Newscoma

I didn’t want to go nuts today over at NewsTechZilla with all the cool stuff I found at CopyBlogger this morning as I’ve already linked them over there this morning. Also, go read Kathy Tyson’s featured article right now. It kicks the proverbial hiney. Seriously, it is some good stuff.

Anyway, I found this:

When it comes to the things that keep us from writing, you’ll see the usual villains pop up. Lack of time is a big one, as are the various other life distractions that take us away from the keyboard.

But based on my personal experience, there’s a nasty demon hiding behind the excuses we make. This four-letter word represents a condition we don’t like to admit to ourselves, much less utter in polite conversation.

Yep, it’s the “F” word.

Fear.

I am no authority on fear, I assure you. I can tell you I’m afraid of a lot of things. I’m sitting on three novels that I won’t let anyone read. I’m afraid of being unemployed, as that seems to be happening to a lot of my friends right now. I’m ready to make some big moves and I second guess myself. I’m human.

We all have our own fears. Your mileage may vary.

But I was thinking after I read this that I know a lot of writers who aren’t writing or blogging right now. I know a lot of writers who aren’t writing in my little slice of the planet and their dream was to be a writer. Not everyone is going to be Jane Austin or Harper Lee. But that’s already been done, hasn’t it?

One woman I know said, “I don’t think anyone would be interested in what I write.” This is where I call foul. If you don’t think you are interesting, how will anyone else think you are interesting.

Everyone has a story. If you measure your story to another person’s story, you will be disappointed each and every time.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If you are a writer, write.

The heck with everyone else. You might be a hell of a lot more interesting than you think.

And, I write this to remind myself as much as you that the only thing we have to fear is …

Spiders.

Ron is a great writer. He’s on about a kajillion blogs right now and he waxes philosophical on this beat of blogging.

Bloggers are vain.

Maybe we’re not physically vain, though I know some bloggers are. What we are is emotionally vain. Not to generalize or anything (he says right before launching into a series of broad generalizations), but we’re a lot of misfits. Basically, there’s no such thing as a normal blogger who doesn’t do it for pay alone. Hell, even those that do it for pay are probably weird, too. We’re overworked young professionals. We’re mothers stuck indoors with the kids all day who need to speak to someone on an adult level. We’re geeks, dorks, and dweebs who hide behind websites or nom de blog or the general anonymity of the Internet to reach out to other people in a safe manner without all the fear that comes with meeting someone face to face.

It’s a lot easier to relax and be yourself online (or be a totally fake person, but if you try that kind of thing you’ll generally get found out one way or another). You don’t have to worry about the fact that you need a shave, or that you’ve got popcorn husks in your teeth, or that you’re a 450lb albino balding midget. Nobody’s judging you for how you look, or how you’re dressed, or how much money you make. It’s all about how well you write, the links you find, and the connections you make with other bloggers with your personality.

The whole post is amazing and if you want to see someone break it down on why bloggers blog, this is your best bet today.

UPDATED: Aunt B. is talking about this as well this morning. As I’m still going through post-election blogging uncertainty and a blogging mini-identity crisis, the best thing I can add to her post is our words on the Internet, we want them to please others but in the end, they have to please us as individuals as well.

The Internet is a fickle bitch. As Ron articulated and as Aunt B. did as well, you have to have some real about yourself or people won’t come by to visit. I’ll never forget having lunch with Huck a couple of years ago and the man with him, his name escapes me, said he likes to read blogs where it’s not just one thing. That he wants to feel a connection with the writer. He also said that if political blogging is your thing, it’s best to feel like there is a real person behind it. I’ve taken this sage words of advice to heart. I figure that you guys come here because you choose to.

And I’m grateful to each and every one of you for being a part of Newscoma. It’s a wonderful bond as there are times I feel completely geographically challenged but the Internet and bloggers has opened the world to me. It’s important for me on a personal level. Yes, I do this for me. But also, yes, I like the connection of feeling a part of something bigger than myself.

Wow, deep this morning.

Killa did an exercise that I think is wonderful. She’s a better writer than she gives her self credit.

The first sentence: “In a seedy little casino on the outskirts of Las Vegas…..”

The last sentence: “From then on, they became the stars of the local fire department in Louisiana….”

The idea of this story is to be the most random, “What the hell” story in the blogosphere. I think I succeeded and showed everyone how I should just stick to design work and not write. Ever.

You need to read the whole thing. It’s hysterical.

What a great writing exercise. I’d like to see what Big Stupid Tommy could do with this.