During a lecture on “How to Write a
Good College Essay” senior year of high school, I distinctly
remember my teacher reading us a sample essay entitled something
like, Why My Sister is Like the Hoover Dam ...”
Sisters and the Hoover Dam have nothing
in common. And yet, somehow, through some masterful writing, a young
man made this exact comparison and received an acceptance to the
college of his choice.
This raises the question. Does good
writing make writing good, or does good subject matter make writing
good?
I Don't Have a Clue … (But I'm
Finding Out) began innocently enough in April of this year. After
that initial post, I resolved to sign on for another three months to
fully give my metaphorical writing legs a chance to stretch out and
see if this was a hobby I should continue pursuing.
Through the course of writing, I have continually run into this question.
Allow me to recap the past three months
through the lens of my blog.
The high of the initial post is hard to
beat. Readership is good and continues to grow daily.
Doubts come. I express them in writing, the second post. I receive encouragement, gain confidence, and push ahead.
I decide to make a career of this
writing thing, and begin to research “How to Make Money Off a
Blog.” Turns out it requires a whole lot more readership, a
whole lot of time and energy, and most likely the publication of an
e-book.
I consider writing an e-book, formulate
a plausible idea, and proceed to get bogged down with summer classes
… and two children under the age of 3.
My idea supply compiled on day one of
the blog runs out. People are not really that interested in the
mundane occupations of life that I don't have a clue about.
I'm forced to dig deeper. I reflect on
the sister / Hoover Dam comparison. It's genius. I can do this kind
of rando-connecting. In fact, this is what great writing is.
Why then, does The Story of My Hair
(straight narrative) have more page hits than Greatness, Not Sweetness (touches on Starbursts, the Olympics, who knows what else)?
I continue on. In a season of hosting a
graduation party, two baby showers, and a few birthday shindigs here
and there, I manage to punch out some stuff every now and then.
I'm not posting enough. I'm letting my readers down.
I realize that a person's life is not dependent upon whether or not I write a blog post.
I decide the entire endeavor is a
total failure. The blog will cease to be prematurely.
But then comes ... the caterpillar. I am revived by the idea of making it big on Pinterest.
I wonder, why does my energy for this
thing surge the second glory is involved? Sin. Sin. Sin.
I am reminded over and over again of
the reasons I began writing the blog in the first place.
To share knowledge that it is
assumed I should possess, but that in truth I am still attaining.
To practice writing, because it is
a joy to do and a good way to be creative.
To entertain readers, at least
occasionally.
Thus, we come to the present. The three
month trial period is over. An evaluation is in order.
This blog has been a fruitful outlet for
creative writing, and a slight inconvenience to the order of our
daily family life. (I'm not the most gracious person to distraction when I
am writing).
It has been a great way to reconnect
with old friends, form relationships with new friends, and
potentially alienate friends from both categories.
It has been a source of pride, humility and disappointment. It has also been exhilarating and fun.
Yet, through all this, I still haven't figured out the
answer to this post's initial question.
Is good writing about the
writing or about the content?
Mark really liked the blog post about
sewing, because he thought it was funny. He doesn't care about sewing
at all. He loves the Olympics, but thought my
post that talked about the Olympics was super boring.
That makes me rank writing over
content.
Then again, the content of Hudson's
Bedroom Post just bored him all around. He loathes decorating
discussions, and there was no way the writing was going to save me. Not a chance.
Mark's opinion matters, but other reflection is good as well.
Professional bloggers, that I consulted
during my “blogging will be my career” stage, will say that in
order for a blog to make money (and thus, be successful), it should never include personal
information or references to popular culture (unless it is something
like a fashion blog). Doing so negates the blog's lasting potential.
A blog makes money when it continues to get hits on old posts after
years and years.
Unfortunately, that is almost entirely
what this blog is. Yet, I don't know if I would even want to write if
it was impersonal and unconnected to current culture.
Professional bloggers will also say
that a blog should begin with its target niche in mind. The topic
should be broad enough to have sufficient content, but small enough
that it does not confuse readers.
Unfortunately, I think I may be more
confused about the direction of this blog than I was when I began.
Yet, I have enjoying exploring various different types of writing and
speaking on a range of topics.
Finally, professional bloggers will say
that it takes at least six months if not way longer to even
begin to make an impact and certainly to make any money.
On this, I will concede. Three months
is not near long enough to properly evaluate something that is really
just beginning to take form.
Thus, I have decided to continue
writing and have set yet another date for blog evaluation.
You will be able to continue to read
about the things I don't have a clue about, (but that I am finding
out about) until I complete a full year of writing.
At that point, perhaps I will have more
clarity. In the mean time, I'm simply doing it for the love of the
writing. (If you rolled your eyes, that's ok. It was meant to be
corny.)
Next post … How I Am Like an Ear of
Corn.
What makes this more intriguing ... the potential writing or the potential content?
Who knows? Maybe it'll get me into college.
Lesson Learned: Blogs. Man, I just keep
learning.
P.S. I have already graduated from
college. That last sentence was a joke.
