75. Some more blogging thoughts

Mood: contemplative

Music: Anna Nalick

Beth posted in her blog today about blogs and how authors that use them should be aware of what they write in their blogs, so as not to offend. I've heard the stories as we all have. People getting fired because of what they wrote in their journal or blog, comments made in one person's blog being discovered by friends or family and it causing problems. In one format or another I've had a blog for about four years now. Mostly of the locked variety. This is the first time I've kept my blog totally open for the public.

During the time I've had my journals, through various sites and usernames, I've seen the problems that journals can cause first hand. I've lost friendships because of statements I've made in my journal about the last election. I didn't even make a very powerful stance, but I offended someone I considered a friend, and our friendship deteriorated quite quickly. Things I've said my personal journal have caused anger among people I know. It's kind of sad that even who I had one listed as a friend caused problems. When one person doesn't like the other, they expect you to not like them either. Sometimes life on the journal sites remind me of a the worst version of high school.

When I started my blog, I was happy to not find the same existed out here in what I have begin to call blogland. I tell my friends about blogs I visit. If I find something funny, I have no problems sharing a link with them. I don't mind sharing my amusement when it comes to those blogs I find and read. I think having this blog has helped me see things in a different light when it came to journaling online.

Before my blog, I have no problem admitting I was a part of the high school mentality, but I knew I couldn't stay that way. I needed to grow up and move away from all of that. I've actually contemplated just closing my personal journal and keeping to just my blog. I write in here daily. I'm lucky to write something more than a one liner in my journal once a week, but I use that journal now to keep up with the people I have made friends with. No other reason. I feel more of a connection to my blog.

And yes, I try to remember when I do write in here that it is public and anyone can read it. I take what I've learned from previous experience, and I try not to repeat the same mistakes. When I sit down here to write in my blog daily, I'm not setting out to offend. This blog is more for me to share my writing experiences. I've found this blog invaluable because it has allowed me to meet other writer's as well. Since I began blogging using this blog back in March, I've written so much more than I had been in previous months. I look at my hit count, and I see it hitting near 2,000, and that just surprises me. I never thought people would want to follow me on this journey of mine, but they have.

A bit about that journey, I turned in my review for the week. I'm waiting to either hear from the editor or see it go live. Yesterday, I had the worst headache imaginable, but it finally went away around ten PM, so I was able to rough out my review, and I also wrote a couple of drabble like snippets for one of my projects this months. A Chicken Soup for the Soul submission call that deadlines soon. I hope to type those in, and send them off in a day or so.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone!