Can I Help You? I'll Try My Best!

         In my post Screamin’ and Kickin, I admit I tackled blogging reluctantly and without a clear focus. But through much soul-searching, I eventually settled on my purpose: to become the Erma Bombeck of the blogosphere. Rather ambitious, I know, but wasn’t it Robert Browning who said “...a [woman’s] reach should exceed [her] grasp”? Or as my Arkansas friend Denver puts it, “You should shoot for the moon if you want to clear the fence.” So while it might be a bit beyond my grasp to scale to the literary heights of Erma, that became my lofty goal: to offer funny, entertaining, and occasionally poignant insights into life.

            Then I hit a snag. I read (in a blog, of course) the purpose of blogging was to offer helpful advice and to provide links to more helpful advice. Oops. Other than the recipe for 3-2-1 Cake, I’ve dropped the ball in the helpful advice category. And for two good reasons. 

            First, I lack expertise in any one area. (I can just hear the voices of my family, friends, and adversaries rising in unison: “But that’s never stopped her before from giving advice!”) There’s a difference, however, between expert advice and one’s opinion. And well...yes...I’ve never been shy about vocalizing my opinion. But somehow it’s different when words are put in writing for perpetuity...or until my blog ceases to exist. Second, there are already millions of blogs out there, written by experts and offering information on everything from acne to zucchini. So while the world could certainly benefit from another beauty or gardening idea, it doesn’t need to come from me. I’m taking my cue from the blogs I enjoy most—the ones that entertain and inspire me. The ones that make me laugh and make me think. 

            But just to show that I’m not totally opposed to the helpful blog concept, I’m willing to compromise. Did you notice the links I provided in this post? And in the same spirit of helping, I’ve received permission from my amazing book club friends to share their insights and comments on the books we read. Perhaps this will help you in your reading selections. My book club friends are also talented cooks, so from each monthly meeting I’ll share a recipe that received rave reviews from our members.  

             There is one subject on which I consider myself not exactly expert but at least above average. If you ask me a question about grammar, I’ll do my best to answer it. And if I don’t know the answer, I’ll provide you with a link. :-)

Screamin' and Kickin'

            I have a confession. When someone first proposed I write a blog, my immediate choice for a title was Screamin’ and Kickin’. That was the attitude I had toward it. With a gazillion blogs floating around in cyberspace, I wonder there hasn’t been some cataclysmic collision bringing internet traffic to a complete standstill. What could I say that hasn’t already been said and probably in a much more erudite or amusing way? But three reasons convinced me to stick my toe into that vast, never-ending ocean of blogs.

            The first arose out of necessity: shameless self-promotion. A big part of being a writer—if you want your book read—is promoting it yourself. This applies whether you’re a New York Times best-selling author or a newbie selling books out of the trunk of your car (like me). And what people might not understand is that many writers are basically introverts. As a rule, we don’t make good salesmen. But with the invention of the computer and new innovations in publishing, millions—or more like billions—found a much easier way for their inner-authors to emerge. Competition skyrocketed, forcing writers to “self-promote" or perish. Platform became the new buzzword in the publishing market. An author without a “platform” is like a surgeon with missing fingers: success might be possible, but the odds aren’t good. And so my blog is my platform. Maybe a bit rickety right now, but I’m working on it.

            Secondly, like most writers, I have thoughts swimming around in my head almost every waking hour. Digging in my flowerbed, walking the dog, cleaning house...ideas come to me. Sometimes when I wish they wouldn’t. Sometimes those waking hours creep far into the night.  Those ideas aren’t always brilliant or cutting edge, but still I’d like to share them, bounce them off a few people, get some feedback. So, I figured, maybe the idea of a blog wasn’t so far-fetched. Attracting readers, disciplining myself to update the blog regularly—those could be issues. But thinking of something to write about? Not a problem.

            Finally, wise words from friend and relentless encourager Lisa urged me to “cross the Rubicon,” “just do it,” “write it and they will come.” (She didn’t bombard me with those clichés, but you get the idea.) She countered my argument of “who's going to read it?” with “that’s not your problem. Your job is to write it.” So that’s what I’m doing.

            Please bear with me. I realize this is a LONG post. And I promise that in the future, they won’t all be about ME, ME, ME!  But I felt I needed something in the way of introduction/explanation before I completely dive into the new direction of my blog.

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