I'm back!
I'm not sure if I was beseeched with a case of writer's block or if I just figured I had nothing worthwhile to write about. Anyone writing in a public domain, such as a blog, really has to ask themselves the question of why they are putting themselves out there in the first place. I think I became too fixated on spitting out stories that were cutesy and whimsical. If I couldn't make you laugh, then damn it, it wouldn't be worth writing.
I think I had it all backwards. At least for who I am as an individual. If I am to continue as a writer and to improve at this wonderful craft, then I must write for the person who is my biggest fan and who is also my harshest critic. Me. By being true to who I am, I believe the words will flow more freely, the stories will be more compelling, and you, the reader, will willingly join me on my quest to enjoy each and every slice of life's pie.
My blog, Tales of the Not So Private I, is a look at the world as I see it. I'll continue to share some very personal thoughts and experiences if I believe they will be necessary to make a point or add to your understanding of my story. If I can't be open and honest as a writer, then I may as well turn off my computer, put away my thesaurus, and stick to reading self-help books.
So from here on, I will be selfish (though only as a writer). My writing will be a reflection of my thoughts and my feelings. I'll be writing about what happens to be tickling my fancy at a given time. I promise to be more controversial than the financial expert I saw interviewed recently on the Business News Network. The expert was an analyst for the agriculture sector of the United States economy. Her only salient point in the ten minutes of airtime was that if the weather is good this spring and summer, then the US will have a good corn and wheat crop. She added that if the weather is not favourable, then the crop will likely be not as good. Now that is captivating stuff! Thankfully the world has experts to inform us of the obvious. I'm not an expert on anything, but even I can tell when the bar of common sense has been set way too low. I'll endeavour to raise it a notch or two.
As for how often I will write, who knows? I'm under no editor's time crunch, nor is the payment of my light bill predicated on churning out the next story. I'll know when I see it. Or as may be a better descriptor - I'll know when I feel it.
With my selfish perspective to writing all that laid out, I do still hope that you will continue to read, share, and enjoy my tales. As long as Jim's world continues to present good stories, I will be here, ready to dissect them from angles that may be both acute and obtuse. After all, the beauty of life is in its unpredictability and variety. The blocks that from time-to-time encircle many writers form all too predictable angles and shapes. Once these walls fall, the result can be an exhilarating ride for the writer, as well as for the reader. So, hang on!
