No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money.
—Samuel Johnson… at last I understood that writing was this: an impulse to share with other people a feeling or truth that I myself had. Not to preach to them, but to give it to them if they cared to hear it. If they did not—fine. That was all right too.
—Brenda Ueland
Would I write even if I knew that no one would ever read what I wrote? Oh, yes. I’ve written millions of words in the past and didn’t even bother to save them for my future self. For me writing is one way of slipping into sacred space, a way of feeding my soul, a way of showing reverence to this life by giving it my full attention. When I write I never feel lonely…I’m connected to something profound.
A Vivid Dream
Mostly I don’t remember my dreams, but I had one years ago that is still as vivid as the night I experienced it. I had just been inducted into the German army…hey, dreams are always crazy, right? I was getting on the bus to go to boot camp when I looked into my suitcase and nothing was there…not even a change of underwear. I briefly worried about that, then I noticed I was carrying my notebook and pen so everything was all right. I got onto the bus, sat by the window and started writing about what I saw and what I was experiencing. No matter where I was in the world, I was home as long as I had my journal.
Moving On By Taking a Detour
Surprisingly enough, I left that home a few years ago. It was time to write something a bit more organized, a series of essays. I didn’t know how to go about it because for me they needed a visual component…some pictures or illustrations. I decided to let the idea gestate for as long as it would take. So I stopped writing for a while and instead did some photography…both stills and video. I learned Photoshop and video editing and also how to make DVDs with multilevel menus. Those multilevels of the DVDs seemed a natural way of organizing material, so when I discovered blogging, especially Flickr for the visual component, I jumped right in and was back to writing… one of the great loves of my life.
That’s how I came to start blogging. What about you? If you blog how did you get started? Even if you don’t blog, what does writing mean to you?
This post is part of a group project on how we started blogging.
I had a fantasy – if I had lived a century or two ago I could have made my income as a particular kind of journalist: one who dealt with significant issues but in a popular way. When I discovered blogging I felt this could be my chance to do this (I’m still finding out whether it is possible).
For me, when I understand something, the understanding comes in words.
There are probably two modes of writing for me. One is a way of contemplation for me. I go deeper into what I am writing about. The other is speaking to others – which I think is usually about ideas and how to use them to help (for me this is very intense, though others tell me it reads as quite contemplative).
Evans last blog post..Finding Joy Beyond Our Labels
Thanks for joining in, Jean. I agree with you about writing. I also have lots of writing that has been lost in the mists of time, and some that hasn’t been shared. I can’t imagine not writing; even if I didn’t write for money, I’d still do it for the sheer joy of stringing words together. 🙂
Sharon Hurley Halls last blog post..The Freelancing Life
Jean – I enjoyed reading your journey to the blogging world. I happen to launch a website to share my thoughts with the world and suddenly I found Word Press. Needless to say, I signed up and the rest is history.
Shilpan
I only write comments here & email notes. My mother (1,600 miles away) wanted to hear from me. I’d retype long letters. Mistakes on a typewriter couldn’t be changed otherwise. One year I didn’t type any letters. (Too busy) My siblings & I weren’t sent money that year so they blame me. Writing on computer is so easy. I can’t resist.
What a nice dream you had! It just shows your love for writing!
I must admit that you write great post titles too. This one had me wondering what your post is about before I made the click over to your site.
Evelyn Lims last blog post..7 Wise Confucius Sayings
Before I started to blog, I had written sporadically at best. After seeing the movie “The Bucket List” this winter, I really began thinking about what I wanted to accomplish in my life – both big and small. One of those things was writing. Sometimes starting is the hardest part, and that was my case. I just kept putting off getting a domain name, and actually starting. I kept thinking, “I’ll do this when…”. Finally, I took the step and got myself started. At first, I was scared – scared of what people I knew would think. Scared of failing. Scared of doing this and then finding out I really had no interest in it. Scared of what people online would think.
But, you know what – it has been very liberating. And completely positive. I feel much more open when I write, and — and I think this is starting to spill over into spoken communication too. Writing has become a powerful tool for me to learn about myself and share with others.
I think this is a journey for all of us. Thanks for sharing yours with us here!
