I just got slapped awake today by a reading of an excellent article on skelliewag.org, which offers a lethal but necessary dose of truth about blogging: be original and don’t sell out. So simple and pure, I know, but so fundamental anyone who blogs.
Now I confess: I have been operating Wordful as a wanna-be marketer more than the excitable and contextual writer I am. I have been angling my content to fit the mold of what’s popular and what may one day be commodified. Five ways to do this, ten best practices of doing that, the lists go on. With so many people following this “magic” blogging formula these days, it’s no wonder great conversations and content are a rare find.
I will also admit, however, that my content is honest and genuine, taken from first-hand experience. But somewhere along the way I’ve left behind my mojo — the stuff that makes me who I am. I checked my identity at the door because I was too afraid to rise up and defend creativity for creativity’s sake.
So, dear reader, if you’re like me–guilty of this sort of writing debauchery–and are willing to admit it, then please do so as soon as you can. Admit it and move on to the next step of your blogging endeavors. Don’t wait for your blog and its semi-remarkable, quantity-over-quality content to walk its way into the annals of forgotten mediocrity. Do something about it — just be yourself and enjoy every iota of it.
Life is full of unexpected synchronicities. Lately I’ve been feeling pretty blah about this blog and where it’s headed. But today I happened to read Seth Godin’s “The Dip” (about knowing when to quit and when to stick so you become the best in the world at what you do) and Skellie’s post, and boom! suddenly I feel like everything is going to be okay.
So, like I said, things are going to change around here.
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