Some time last week I realized I’ve made a turn towards a more “professional” mindset in my writing. They say “amateurs write for themselves, professionals write for others,” and until very recently I was doing it mostly for myself — which I unabashedly admitted.
For me writing has mainly been simply the best way to think clearly. It’s a matter of personal hygiene — just like bathing and haircuts and what-have-you. It isn’t just that I enjoy it, it’s something I feel needs to be done; I get really anxious when my thoughts aren’t neatly pressed and in order.
I’ve already written about this a lot, so in the spirit of Not Writing for Myself Anymore, I won’t dwell on it.
It’s gratifying that people are reading this stuff. I’m hooked on that — feeling gratified, getting feedback, being relevant. I want to turn this into something…
Keep your eyes open for more changes. My eyes and ears will be open to suggestions, comments, criticism, insults, paying gigs, etc.
I’m still working on my value proposition, but I think I’ve written enough by now to give people a sense of where my skills and interests lie.
Meanwhile I’ve got a few projects of my own that I’m starting to turn the heat up on, by degrees — starting by improving this blog from a mere repository of arbitrary thoughts to something more reader-oriented.
Because I love you, of course. This blog is really my gift to you — my gift to the world — or no… why don’t I just say that this blog will be God’s gift to the world…
(Being unself-absorbed can be so ironically narcissistic.)
Update: I had an embarrassingly late realization that with social media writing doesn’t have to presume such self-importance. It is (or ought to be) a multi-lateral discussion.
