Novel Times, Novel Measures

I’ve been thinking about this blog. Many questions have arisen. Why did I start this blog? What have I learned in the process? What writing style has emerged from the attempt to share my recent travels and transition with cyberspace? Now that I am no longer travelling (spatially, that is) should the narrative style be dropped in favor of more stream-of-concious journal?

I am struggling to place my writings here within the new context of my life and surroundings. Somehow what this blog has become does not reflect what my life is, what my perceptions are. How to change that? They say “content is king”, but does that mean I must narrow the focus here to feel better about blogging? To restrict the subject matter would be akin to self-censorship. I try not to do so with my life, why try with my words? And, of course, the fodder for those words, my immediate experience, is upredictable and ever-changing – how could I possibly limit this blog to only a slice of that? No, rather than content, the question of style seems to the most difficult.

If I am to write about everything or nothing or parts between, the question then becomes how? In what manner shall I record my thoughts and experiences here? I think the answer starts with how I have done it over the past 6 months. In that time, my entries have taken on a narrative quality, presumably with the intention of sharing some exciting adventures with friends, family and anyone that cares to read. Although effective – and seemingly well-liked – this narrative style was never my original intent. I had instead envisioned these pages to be inspired musings about Life on planet Earth (and beyond, perhaps), ranging far and wide in scope but being linked by an underlying commitment to truth, understanding and growth. This style of writing has always been far easier and more interesting for me. The task of developing a compelling narrative has been excellent exercise, but not where my interest lies.

And so, I think I have come to a conclusion. Recognizing my original intent and true inclinations, not to mention the cessation of a year spent in near-continual motion, I’ve decided to stop on a dime. >From here the contents of this blog will shift, perhaps drastically. The narrative style will be left behind in favor of more scientific, critical inquiry into ideas and issues of the day and the future. In the process, I imagine the content will deepen significantly, the thrust politicized. I also hope to abandon the compulsion to write longer entries, as well as those with rigid structure and traditional pyramidal development. Of course, I reserve the right to pen whatever I like, whenever I feel like it, so the narrative may not totally disappear – it is a useful tool to help the reader identify with the ideas being developed. And as far as structure is concerned, may the likes of Emerson, Orwell and Huxley strike me down if I continually forego crafting a sound, solid argument.

In sum, all of this is my long-winded, vaguely pretenious way of letting you, the reader, know that this blog will begin to chart a new course. Though I am in San Francisco and for the moment my travels are over, rest assured my restless mind shall continue to set sail for new horizons.

Filed under: Blogging