Category: blogging about my blog

Tuesday Post Postponed.

Hi, all.

I’m working on a query letter, so I have to concentrate on that instead of my weekly installment of whatever it might turn out to be in any given week. I will try to make a post after I get this thing done. If you are expecting a sixth Keith Emerson post, I apologize for the delay. It’s coming!

Cheers, felicitations, solidarity!
–Diane

How to Not Be Bored With Your Blog

Unless you want to be bored with your blog, in which case, go ‘head.

  • Don’t be half-assed. That will guarantee that you’re not going to write stuff you’ll come back to later. The way to keep creating writing/content/ideas worth your time is to commit to doing your best.
  • Don’t repeat yourself. This seems obvious, but sometimes you’ll get on a tear and want to get something across and you’ll come back to it again and again because you’re obsessed. Even if your blog has a focus — lefty politics, trans rights, etc. etc. keep moving forward and find new angles.
    • This can be a challenge. You’ve got to meet it, though. The world keeps moving. There are new angles coming towards you. Look for them.
  • Care about what you write. If what you’re writing means something to you, that will come across to the reader. Your writing will be more interesting because you’re interested.
  • Know why you’re doing this. Have a sense of mission. Have a goal. That is not to say you have to be single-minded. Side quests are sometimes necessary and rejuvenating. But remember your central point. Remember why you started blogging in the first place, and return to that point whenever you start to feel that sense of mission creep.
    • You can refine that mission over time. Life is a process, and change is the truth. Keep up with those changes in your writing, your interests, and your knowledge.
    • When you change, bring your reader along with you. Disclose. Explain. Empathize. Remember that there are two of you in the equation.
  • Be Honest. NEVER go along to get along. Never give in to “audience capture.” This is part of being committed to a project. Have enough faith in what you’re about to be willing to risk shrinking your audience in the short run. Tell the truth, and keep that personal truth at the center of your project.
  • Keep Blogland Weird. Embrace idiosyncracy. Revel in quirkiness. Be you. Have fun.

about my music reviews

This is a perblog, obvs., so it follows that my approach to music reviews would be quirky. I don’t pretend to encyclopedic knowledge I don’t have, but where I do have knowledge or lore to share, I’ll probably include it.

That said, I make a distinction between the object in my hand and the band it represents. I don’t know these bands, most of them I haven’t and never will see live, so my relationship is with the chunk of vinyl, the CD or the streaming digital file. That’s what I review.

taking a short break

I’ll be back next week.

I’m in the middle of three book projects, yet I have made the time to post here every week for the last few months. I’ll continue to do this, but this week, I need to prioritize a different project.

Multitasking is really not my thing, but I appear to be doing it. How well I’m doing it is another question entirely. Y’all will be the judge, come the time.