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July 19, 2007
3 Years and a Day
Yesterday was the three year anniversary of this website. It certainly doesn't seem like Write Again Soon has been around that long, but then the style of writing and typical content of my blog has changed so dramatically that it doesn't feel a continuous process.
When I look back at my entries from year one, it seems that I was mostly concerned with documenting every absurd thing about school in Sweden, every trifling detail of doing laundry (I still grit my teeth when I think about the Swedish laundry system), and all of the Margaret Atwood books I read. Note: no real discussion of men--it was a long and lonely year.
Year two was mostly about starting up the Big Idea, the perils of living with my family, Janie's amusing commentary (which has gradually grown more patronizing), and my revived dating life. Oh the massive amounts of dating I did in 2005-2006.
Year three was a lot about well...I'm not sure the last year has a defining characteristic. A lot of it was about my dating trials and tribulations with Mr. Pilot (and also Mr. Music, Mr. Bethesda, Mr. FWB, Mr. Officer and a Gentleman, and Mr. Doctor--oh, and that girl who I don't think ever got a name), with a continuing dose of Janie, and some more about the Big Idea. But mostly about guys, I suppose.
What will year four hold for Write Again Soon? It's unclear.
To begin with I have suddenly and inexplicably become more careful about what I write for this website. There is a particular entry that I'm thinking about--one that I've gradually written over the last 6 weeks--that I just can't bring myself to publish because it would invite all sort of curious and angry and potentially VERY angry questions and accusations and I don't feel like dealing with it. On the other hand, it's irritating to know that I have this thing that I've written just sitting on my desktop because I'm too scared to just publish it. That goes against everything I meant this blog to be.
Secondly, now that I'm increasingly busy with the Big Idea ("busy" finally having some relationship to "getting paid"), I'm finding it harder to carve out time to write interesting things...like how appalled I am that the NFL is continuing to let Michael Vick play. They should douse him in cold water, electrocute him, and then throw him in the ring with a couple of starving, provoked dogs and see what happens. That's one fight on which I would be happy to place a bet. Not that I am one to invite controversy, you know.
Third, I'm running into the problem of the "real" me versus the "blog" me. I want them to be separate entities. When I write something for public consumption, I want there to be some sort of automatic immunity from prosecution. I don't want to be scolded in real life (although the scathing commentary left in the comments section is always fun), and I don't want people to automatically assume that the blog entry is the whole, unadulterated truth. I occasionally embellish for artistic flair, and lots of times I leave parts of the story out. That's just my capricious way.
So what does that mean for the future of Write Again Soon? For now, I'm just copying Ms. NYC Rouge's approach to blogging:
Are my words dishonest? Have I actively cultivated a persona that is not myself? The answer is no. But . . . but . . . Oh just fuck it. Enough with the blather. I'm off to have a bourbon and a good time.
Side note: she got lucky with her Ms. K later that night. Perhaps I need to be more active in soliciting kind words from my readers so that we can later meet, have dinner, make out in a taxi, and stay up until the wee hours doing undescribed things? Seems like an admirable goal for the coming year of blogging.
Comments
Just let it rip. I love the variety, and your blog is one of the few that's so unpredictable. Well manicured book reviews, or a Wedding Crasher story? I never know. Keep it up.
Posted by: Mr. PHS at July 19, 2007 10:04 PM
In the real you vs. blog you debate I think that the people who do know you in the flesh are going to use the blog as a guide to how you are doing. If this is going to be a blog that is both public and not anonymous you will always have to deal with some level of scrutiny. Personally, I believe it's the price of doing business.
Posted by: La at July 20, 2007 12:25 PM
You are absolutely right, it *is* the price of doing business. And most of the time I thoroughly enjoy getting emails from friends demanding more information...like the one I got from Ms. NYC Rouge this morning:
What's the possibly controversial unpublished blog entry that has been sitting on your desktop? I demand to know.
I will still ignore her request, noting only that if I ever choose to publish it, you will know it RIGHT AWAY.
Posted by: Ms. Write Again Soon at July 20, 2007 02:07 PM
Oooohhh...post it! There's nothing I love more than being outraged...
Posted by: jessica at July 20, 2007 06:26 PM
