There’s an oddness in blogging that comes from the ability of the author to pick and choose among blog topics. Should I write about the one thing my husband said last night? No, no. That wouldn’t be good for my marriage. Should I type up the numerous fart/poop/burp anecdotes my child finds hilarious? No, everyone would realize how gross we truly are. How about a few compositions about how selfish I am day in and day out? Nah, I’m not in a mood for public confession.
The struggle with blogging is what do I tell? And am I even telling the tale accurately? Is anyone out there getting a realistic picture of me and my family? Or am I spinning stories that intentionally make me look like someone I’m not?
I don’t try to think too much about all those questions. When I do, I quit blogging because it feels so overwhelming. One thing I would like everyone to know is that I’m a mess of a person, just like everyone else. Though I try to keep my postings positive for the most part (because, really, who wants to read lots of negative moping?), I feel like my blog doesn’t represent me to the fullest capacity. But don’t hold your breath for full representation. If I ever choose to release my life’s stories, it’ll be in a memoir one day before I die.
5 Comments
Lindsey Jul 2, 2008 5:16 PM
I ask myself those questions too sometimes. And feel slightly weird that I definitely don’t disclose some of the “messier” aspects of my life on my blog. But I never promised that this was a tell-all venture. Just do as John Mayer tells us: “say what you need to say.” Ha.
Kerri Jul 2, 2008 8:58 PM
I feel that way, too–so many things have to be edited for public consumption. And yet I want to be “real” and not fakey.
I welcome *any* postings by you–mopey ones included. :)
Erin Jul 2, 2008 9:07 PM
How true is that. I’m there with you about the negative moping…some blogs I stopped reading because it was kind of a downer. But I’m with Kerri too that I don’t want to be fake. I must say, though, that if I shared all of my ugliness I’m not sure my blog would be very “fun” to read. I like the memoir idea.
bobw Jul 2, 2008 9:32 PM
count me as one who shares only some stuff. I certainly hope I’d never get or give the full picture from a blog. it’s such a horrid medium at times.
the goal of my blog is to keep grandma updated, and to have a historical record to look back on, like a photo album. I’m not here to emote much. that’s what I’ve got a wife, prayer and friends for.
Sarah M Jul 3, 2008 7:19 PM
Ah, shoot. I write what I want to write, when I want to write it…no lies included. People don’t need to know you’re not Martha! No one is (and hey, even the big lady herself got arrested, ha!) perfect–I just assume everyone knows that about each other. I think unless one is writing for a company (or is backed by one) then there it is, other than that…it’s to update the grandma’s, like Bobw said!
However, one great blog I love is likemerchantships.blogspot.com–who is specifically AIMED at something with every post–saving money and living debt free in a frugal manner. If a blog has an “aim”, I usually think it is more cohesive, but hey, who IS looking at my blog other than family members (who know I’m crazy in real life) or friends (who should by now!).
Do you want to have an aim fo ryour blog? It sure does look pretty! :)