I confess. These last few years I’ve been struggling with creating and sustaining a regular blogging practice. Scores of writers and artists and coaches create lively, entertaining, interesting, and beautiful blogs and they make it look so easy. I want one, too. So when I saw a post on Facebook that my friend and talented artist Jane LaFazio had signed up for the self-study version of Blog Triage with Cynthia Morris and Alyson Stanfield, I signed up, too.
The first assignment was to describe the people I want to visit and read my blog—age, background, geographic location; all those demographic details that help us define our readers. This is what I wrote:
Writers or those who want to write aren’t of any certain age or background, they don’t live in any particular region (except, perhaps in their imagination; the world of ideas and language), all races and many degrees of coolness; experienced, inexperienced, semi-experienced. Pajama-wearers, stilettos, Vans. Keyboarders and writers-by-hand. There’s no demographic that invites immediate links to images of style or culture or geographic location. We’re primarily English-language speakers, that’s something besides writing we have in common.
The assignment asked what other interests readers of my blog and I have in common. I created this list, which is pretty much the basis of what I’ll be blogging about.
- How-to’s, why-to’s, when-to’s and what if’s about writing and writing practice
- Tips and suggestions and guidelines and probably some exercises.
- Writing accoutrements, cool places to write, great programs and apps.
- Books about writing and events that celebrate writing and books.
- All things writing practice, including evocative prompts.
- Gossip. Not mean-girl gossip, but fun, interesting notes on all things literary.
- Quirky, interesting things about writers and books and the writing process.
- Writing retreats and contests and places to go to write and meet other writers.
- Guest posts and interviews with other writers.
- Interesting items about libraries, bookstores, and other writing-centered places.
- Excerpts and examples of good writing and links to even more.
- What else? I’ll ask. I hope readers will tell me what interests them. (Will you?)
Are they comfortable with the blog format? the teachers ask. Probably many more than me; I’m still learning, exploring. And I expect some are in the same place as me—wanting to know more, but still a little shy. And there are those who I’ve been learning from all these years.
Will they comment? I hope so. I’d like The Lively Muse to be a place where dialogues can begin, where I can hear what others have to say, discover new and interesting stuff, and expand my community. I’ve been part of a vibrant in-person writing community for more than twenty years; I want to expand it to include this exciting, though sometimes overwhelming, tsunami of social media.
So, here’s my commitment to creating a more vibrant, more interactive, and much more frequently posted to, blog. Here’s to a livelier Lively Muse.
Are you a regular writing practitioner? Do you hang out in the blogosphere? I’d love to have your comments, thoughts, opinions.
Thanks for taking the time to read.
Hey Judy!
No blogs here, my rent payer aka job keeps me chained to the desk so I need all the off time I can get. Having said that I’m known for my acerbic comments on CTV news stories. I hide under the name WriterLinda. That could be anybody right?
As for writing I find myself getting extremely bored with my novel rewrite (I know the ending et al) so I go through a week of writing followed by — er, a time — of eating cinnybuns (cinnamon buns with that killer cream cheese icing) and thinking about writing. Since you got me started on prompted practice for which I continue to glorify you, I tend to (see how I hedge, tend to all right) do that instead of writing novel and eating sinful buns.
Your teaching continues to be phenomenal and I think of you every time I — er — want to procrastinate and hedge.
I know about the procrastination vis a vis the novel. And I’m an M&Ms muncher. Oh, us writers, so much alike.
Thanks for writing, Linda, now let’s get back to it, shall we?
Hi Judy,
I have now bookmarked The Lively Muse so I can get here with no fuss/no muss! As you know, I’m dabbling in The Writer’s Retreat Kit and striving to do so on a regular basis as good writing practice. It’s great fun, so thank you for that and for your comments on my blog. I do so appreciate your feedback and the fact that you take time to visit.
I began blogging in November 2005 when I spent three months in Scotland with my then fiance, Dave. It was during that time I first entertained The Muse and discovered I really enjoyed sharing my thoughts and experiences with others. That blog has since been retired, but I keep active with the two major ones I’m maintaining these days. Seems crazy I’ve been blogging for seven years!
I look forward to seeing what you have in store for here!
Regards,
B.
Thanks so much for commenting on this post, Betty. Maintaining two major blogs! Good grief. I think you’ve been blogging about as long as I’ve been working on my current novel. That’s a lot of words. I appreciate all of yours. See you here & there.
Judy
You mean it’s normal for my rewrite to not be finished after one entire year? I don’t have to jump off the dresser because I’m not finished yet? I’m sure glad I went shopping this afternoon and bought some more of those buns. Just for that I think I’ll get back into the draft tomorrow….
I’ve been blogging for a while (I have two blogs and you were kind enough to visit and comment at one: Bountiful Healing), and I also took the Blog Triage course (last summer) to help me pull things together a bit. I learned a lot from it. Just as I’m learning from my daily writing practice using your book (“A Writer’s Book of Days”). Although primarily a photographer, I’ve been wanting to write more, to tie together my own words with my images.
I really like your list of topics and look forward to reading more posts from you.
Robin, I love your photographs. They are stunning. What a delight to receive them in my inbox every now and again. Thanks for posting. I’ll look forward to more photos/haikus from you.
I, too, LOVE your list of blog topics. I’ll definitely be waiting to read each and every post!
You’re such a pal, Midge. Thanks. I’m excited about what’s to come. & the dialogues that spring up.
ME TOO. Oops I mean I as well.
Well, because of you, I’m trying to start a regular writing practice. Wish me luck!! I love you list of blog topics, by the way!
And I’m excited to try my hand at art journals. The prayer flag project you blogged about is inspiring, too. http://janelafazio.com/prayer-flag-project/
Ya Judy is famous for getting us started on all these good habits. Hmm.