 10 years or today, choice is yours) that shared an idea, a universal truth, a thought that kept them pondering and maybe ruminating themselves. I’m liking that word today. They shared it, putting it out there for all to see like most of us do. I’m not a teacher as I only ever have been a student. I do not have a career in writing — stay tuned as that shall be in the works. But as well as this person writes I was a little surprised. The piece was an excellent topic. The beginning started out pretty strong. As it went on, I became a little lost as the piece became less enthralling. They were either reaching too far or maybe were tired, but still had this to share (been there, done that — this may be one of them). The conclusion of either being a conclusion or one of those pieces that end with the thought of never having a conclusion was uncertain. I also felt in need of wanting a back story or a more predominant statement that said there was no exact backstory.
The piece scraped only the surface and I felt I was left in the dark. It does really hurt to bite my tongue. I don’t always want confrontation as that is not always necessary. I just will say what is on my mind. Unless I know it could offend. Though, if I knew you in real life and was comfortable around you, my oh my. I’m definitely an acquired taste. And lovable at the same time. I don’t want perfection out of everyone, I just want everyone to strive for their best. Think critically. Even in factual writing; Who, What, When, Where, Why, How? Tell me how you really feel. I’m listening.
Related articles
- How to Stop Ruminating (tinagilbertson.wordpress.com)
- Blogging Vs. Print Editing/Part I (dissertationgal.com)
- Anatomy of an Effective Blog Post (toddlohenry.com)
You are already a professional writer. I’m amazed at the thoughts and ideas you generate on a daily basis. Love your blog.
Awe shucks! You’re so sweet. Wait until I write something that makes your blood boil and then just think back on this.
I’m going to respond via a post, because this is one of those seems simple gets complicated things to answer (in my head anyway). I’ve ranted about it before, but I may actually write seriously for once. I’ll ping you
Ooo I’m intrigued. Looking forward to this.
It is here, insult it at your leisure
Uh oh… I feel like you’re talking about one of my recent posts! I wasn’t completely happy with it, but I posted it anyway because I didn’t know what exactly was missing, and I didn’t want to ruin what I already had! I usually make a point of not blogging about something until I’ve been able to give the idea sufficient time to “develop;” hence the reason I have about 50 blog ideas floating around in my head, none of which are ready enough to be written down!
I completely agree with you, though. Sometimes I don’t comment because I don’t want to say something rude.
Oh Mz Cranky, you would be ever so inclined to think it’d be about you! I totally am kidding now, if I’m not coming across that way.
It’s interesting to hear your writing style, mine is different. If I let a blog idea stay in my mind, I’ll lose it or it will lose the momentum it had when I first thought about it and then I don’t know how to write it because I have been overthinking and will choose to forget about it.
I also can’t save something as a draft and come back to it later to finish it or revise it. I have tried that a couple times and I’ll end up trashing a paragraph or two because I can’t get back into my mode with it. I edit while I write, I contemplate while I write and by the end of the post I’ll publish it, sometimes with flaws like misspellings or using the wrong word. I guess basically my writing is free styling with a twist. I’ll get my idea, create a title (I can’t work without a title) then try to keep to my idea of the title’s potential. Then after I’ve published it, I’ll read it 3 times, fix the typos and update it. Read it over again when someone likes or comments to feel it out and see what I did that was good and what I did that they felt was not so good. Then I hope I will have another inspiring idea and that my writing improves rather than stagnates or falters.
I think I like to talk about writing.
Yes, I totally know what you mean! I can never write a draft of something, for the same reasons you describe. If I had lots of time (which I don’t at the moment), I could probably sit down with a partial idea and see where it goes. Sometimes I get an idea that I really want to blog about but I can’t seem to figure out exactly what I want to say about it… So it gets catalogued and either resurfaces in a better form, or it disappears. Some posts, however (like the one that was freshly pressed, ironically), I think of and write in 10 minutes… no challenge. Strange how that happens…
It sure is interesting, though, that we all have different ways of approaching our writing.
type, type, type… delete, delete, delete. Repeat until you give up and move on to another blog. But what if, by not making the effort to write the honest critique (in the nicest way possible, of course) you’ve denied the blogger the very advice they needed to improve their writing?
Your post has inspired me to comment more often. Starting with this comment. As long as I can get myself to stop re-writing it and… just… click… post comment….