WHY I WRITE

The lovely and sweet CJ at Above the River asked me recently to participate in a blog hop entitled "Why I Write".  At first, I hesitated to participate since I wasn't sure what to say.  After thinking about it for a few days, though, I thought that these questions are an interesting way to delve deeper into my writing.  I often downplay what I do and did the same thing with this opportunity.  I just write a few posts for my personal blog.  Does that make me a writer?  I think it does.  We are all writers of our own story, be it over blogs, letters, or yearly birthday cards.  Our thoughts and ideas written down mean that they will live on past our own inner monologue.  In a nutshell, that's why I write.  For a little more detail, though, read on.

What Am I Working On?
My current writing focus is on blog posts.  Since my early 20s, I always wanted to sit down and write the great American novel.  It still seems like such an insurmountable task, though.  I would want it to encapsulate everything I've learned through this crazy roller coaster called life, so maybe it's something I'll get to when I'm older, sitting on the deck of my beach cottage, watching the waves roll in, and thinking back on the past that brought me there to that day. 

For now, though, I want to chronicle my life through words and pictures on my blog.  It's a biopic of my life and something I want to be able to look back on and "remember when".

How Does My Writing Differ From Others in My Genre?
You know, one of the biggest fears for me when I started my blog is that no one would want to read what I had to say, because it's just the same as what everyone else is writing.  What I've come to realize, though, that this couldn't be farther from the truth.

My writing is difference than other lifestyle blogs, because I'm writing it.  My voice, my experiences, my thoughts are what make my writing different.  I don't have to strive to be different than others, I just have to write the way it comes natural to me.

I've come to enjoy using a conversational type of writing, or writing the same way I may say something.  This means that my writing may not always be grammatically correct, but it does convey a more natural flow that makes me feel like we're having a conversation instead of you just reading an article I've written.  With blogging, I think this is a really important way to engage your readers and build friendships.

Why Do I Write What I Do?
This question is what really sucked me in.  I've been thinking about this for a few weeks now and still feel an entire post could be devoted to it.  Basically, though, I write a blog so that I may feel that others know me.  Having an innate introvert personality in a world where most conversations are largely based on surface level things--how's the weather, going anywhere on vacation this summer--I worried that sometimes I cut my inner thoughts off from others.  Anyone else feel like they do this sometimes, too? 

For the things that are difficult to verbalize, I often find it easier to write them down.  It's still difficult to really share my inner thoughts, even on the blog, but being able to say things (or write things) is a way to know you're less alone in the world.  Others may feel the same way or be thinking the same thing and blog/writing is an avenue to have these conversations.

The most wonderful thing about bloggers for me has been the relationships.  I can't think off a better way to get to know someone than by them walking me around their typical day through pictures and writing.  It's these often mundane and overlooked things that make a person so interesting.  To let people in and to know people this way has been an amazing experience.  Even though I've never met some of my readers in real life, I still consider them friends.  What a crazy, futuristic world we live in, right?

How Does My Writing Process Work?
Basically it starts with me sitting down at my laptop in the kitchen, then realizing this is going to take longer than 5 minutes and switching to the couch.  I wrote a post a few months ago about learning to enjoy the writing process.  I would try to write my blog post as quickly as possible just to get it done and check it off my list.  I'm now trying to make writing a more enjoyable process by finding a comfy location and turning on a record.  Sometimes it's hard to make the creativity flow.  I've been struggling with this a lot in the summer months.  I might need a break or just more courage to post some of my deeper thoughts and observations.

**********************************************************************************

I'm nominating Meg from Life of Meg to continue this blog hop.  Meg's blog shares stories from her life and recipes that I need to try once I learn how to cook:)  I actually met Meg in person a few weeks ago and she is just the sweetest person!  Her blog is as fun and authentic as she is.  I'm so glad to have found another blogger buddy in Kansas City.  You should definitely check out her blog and keep an eye out for her post about why she writes.