It would be inaccurate to say that in writing here I exaggerate; yet an idea takes but a moment to wing its way through the brain, and given the busy nature of life and the relative importance we usually place on fleeting thoughts I can see how it would seem blown out of proportion to write eight hundred words about an event that took only a moment or paragraphs of angst over a tiny worry. How much more mountains-out-of-molehills would you think it if you knew the number of hours (many, oh god how many) it took to compose such pieces, dripping word by painful word out and around the dozens of interruptions your intrepid narrator endures daily?
When you come right down to it, the question becomes one of scale and time. Does the scale of what’s written match up with the meat-space magnitude? Does time flow the same inside and outside of text? How often is there a disconnect from artistic license or bad memory? Considering scale and time it must be terribly disconcerting to read here something that references oneself. Reading things about myself no matter how favorable sends me into squirming worry even faster than toe-sucking. 1
Thus are the dangers of blogging and reading what’s blogged, and we won’t even touch the trouble over things that must go unsaid, the very very many things that must go unsaid. You should be asking yourself about every blog you read: What is this writer not saying? What should she be saying but isn’t? What subjects did she once talk about so freely but now does not? And most importantly, why?
Answer those and you’ll have a better grasp of the truth.
- This is why it is best, I guess, that I only ever slept with one other sex blogger, though ohmigod there a few to whom I would give my very soul, if I believed in such a thing, in exchange for a single night. It is safer that way. [↩]
I enjoy the way you write entirely. Have I told you that lately?
Thank you, Shannon. :)
Nah, this form of expression can change you. It’s incumbent upon us to recognize that what is delivered is not “truth” per se, but enough reality, enough artistic license, to achieve something better than plain mundane happenings.
The best achieve a relationship between writer and reader, based upon experiences, that elicit emotion and caring and yes, even simple entertainment.
In my opinion of course.
I have read a blog where ‘what the writer not saying’ was HUGE. As such, she was hurt by it and unable to alleviate those hurts.
What should she be saying? How about the flip side of that coin? Which brings us to your final questions.
Expressing yourself may be dangerous–but it may also save others.
‘What is this writer not saying’ is largely the theme of my best blogging.
Because I write under my own, real name, it was only a matter of time before someone I knew found me. And of course, as soon as I had an audience, what I write began to change.
As people from my real life began to read, as people I lived with, or had slept with, or had hurt in some way began to read my words, what I said began to slither down between the cracks, until everything that mattered was barely or even un said.
The people who mattered might have understood; I’ve no idea.
Audiences change what we say, ’til sometimes we’re rendered nearly mute. That’s where I am now, which is why my blog consists mainly of impersonal review and cultural commentary, and almost never about anything that matters.
And that is really a pity, because I know you have a lot to say.
You are in desperate need of the sooper-seekret blog, my friend.
I had one once. And then I mistakenly left a trail of breadcrumbs and *someone* found it. I haven’t ever succeed with one since.
Ok, fine. I’m trying again with the semi-secret blog.
url on request for those special few.
Interesting. And so pertinent.
Beauty is in the detail and the details take as long as they take. In my opinion this is the secret of a good blog and good art.
Whatever you write, I’ll read without judgement but with enjoyment.
Formulaic prose induces ennui; your creative spontaneity is much appreciated.
Thank you Jake. That made my day.
What you don’t write about is probably none of my business, so I don’t worry about it. I just enjoy what you do write about.