Of writing and blogging

Earlier today I was rereading some of my posts in Google Reader (I do subscribe to myself btw…I think I’m worth it) and I simply LOVED the comments that came out of this post and I found them to be quite an eye-opener.

Thank you so much for sharing WHY you write. I love that we all do it for very different reasons but that ultimately it does boil down to the fact that we LOVE community and the support and connection that comes with it.

I am curious about how your writing ends up as a blog post? Are you constantly on the lookout for things to blog?

I don’t think that I am wearing a “blogging hat” so to speak, but then again maybe I am. I basically blog whatever is in my head (or heart) at the time and occasionally I take my cues from other bloggers. For example, this handwriting piece was inspired by a picture of another bloggers handwriting when she posted a picture of a card that she had sent someone.

None of my posts are planned, though it can take a couple of hours or more for it to show up on this space. Also, I never force myself. If I am not feeling it then I am not feeling it. I must be honest though I have never NOT felt like writing something (except for yesterday) – it is generally part and parcel of my daily routine.

My best writing time is in the mornings. My workday starts at 8am. I arrive at work just before 7am so I basically have a full hour and a bit to have breakfast, catch up on personal emails and write a post or two or three.

I don’t even really plan the structure of the posts. I just write it as though I am sending an email to a friend. I sometimes have an idea of what I am going to post on but mostly I don’t. It really is all about the space I am in at the time. I mostly publish the posts at night when I get home. In this way I have time to change my mind about publishing a particular post (I occasionally write very angry posts) and I also have all day to edit it in my head.

At night I may or may not make small changes and then I will either go ahead and publish or I will just keep it saved in drafts for another day.

I very seldom do any writing at night or on the weekends but if I really feel for it then I just go with it to get it out of my system. Occasionally if I need to then I may write something during my workday as well. I try not to do this but sometimes it just HAS to happen at THAT VERY MOMENT.

I do occasionally record some ideas of blogging topics when something pops into my mind. Usually in a little notebook when I’m not at a computer.

So. How do you write? Do you have a process? IF so, what is your process? Are you wearing a “blogging hat?”

Blogging, blogs and blog posts

This week I am grateful for blog posts and comments which provide me with much-needed perspective and support.

I have read blogs for many years and it actually started by chance. I bought a book written by this blogger (I first saw her on TV) for an infertile friend and I decided to read the book before giving it to my friend. In her book, Tertia made a number of references to her “friends in the computer”. I didn’t completely get it at that point. I saw that she had her blog url on the back cover of her book. One day at work  I went onto her site and since that day I have been hooked! I clicked and clicked and clicked and a whole new world opened up. Literally.

For the next few years I continued to just read blogs and then I started this one during the last quarter of 2010.

I read many different types of blogs. I like real-life type blogs, I read Mommy blogs, I read funny blogs, I read some spiritual-type blogs, I read food blogs, I read a few décor and organising blogs and a few craft blogs. I read blogs which literally pierce my heart and speak to my soul in a way that no one else can.

Sometimes I read a post that I feel is written just for me.

Other times I read a post like this one which makes me laugh out loud. Literally.

Other times I read a post like this and will be nodding my head after every sentence.

Occasionally I will read a post that takes my breath away and puts my mind into overdrive – so much so that I can’t even comment.

Then there are beautifully written posts like this one. So raw and filled with deep love and emotions that they move me to tears.

There are posts that inspire me.

There are posts that make me think about where I am at in my life, posts which force me to consider how I view myself and those which make me reconsider how I tend to approach situations.  

There are posts where the blogger is having so much fun with trying new things. Posts like this make me smile and wonder why I’m so hesitant to explore my creativity.

There are posts with beautiful, evocative imagery which give me goosebumps. Literally.

There are posts that remind me that it’s the small things in life that are just absolutely awesome.

And of course there are posts like this where the comments are literally a life-line without the readers/ commenters even realising it.

I often wonder where I what kind of stuff I would be doing if I wasn’t reading blogs. I do know that I would be spending so much more money on therapy.

Today I am grateful that I have this form of cheap therapy in my life. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have it.

My contribution to Maxabella Loves…