Thursday, March 5, 2009

Meh.

I’m thinking about disbanding this blog. I haven’t posted lately, due, mostly to being unusually busy, both at work and at home. However, I’ve recently been thinking about what exactly the purpose of this blog is, and whether I’m meeting that purpose.

I mean, I think I’ve generated a little conversation, I think I’ve caused a few people to laugh a little, I think I’ve done some pretty decent writing. But I don’t know if I’ve reached the expectations I’ve had for myself. And being that those expectations weren’t defined, it’s hard to really say.

It’s also difficult to write about the same things over and over. After all, what’s been in the news? The stimulus, the automakers, Blago and Burris. In a way, I can understand how paid, circulated columnists can keep hitting upon these topics—not only are they paid, but I’m sure they get lots of reader feedback. (No, this isn’t a solicitation of more readers and/or comments). Because when you are encouraged to keep hammering away at injustices and hypocrisies, and it looks like people are paying attention and you’re what you’re saying is getting noticed, it’s easier to keep plugging away, even the topics are becoming quite distasteful.

For instance, I couldn’t write any more about Blago, even though he was in the midst of a ridiculous (in the truest sense of the word—“arousing or deserving ridicule: absurd, preposterous; syn see laughable” as defined by Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary) media blitz. I couldn’t stand to delve into the waters of Roland Burris. And I can’t stomach writing any more about how a certain segment of Washington said it was eager to work with the new administration, yet consistently toes the Limbaugh line, which is to say that it is hoped the new president fails.

I guess, mostly, I was a little pie-in-the-sky naïve in hoping that I would have a little impact with my words. Not many people read them, and even if a lot more did, really, what good would it do besides feed my own ego? Impact is important to me. It’s what makes good writing good writing, in my opinion: there is not just a subject for the piece, but an object as well.
Speaking of ego, one last thing has been a little disillusioning for me. I read a lot of current events materials—newspapers, columns, op/eds, blogs, almost all of it online, but still a pretty good sampling of what’s being said out there, from both sides of political issues, quite often. I read the Chicago papers online, our local paper, the Pantagraph, CNN.com commentators, Yahoo.com bloggers, and whatever else I can get my eyeballs on. And what I’ve found is that, with very few exceptions, my writing is every bit as good, if not better, than a lot of the professional stuff I read. The only person whom I read that consistently makes me go, “Damn, I wish I could write like that,” is, oddly enough, a sports columnist: Bill Simmons (“The Sports Guy”) on ESPN.com. Just to name a couple examples, I’ve read commentaries on the auto industry and the stimulus on CNN.com and observances by the so-called new media writers at the Tribune. And you know what? I feel my work is right up there—and so are the comments that have been left on some of my entries. What we’ve said in our little group has been as observant and intuitive as what’s in the national/international media.

So what am I to do? Keep plugging away for my own entertainment, and for the entertainment of the very limited number of people who read me, and hope that it accidentally catches fire somehow? Or do I say, well, I’ve fulfilled one of my goals, which was to do some good writing and generate some portfolio material, in the event I ever want to try my hand at becoming a writer full time?

I don’t know.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Don't disband. I think you are feeling what probably the rest of America is feeling right now- total frustration at the state of the country and news that is about that 24/7 and cannot be escaped.

I have always followed politics but this time tried to make a commitment to follow more closely and get more involved. I've written letters to congressmen, read what I can, tried to follow what's going on, and after this short amount of time, I've already come to a point where I need a break. It's overwhelming. Illinois alone is so bleak as far as corruption and then to add the national events to it is just unreal. I've turned off Fox News. LOL

We differ on our political views most of the time, but I still think it's the same burnout regardless. And I have to say, although I lean right, I do NOT like Limbaugh, most people I know personally that line up with my thoughts politically also do not like him, and it's an unfair sterotype to say that all of the Right follows the guy. I honestly don't feel that's true. I may not agree with President Obama's policies, but I certainly do not want to see him fail. If he fails, that means WE fail as a Nation.

Anyway, why not just take a break if you're feeling this way? Eventually you will come across a topic that moves you again that you will want to write about and the blog will be here for you.

necrodancer said...

I would suggest you're taking this a little too serious. On the other hand, I take what you say very seriously. I also think you have a talent for putting things in a way that I never could. I truly enjoy reading what you've had to say, even when I've not agreed with it.

You don't need to post something every day, week or month but please do not stop. You've touted the joys of Facebook (OK, not so much touted as lamented). Why don't you set up your blog to feed to your facebook account. It isn't difficult and it gives you a little more exposure. With that you'll also kill two birds with one stone, in a sense.

Anyway, the subjects on which you blog are far more enjoyable than what I've seen on facebook anywhere. Quality and quantity. Facebook is quantity, whereas the blog is quality.

Marty said...

Perhaps your inspiration could be more parochial, more familial, more personal. Don't worry as much about the wider world. Write more about the joys and frustrations of daily life, living in midsize city mid-America, raising children, being a dad, being a spouse, dealing with another surgery, more therapy, pharmaceuticals, etc. Perhaps you'd be surprised how your daily thoughts and reflections touch more people and relate deeply with other.

Just a thought.

I, too, enjoy your wit and weaving of words. Don't give it up.

Hank said...

The corner stone of friendship is respect, and I will understand if you choose not to continue with this blog. I have rewritten this response several times but all my reasons for you to continue were selfish. Here is the bottom line, do what makes you happy. We all have too little time to spend it doing things that we don’t enjoy. I will be sorry to see you stop, especially after finding your blog just recently, but who am I? You have Done Good by me. Now go Have Fun.

CrowLakeCliffJumper said...

The blog takes place of the notebook in this case. To become better at something you must practice. If you are not writing an hour a day in a notebook (for instance) then you should put the effort here.

The goal being to become a writer. You could take any number of things and write on them. Not just the world at large.

Use this as your practice space, set aside some time each day, say, 15 min, and just type

I'm guessing the people reading it will still comment on frivolity as much as seriousness.

Gifted class writing project: write for 2 min then pass paper to left

AndieF said...

As you know, I question my blog writing too. (And Facebook too, but let's not beat that horse too.) And I think it is even harder when you don't have a defined purpose for doing it. And let's be honest (OK, I'll be honest) that sometimes blog writing is about being read, and people commenting, and feeling like your writing is impacting someone else. My blog writing is mostly for myself, as a record, and for writing, but I would be lying if I didn't sometimes write because I thought that I was writing something that would motivate someone else, to give people information to help them, or just to have someone say "You know, I thought I was the only one who thought like that. It is nice to know that there are other people who think like me."

But those are just the reasons that I use to continue blogging, even when I feel like I'm just talking to myself. But for me, even just talking to myself, getting it out of my head, helps me a bit.