Lances last blog post..5K Race Report – Hills Edition
You gotta love Brenda Ueland don’t ya? I consider her book, “If You Want To Write,” a must.
Writing is my way of extending value to my larger self. We are all one humanity; one life with different windows to view existence through. When I write, I feel that larger self.
It isn’t by me or about me — but I feel it strongly through me.
John
“… at last I understood that writing was this: an impulse to share with other people a feeling or truth that I myself had. Not to preach to them, but to give it to them if they cared to hear it. If they did not—fine. That was all right too.
—Brenda Ueland”
That’s an awesome quote. Loved it.
I was looking for a way to connect, make friends and make a difference in lives of others from home. And I discovered blogging.
Avani-Mehtas last blog post..Living Life Child Like
Evan,
Good luck! I agree, thanks to blogging you have a great chance of succeeding if you keep at it.
You have me thinking about how understanding comes for me. It sometimes comes as words, but I’m primarily a visual thinker, so it’s even more likely to come as images that I have to translate into words. I noticed that when I was a member of Toastmasters’ International. Part of the program was Table Topics, where we had two minutes to talk about the topic we were given. I often had trouble because I would be thinking in pictures rather than words. I hadn’t been so aware of that before.
I know what you mean about two different kinds of material. In my case I wrote the deeper stuff in my journal, and the more educational material I presented in classes and in groups I led. I expected to do more of the latter when I started the Transforming Stress site, but there’s so much material already available on the web I figured I wouldn’t be adding that much. So I switched to presenting some of my ideas as food for thought and, as on this site, am hoping people will think about the ideas and share their views and experience.
I didn’t expect many people to come to this site…I thought it would be too far out…I was pleasantly surprised.
Sharon,
Thanks for starting the group project and for coming by. 🙂
Shilpan,
Isn’t blogging great? I spend as much time leaving comments on other people’s posts as I do writing here…I love the sharing.
bikehikebabe,
I love your e-mails and look forward to them. 🙂
Evelyn,
Thank you!
Lance,
I know what you mean about being afraid! At first we feel so exposed, but it is liberating.
John,
Yes! I discovered If You Want to Write years ago, and it reminded me of C. S. Lewis’ quote:
I had found a kindred spirit.
“It isn’t by me or about me — but I feel it strongly through me.” Well put. I think it’s important to share our ideas and experiences because “it” comes through all of us. Sharing expands us all.
Avani-Mehta,
I know what you mean. I love the power of the written word to touch people’s hearts over time and distance. It’s truly awesome. I’ve felt that way since I was a child, when reading was my one connection to a wider world.
I have just realized that I am a blockhead! I have not yet made any money writing but I write. I have just posted my 51st blog and am feeling great about it. My blog has not received a great many visitors nor comments, but the fact that I can see my writing up there in black and white and some color is more than enough to satisfy me.
I started to blog when I found that apart from using my computer for emails I can use it for other purposes. When I got pulled into some social networks which asked me to blog, I found that I could write and feel happy doing it. I explored and found that I could have my own blog and since then, I have been blogging regularly as well as visiting other blogs and commenting. I feel good doing both as I do, when my blog gets visited and commented on.
rummuser,
Welcome to the club! I know what you mean about the pleasure of seeing your work up on the screen. That goes double for me because I’m moved by the images…they stir a deeper part of my mind/spirit. I spend as much time looking for images as I do on the writing.
I agree with you about commenting on other people’s blogs. That’s as important to me as writing my own. I love the interaction that blogging provides…I discovered your site because of a comment you left at Robert’s post, reason4smile. 🙂
I have written as a means of self expression for years. It felt good. I began blogging as a means of trying to deal with the loss of a job (again!) and as a way to acknowledge (This Being Human…) that what I was feeling was natural; normal. A way of grieving a loss of income, identity, leadership role, and just a general “having the rug pulled out from under me”. And this was not the first time! The first time was my health, the second, the economy….
Tims last blog post..
Tim,
Good for you for writing and sharing your experience of “being human”. I agree with your sentiment in your last post… it’s not the big celebrities that are so important, “It’s the little seen and unsung heroes that really make the world turn.”
Thank you for commenting and good luck.
