Adonis Diaries

“What did I learn from blogging?” The blurred line between writing and publishing?

I read a post a week ago http://malindaessex.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/3-things-ive-learned-from-a-month-of-blogging/ and it reminded me to rethink why I am at it, after 2,200 articles published.  The post read:

“Today marks one month since I started this blog, so I decided to take a minute and reflect on what I’ve learned in the past month.  I’ve posted every week day since I started, which I find amazing.  Quite a few people read what I write, which I find even more amazing.  And some even share what I write with their friends, which I find amazingly amazing.  Mostly, I’m shocked at how easily I’ve fallen into this process and how much I value it. But I’ll try to narrow it down to three specific observations I’ve made about the past month.

1.  Writing has become an important part of my day

I look forward to the time I set aside to sit and write down my thoughts.  I’ve journaled on and off over the years, but this is different.  Journaling doesn’t really require coherent thoughts.  It’s more like emptying the contents of my brain onto paper.  That’s part of this process, but now I have to make sure it makes sense.  And that’s important (for you and for me.)  It helps me organize the thoughts that swirl around in my head and gives me a feeling of peace when I’m done.  I can say to myself, “Whew, now I get it.”  Or, “Hmmm, I haven’t quite figured this out yet, but that’s ok, because I’ve put my questions into questions.”

2.  I haven’t run out of things to say

For some of you, this is a surprise, because I can be very quiet at times.  For others, it’s no surprise, because you know that when I get started, I have a lot to say.  I’m sure there will be a day when I find myself thinking, “What should I write about today?”  But I’m not there yet.  I find myself looking at the world and my thoughts as opportunities to say something.  This might be a result of turning off my “inner evaluator.”  (Well, it’s not turned off completely, but it’s much quieter than it used to be.)  You know that voice that says,  ”You can’t say that, it might make someone mad.”  Or, “Are you sure you want to say that?  What will people think?”  Or the ever popular, ”You don’t want to say that, people might not like you.”

I love what Jon Acuff has to say about getting past this feeling.  I read it on his blog a couple of months ago and it’s stayed with me ever since.

90% perfect and published always changes more lives than 100% perfect and stuck in your head.

The things you create and actually share will always out perform the things that stay stuck in your head or your desk or your laptop. You might love the ideas you have inside you. You might be blown away by how awesome they are, but if you don’t share them, it doesn’t matter.

A moment of honesty here – there have been occasions in my life where I’ve said to my husband, “Can you believe how smart I am?”  Granted, I’m always brought back down to earth quickly, but the thought crosses my mind.  And I know the world doesn’t usually think I’m awesome, but take my word for it, it feels great to write down an awesome thought and put it out here for people to read.  Even if you don’t think it’s as awesome as I do (which you probably don’t), leaving it stuck in my head is just frustrating.

So, as long as I have thoughts in my head, I’m going to have something to write about.  Because now I know the power of putting them on paper (or a computer screen) and sharing them. Thanks, Jon, for helping me realize this!

3.  I DO care if you read

When I started this blog, I said it was about taking action.  The action being the writing of blog posts.  I said it would be okay if nobody read them because I wanted to concentrate on the action of expressing myself.  Well, I still value the process of expressing myself (see numbers 1 and 2 above) but I also care if you read what I write.  I love the feeling that something I wrote spoke to someone – made them think about something in a new way, helped them know that someone else feels the same way, or made them laugh.  It’s a form of connection.  And I like it.  I especially like it when you let me know what you think.  So leave comments.  Share links.  Tweet links.  Write them in paint across the side of your car.  Writing is solitary.  It’s great when you know someone else is at the other end to receive your words.

So thank you for spending the last month with me.  Thank you for reading.  Thank you for sharing with your friends.  Thank you for your comments and feedback.  I’m not sure if this blog has met your expectations.  I’m not sure if it’s met mine.  But that’s another lesson in itself, isn’t it?  Why would this need to meet anyone’s expectations?  It can grow in whatever direction it wants to – just like the trees that are my inspiration.”

This section is for my reply and comments.

Social platforms, particularly specialized in publishing the written texts, offer vast and quick opportunities to publishing for free and freely and thus, encouraging writing.   The new medium have blurred the lines between the need to write and the purpuse of publishing.

Writing is the ultimate form for consolidating personal awareness and conscious individual reflection on life, the universe, and earth survival.  As we go on adentures, the experience of the trip does not gel into consciousness if we fail to note down our diary of the experience and document the adventure.

Publishing what we write carries public responsibilies.  It is important to realize that, once your writing goes into print, your moral liberty is restricted: It entered the domain of others’ moral values and ethics, and you have to take responsibility of what you published.

Thus, there is a difference between writing for your own pleasure and publishing.  Publishing your work carries a public function that you are doomed to shoulder. There is no such thing as publishing for “Art sake” or for style sake: If you have to publish, at least, have a political position that has germinated.   Most of the times, every thought, idea, or action disseminated to the public connote a political undertone. There is always an implicit mission that permeates the published work.

If we have to publish it better be worthier than silence.  The need to commune with the reader presumes a good level of honesty and a will to care. The ultimate mission is to communicate personal struggles; how you overcame shortcomings, the attempts and challenges that obstructed your journey to personal discoveries, and the many ways to succumb to our frailties and limitations: There is an implicit purpose to express and describe the journey, since we don’t need to reach the goal as long as we are on the journey’s track.

The reasons and topics for writing are limitless.  There are subjects that agree with your reflection and need to be disseminated; they need to be read; and the more frequently they are published in different medium the better; thus, it is your duty to re-edit and comment on these articles, translate them to other languages.  If the article does not match your view, after good reflection, it must be commented and replied.

The more you write, the closer you are to taking the decision for serious introspection:  What you believe in, agree with, disagree with, constitute the reality:  Reality is your own model of the world, the universe, society, values, ethics…

Unconsciously, I started publishing early short poems, expressing emotions and feelings.  I upgraded by publishing my diaries, and followed it with as serious attempt of introspection (autobiography) as the best means to put into context my current positions and views. 

As I did my due diligence of expressing frankly and candidly my shortcomings and the context of my life, upbringing and personal experiences, I felt ready to comments, reply, and publish all kinds of articles, giving preference to views out of my comfort zone and “controversial”.  I had this urge to constantly be curious about all topics and get acquainted with various point of views.  I had to keep up my due diligence in upgrading my knowledge and reflecting deeper on the problems and difficulties facing people around the world and within my own community.

It is your right to disseminate your conviction and fight for what is right: Just be aware that you have the responsibility to do your due diligence.  Do not be afraid of exposing your dreams, plans, and programs that you conceived in your sleepless nights:  Get them in writing!

Note: You may refer to https://adonis49.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/do-you-publish-on-wordpress-then-you-are-a-public-figure/