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To blog, or not to blog… the modern day question.
365 days ago, that little play on Hamlet was how my blog, Seeker of Truth, entered the blogosphere.
Blogging is rampant in the world today. It seems everyone and his grandmother’s parakeet has a blog. And there’s literally something for everyone. As my best friend quipped to me the other day, “If you’re into collecting antique soup can labels from the 1800s, there’s probably a blog for you.” And in this digital age where virtually anything you want to know is at your fingertips, having your say is also just a few key strokes away. No experience necessary.
The scariest moment is always just before you start.
~ Stephen King, On Writing
When I began, a year ago today, I had a pretty clear-cut idea of what I wanted my blog to be. In that debut post, I described my new blog as a potpourri, an “exchange of ideas, opinions and facts.” Hence the name, Seeker of Truth. I wanted to talk about religion, history and art – both famous works and my own paintings; to explore books, review television and movies, analyze literature, and so on.
But while I knew what I wanted to do, I couldn’t anticipate just how it would work out. I was immediately filled with doubts. Would anyone read it? Would anyone care? What if I’m too boring, both in the topics I write about and simply how I write?
And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.
~ Sylvia Plath
If you’re new to blogging, ignore those questions. The number one thing to remember when you’re writing anything, is that you should ENJOY it. Write because you love to write, and write what you’re passionate about. Most of us aren’t blogging for cash, it’s not our job. Blogging is something we do in our spare time. It’s a creative outlet designed for our enjoyment. If sitting down to write a new post feels like waiting for a root canal at the dentist’s office? You either need to rethink what you’re writing about and why you’re writing it, or find a new hobby. Blogging shouldn’t be a painful experience.
I sit here browsing my blog a year later, perusing my 24 posts, and I’m pleased. My blog has become exactly what I was hoping it would. There’s a nice mix of what interests me. I wish I had the time and inclination to post more frequently, but I’ve still managed to average two posts a month, which I feel is adequate.
I value quality over quantity. Sure, lots of people turn out a post a week, or even every day. And yes, there are a number of extremely talented writers whose work is impeccable no matter how frequently they blog. But they are few and far between. Many of the daily blogs are just random collections of words: no real purpose, no intent, boring to nearly everyone except the person who wrote it. To each his own, but I don’t need a daily diary of the cute things your cat has done today. Nor am I interested in hearing about your latest sexcapade, ladies (and I use that term “ladies” loosely).
I like to read things with a little substance, so it stands to reason that I’m going to write something with substance. Whether I’m explaining the planning process of painting a masterpiece, or I’m commenting on my favourite episodes of The Twilight Zone, I want what I write to be both entertaining and valuable to the person reading it.
If I had to pick a favourite post, it would have to be “The “Divine” Art of Gustave Doré ”. It combined my two favourite things: Beautiful art and research. I’m a seeker, I like to read and discover things. It’s an actual compulsion at times, to solve a mystery or just learn more about something that interests me. This post explored not only Doré the artist, but Doré the man. It’s also bursting at the seams with pictures. And as everyone who’s been to my blog knows, I’m quite fond of having an abundance of pretty things to look at.
Writing is just another medium of art, but the goal is the same. Writing is not just about putting down words on a page or screen. Anyone can describe what is seen with the eye, but writers and artists show us what’s beyond the outer appearance — they reveal the soul. There are millions of writers in the world. What sets the good ones apart from the rest is the ability to make you care about what you’re reading. I try not to just write something that will be read and forgotten, I want to write something that can be felt and leave the reader wanting to know more.
Though I was skeptical at first, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my blogging experience this past year. The best part? There’s still an infinite supply of topics to write about, and a whole myriad of diverse and interesting people to meet. Want to know what the Seeker of Truth will be tackling next? Follow the blog and stay tuned to find out.
Happy anniversary, Seeker of Truth!
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