I’m Looking For A Good Excuse
WHY DO PEOPLE BLOG?
Why do I Blog?
The answers to these two questions are not necessarily the same. There really is no one answer I’m sure.
Some people create a Blog and post things for the world to see just so they can express their opinions to anyone and everyone who might stumble into their Blog. That’s fair. Express yourself. Of course, you must be prepared to accept the fact that, no matter what you opine, you are going to have at least half of your readers disagree with you.
Others type away online to sell something – ideas, books, cosmetics, whatever. I’m not sure if blogging is an effective way to do that. Marketing is a science and an art. I would think that a more local advertising effort would do better. However, blogging is usually free so you can’t beat the price. Also, most of us who are reading blogs are incredible cheapskates and reluctant to part with our money for anything beyond what is life sustaining.
(I guess I can honestly speak only for myself on that. Sorry. No offense meant.)
I’m also sure that there are a number of people who Blog so that they can connect with people in other lands and cultures. That’s valid and almost unavoidable. I know that my feeble Blog postings are read in approximately 65 countries. Why? I haven’t the foggiest idea. I’m not complaining mind you, just mystified. If those lovely people in Southeast Asia or Zimbabwe are getting anything out of what I write – more power to them. My Blog is very American in tone and construction. If readers are following it to improve their English language skills they could do better. I write like I speak. My word choices and punctuation are designed as if I was doing a Podcast; speaking my postings out loud. That is because of my background and training for the stage and not for the page.
So why do I pollute the ether six days a week with my stuff? It is really for a very selfish reason. I do it to make daily time with pen in hand a hardcore habit.
I think of myself as a Writer these days and unless I write each and every day I will, without fail, find excuses to not write at all. Writers write and the easiest thing to do is to find good reasons not to write. Procrastination is the Writer’s biggest foe and most cherished friend.
“Oh, it’s cloudy outside. I can’t work under these conditions.”
“What? The 347th rerun of ‘Gilligan’s Island’ is coming on? Let me put my pen away.”
I get up every morning (so far) and make a pot of tea for Dawn and then I haul my carcass down the street for coffee. That is where I write. There are too many easy distractions at home (“Distractions” – read “Excuses to not write”). Sitting at my corner table offers me fewer excuses. The Regulars there know me well enough to leave me alone when they see my hunched over and writing. To the other people there I must look scary because they leave me alone for the most part. I can usually squeeze out an hour or two of writing time before the Usual Suspects waddle in and raise such a din that it brings my solo time to an end.
Despite whatever reasons others may have for blogging I do it to ingrain a habit into my brain. I get up – I write and then I post it into the queue for publication. During the rest of the day I write sporadically or work editing and rewriting other projects. The Blog is about 500 – 700 words each day. Some of my other projects can get up to 90,000 words if I’m not careful. That is when editing becomes amputation.
So… to other bloggers in the world I say, “Congratulation and keep writing whatever your reason for doing so.
“And to you who are our readers – know that we love you, respect you and are endlessly grateful for your feedback. If you like what you read, please let us know. If you don’t like it the same thing applies. Let us know.”
That’s it for today. I need more coffee and the sun is coming up. Go about your day and enjoy yourself. Live, Love, Laugh, and keep on reading.
Down the Hall on Your Left 
Thank you from the writer, and you’re welcome from the reader.
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