[2010-10-11] What To Write

Now that I have this new shiny blog to play with, the next question is, "What to write?"

After writing both publicly and privately for so long, you learn (most of the time the hard way) what should be appropriate or not to broadcast to the internet world.  Writing about things "in the now" publicly can get you in many forms of trouble, depending on what is happening right at that moment obviously.  Writing about things happening between my husband and I, or certain aspects about bringing up my daughter, or about issues with other family members, or negative feelings about people, or rantings/ventings, or medical procedures, or even issues with bills... all of these things can get you in heaps of trouble if they become public knowledge.  Basically, if you can't go up to a microphone and say it to a crowd of people, or say your thoughts to the person you are talking about, why the hell would you feel comfortable enough to write it in a public blog?

When I used to write publicly long ago, the most I used to sensor out was the names of people I was talking about.  Nowadays, even that isn't enough.  I don't see how the online writers I have gotten to know over the years are able to speak to freely without remorse or even without getting a chewing out for airing out dirty laundry that no one really needed to know about.  Hey, I am not trying to throw stones in a glass house.  I was guilty of the same from time to time.

Back when blogging and online journal writing was new and fresh, it seems like we all would throw caution to the wind with thoughts of, "Oh, no one will read this.  They won't figure out it is me."  My, how times have changed!  With companies always searching to find out your personal life (or the personal life of your loved ones) and feeling that what you do and what you say on the internet is a direct reflection on their company, puts even more pressure on what you say publicly... but that's another journal entry to write I suppose.

When I told my husband about this struggle I am having on what subjects are appropriate to write about, he mentioned a book he is currently reading called, "When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up" by Dr. Michael D. Sedler. Looks like I will need to take some time and read that book when he is not around. ;)

So then the question is, what do you write on a public blog?  Frankly, I am not totally sure yet.  Some subject matters have been dumped into the "inappropriate" box and will most likely be written for an audience of none.  I guess this place is going to be a learning experience in not only opening myself up, but also learning to sensor myself so as not to put myself in a difficult situation, and to find my voice at the same time.  This is gonna get interesting.