Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Journal vs Blog

Can I still journal if I now have a blog? Or, was I blogging all along even though my place was called a journal? I'm not really sure. My writing has gone up, down, and sideways since I started posting online. I'd like to get back to journalling again though - maybe throw in blog-type entries from time to time. I think what I need to do is get back to writing every day and quit worrying so much about the pretties.

I've been reading books about writing. They actually have exercises to try at the end of the chapter but I've decided to wait and read through the books first, then go back and do the exercises. It's really silly to do it that way but I think it's fear that has held me back from doing the exercises. I want to know what the book is asking of me before I commit to writing.

I am a very private person in the "real world." I think some part of opening this up to family and friends has scared me away from being too deep. I fear I might discuss things in such a way that it will hurt people. It's never my intention. I'm just writing my perspective. I might even write something that is resolved but it's part of my past and I want to explore it or document it for further exploration. I might write something that shocks someone, or makes them angry with me. I hate being judged.

I guess what I'm saying is that you might find bits of me here again. Consider yourself forewarned.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am a very private person in the "real world." I think some part of opening this up to family and friends has scared me away from being too deep.

Welcome to my world! It's definitely scary, but I've been rewarded,and I do hope to continue to see pieces of you. If the book you're reading is The Artist's Way, I highly recommend doing the exercises as they come up. I found they build on each other in a way that wasn't in the design, but was quite significant.

freeepeace said...

"I guess what I'm saying is that you might find bits of me here again."

Oh good. I was wondering where pieces of you have been. ;)

Take your time with your (my favorite word) process. Share what you want and what you need, for yourself. As long as your intention is clear (i.e. writing for self) then your conscience can be cleared. You're not responsible for how other people respond/react/feel.

What books are you reading?

Anonymous said...

I'm going to try this one more time, from the old machine instead of the new one. The new 'puter has "cookies" issues, which sometimes screws up my interaction with web sites...

I, unfortunately, am NOT as private a person as I should be. Once I feel comfortable with someone, I am immediately guilty of "sharing too much." This could be why I started my private journal. So I could give out the "TMI" without pissing off people from my real life.

I would very much like to see "pieces of yourself" here.

Christina K Brown said...

I get this post on every level because my whole family reads my journal...but I have one rule.

They are not allowed to question me about anything I write in it. And once and awhile they forget and I remind them that my journal is off limits as a topic of discussion. Kinda of mean but very needed....otherwise my "voice" will lost. I mean, my MOM reads mine. OMG.

To thine own self be true.