I only wish that R4S will blog more. His posts are always inspiring but he does it so seldom!
rummusers last blog post..Kashmir in Game Theory – Article in BS.
rummuser,
What changes have you made in your life from reading Robert’s posts? For me that’s the true measure of a post, not just the feel-good experience when one reads it. And change takes time.
I’m assuming Robert is applying what he writes to his own life, and that’s more important than just writing more words. Also the comments section of posts is a great way of discussing how we’re integrating ideas into our lives. A post isn’t just the initial words, it’s the interaction that follows.
Thanks. 🙂
Hi Jean,
First, I LOVE your title! Second, I enjoyed your story about writing. I’ve been a writer nearly my entire life, so I really relate to what you say about the need to write. Writing has been the greatest source of joy and inner peace (and sometimes the ONLY source!!). That’s partly why I started blogging a couple of months ago (which I, too, wrote about in this post as part of Sharon’s project). I’ve discovered in blogging not just the joy of writing words, but the pleasure of combining them with graphics that enlarge on the words. It’s been a fun journey so far.
Thanks for sharing your story!
Joan
Now you have put me in a fix! I have got to figure out all the areas that Robert’s posts have impacted me and get back to you. I shall. Please give me a little more time.
rummusers last blog post..National Problem !
Thanks bikehikebabe for letting me know that someone talked about me here =) I’m really honored to know that my blog got some impact.
Rummy, thanks for keep on visiting my blog. I have to say sorry not to be able to meet your expectation.
Partly, what Jean is saying is right. I was trying to involve more in relationship, and as always, relationship takes time. I cannot rush relationship, and it occupied my time and schedule recently.
It was not the only one though, I think I got a kind of writer’s block. I couldn’t make myself writing because I’m not prepared in doing it.
Jean, thanks for such a supportive message. Thanks for believing in me, and giving me such a benefit of the doubt.
Robert
Robert A. Henrus last blog post..If only your life is a WordPress project
Writing has been one enjoyable experience for me. I usually only write evaluation reports and awards. Just saying what I want to say without it being checked, double checked and sent back for corrections is liberating.
Love this post by the way
Betty
bettys last blog post..The Period Talk
rummuser,
🙂 Great! Take your time, it’s well worth doing. Feel free to share in dribs and drabs (small amounts at a time). For me blogging is about looking at things in depth and sharing the process.
Robert,
I just wrote this to bikehikebabe and to you:
betty,
I agree, writing is liberating. I learned about journal writing by reading The Diary of Ann Frank when I was in my teens. It made me realize that even the most ordinary moments can have great depth if we give them our full attention.
Thanks for coming by. I would never have found your latest post if you hadn’t. 🙂
Joan,
Thanks for coming by and sharing. I enjoyed your post. Your story about sending off a piece the The Writer resonated with me. Years ago I tried sending off a few pieces to some magazines and decided it was a waste of my time. I didn’t want to write what they wanted to publish. That’s the beauty of blogging…you can write what touches your heart. Hopefully it will touch a few other hearts, too, but even if it doesn’t you’ve honored what you love.
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I started writing more when I was an Art Docent Director for my children’s school. I loved learning the history and then developing the history and art classes for the kids. And also teaching the adults to if needed.
As for blogging I started doing research and it just happened.
It is fun connecting to others here. I love food for thought!
A book I love is The Vein of Gold by Julia Cameron great for writers block and for digging deeper.
I started writing in my secret journal when I was in the seventh grade. I wrote for myself, but I fantasized that it would be discovered and published after I died. 🙂
Square Peg Guys last blog post..Wednesday Weigh-In 20090107
Square Peg Guy,
Good for you! I tried starting one in high school but it never took until I was in my mid-20s. I was fairly isolated in my job and journal writing made my life come alive. It was magical.
at first i thought you might be meaning blockhead as in charlie brown.
i have always kept a journal. last year i threw out an entire box of journal notebooks from years of writing. “horrors!” you might say… no, not at all. i have moved on. i found myself twirling in a little whirlpool of sameness. i had to start fresh.
and i think of blockhead in two ways…
charlie tammy brown. and the uncarved block of zen.
both fit.
i love your posts dear lady!