Blogging Meme from the lovely Singing With My Heart.
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How long have you been blogging?
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I started using LiveJournal in 2002. I still use it currently, but not as frequently as I used to. LJ was my primary “blog” until I started using a Myspace blog. That didn’t last for too long. I’ve had my Wordpress blog for almost a year I think. Wordpress is now the one I pay more attention to.
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What inspired you to start a blog and who are your mentors?
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I’m not sure what really got the ball rolling on this blogging thing. I’ve always been writing whether it was online or in a real journal. I like having an outlet, a place where I can express myself about the many things that fly around in my mind. I think I like blogging because of the opportunities it provides. I get a lot of feedback on my thoughts and ramblings from people all over the world. I have the chance to make a lot of friendships and develop relationships with people all over the world. I like that I can be as open or censored as I like. I also like that my blog serves as a record for my own personal knowledge. I enjoy being able to look back two, six or twelve months and see what I was going through at that time. It’s a great tool for reflection and growing. I think I am more inclined to write if I know somebody is reading it.
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As for mentors, I think any of the blogs I’ve read could be a mentor. I love all of the different writing styles and topics of blogs I read. Some people are so incredibly profound and expressive in their writing. I feel like I am catching a unique glimpse into their world. I catch myself many times wishing I wrote a certain post or sounded more like so-and-so.
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Are you trying to make money online, or just doing it for fun?
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If I could make money off of it, I don’t think I’d pass up the opportunity, but who’d pay me to write this about chin pubes? I’m doing it for fun and because it’s been very healthy and therapeutic to have this outlet.
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What 3 things do you love about being online?
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1. Creativity/expression.
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2. Inspiration.
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3. Support.
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What 3 things do you struggle with online?
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1. Keeping up with all of the blogs I read. I easily fall behind.
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2. Self-doubt. Once in a while I’ll come across a post that just blows my mind and I wish I was capable of writing such a moving piece without trying.
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3. Censoring myself – to an extent. I do open up a lot more on my LJ, but don’t frequent it as much. But because I know people from school, work and family read this, I don’t like to divulge too much information that could be incriminating, hurtful or taken the wrong way. Too much can be taken out of context. I really love what Life of a Valley Girl has done. She’s completely anonymous, yet completely honest. Names have been changed and readers don’t even know if Val is her real name or not. I know so much about her, yet I don’t know her at all. Love it!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
anonymity is always a tough river to swim. i just pick specific topics i’ll never write about, and make sure i’m being honest with myself. it’s taken a while, but i’m getting far more courageous in terms of what i’ll write about the people in my life, and i’m finding that they really like to hear what’s going on in my head.
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but sometimes i wish the whole thing was behind a smokescreen.
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Thank you so much for the nice compliment! I am touched!
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Valley Girl -
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Well thank you for being so honest and brave
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