A Blog on Blogging and Heather's Reply

It was good to see a reply from Heather to Emily's very passionate request for replies.

When Heather mentions a school system that does not encourage creativity, I want to jump up and down to say I AGREE. I don't think our country (USA) does urge and reward creativity. I don't think parents for the most part do either. Somehow, and it puzzles me, creativity is seen as "extra," "luxury," "fuzzy-headed," and a host of negative words.

It's only been in the last ten years that I have become acutely aware than the health system in the USA is not the best in the world. We seem caught up in such arrogance. We're big, hence better. And if we happen to get a BA /etc from Harvard/etc, we're obviously the best (and brightest).

Absurd. Right now one of the writers I know, and very much admire, flunked out of Radcliffe. She just wasn't ready for college. She is highly literate, and her education has come from her own reading and work experiences.Another writer, supported herself and children working as a waitress. She knows as much about literature as anyone I know. And she writes skillfully.Also, she's seventy and becoming a better writer each time she writes.I see it. Exciting.

Need we mention people who do have degrees who are not literate in either the academic meaning of the word or the ethical/philosophical.

We could make a long list of the creators in history who did not have formal academic training.

I don't think we value risk-taking or playfulness. Perhaps that is why jotting down a quick response to a blog may seem a waste of time or something that we don't want to do because we think we chance making a fool of ourself .

I think a blog should be the kind of place where we could risk making a mistake. Certainly interesting conversations never start when everyone is worried about saying the 'right' thing.

Now, there are so many blogs. Maybe everyone is blogged out- and one more is just one more too many. If so... that's understandable.

The reason I'm using this blog is that it gives me a break from writing on my novel. Usually (not tonight) I spend some time thinking of what I'm going to say, and it's good exercise. I guess tonight I'm taking the chance of having some sloppy syntax, a misspelled word....

I wrote every night this past week but one, and think I'll skip tonight because It's late, I'm tired, and just got home from weekend trip.

But I wanted to write something, and it was the reply from Heather that triggered this. Hi there in Australia. Thanks for being my writing prompt for tonight.

I know some people say "get a life" to people who blog. My response is who are they to decide the content of my life.

While I'm writing, thinking about the content, getting the words down on the laptop screen, I believe I'm doing important cognitive work. I'm practicing. Albeit, not totally loose, and not totally working - but it's practice. I can feel that. I always feel a bit of fear about what that invisible audience might think. But, that's the risk-taking part.
How do I think I can try and market a novel with all sort of 'unacceptable' things in it if I can't make a modest entry here.

But, again, I'm 66 and I've taked a damn long road getting here. And I know a lot about fear (let's say I have my doctorate in fighting fear), so, maybe it's just not time yet for some readers/writers to blog??. And people must emerge in their own time.

I would like more comments because I really learn from hearing what other people who like to put words on paper have to say.

It's a curious hobby/passion. Why do we go off and do this. I know for sure I feel comforted and less alone in this personal addiction when I read about how fellow addicts feel. I read and reread books by writers who write about their personal writing life.

No matter what happens in my writing life, it has nourished me. I love words, like the feel of writing a strong sentence, like pouring out pain and rage when I feel it, like having this as my companion. Only cigarettes back in the sixties and seventies were such good faithful friends.

Maybe we writers are all a little mad, and I just don't care. Writing gives me a vehical to express indignation, fury, love, compassion, ...so much. And it's mine. Maybe no one will read (or enjoy) this, but I enjoyed writing it.

I guess also, I feel a little presumptious being the only constant contributor, as if I knew more than other people. That's surely not so.

Well, this blog on blogging is not my greatest effort, but it's what I think blogs are all about. Pen on key, take risk, and practice. (Or, be silent if that is what your soul says you should do today.) And, just for the record, I never press the "publish" button without feeling anxious. It's part of the process/at least for me.
claire