09 December 2009

The Runaway Blog

I have a rather embarrassing question to put to you long-time bloggers: Does your blog ever run away with you?

Is it just me? Sometimes I start a blog post with a particular, if vague, topic in mind, and without realizing it wind up running off at the pencil about something entirely else; or wind up making an entirely different point than the one I set out to make. That supposes, of course, that I set out to make a point, which I frequently do not. Sometimes I get to the end of the post before I realize I did, in fact, have a point to make. Of course, there are times I intend to make a point but don't quite manage it. That happens a lot, but that's something else. This is like a horse that gets the bit in his teeth. You're going to go where he takes you, and there's not a darn thing you can do about it.

There are times when I'm partway through a blog post and realize I've changed my mind, or I've talked myself out of what I thought I was going to say. Or I suddenly figure out something I didn't understand, when I may not even have realized I didn't understand it. I admit it's not usually an insight into the inner workings of the universe -- more like what I'd have to call a Blinding Flash of the Obvious -- but an "aha" moment, however minor.

I'm new to this blogging stuff. I spent most of my working life earning a living by writing, but sitting down to write about whatever I want is a totally new adventure for me. It takes me unexpected places. I tell people I don't know things about myself I didn't even know I knew. It's kind of scary.

Is that why so many people do this?

3 comments:

  1. Zoomer - the stuff you describe happens to me all the time. I am not particularly introspective and need to talk about what I'm thinking to understand what I'm actually thinking. That's one of the great things about blogging.

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  2. Zoom - I'm not a long time blogger but I get what you're saying. I vacillate between cringing that I do this and being grateful for it. I tend to be rather analytical and can think myself into a box. Writing about the events of life really does provide me with some ah-ha moments.

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  3. I feel your pain. I also write for a living, and it often seems easier to write something as an assignment versus sitting down with no direction whatsoever. Other than, of course, writing about whatever the heck I want. But there is something very rewarding about posting a blog that you feel will connect with people and make a difference in their views on the world. To that end, you are succeeding!

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