Not in a day-to-day sense. I'm sure many of us feel like we could be involved more, serving more, loving more. Then again, we may want to do less. And sleep more. After 5 hours, I'd like to sleep more.
Oh yeah.
A long-time friend got me thinking. She has had one blog for a long time. It began as a personal blog with all sorts of vulnerability and life lessons. It was fun for me to read because (a) we're friends, and (b) she's a great writer. Over time she added in book reviews and more writing along that line, which is awesome because she's great at that stuff, and it's what she loves.
What's great for her is those reviews have drawn a whole new crowd. Of course, I don't read them much. So, to accommodate all her fans, she's now divided her blogs into personal and professional.
I've thought about doing the same thing, mostly because I want to challenge myself to write on topic, as well as contribute to a larger body of knowledge and experience in a valuable way.
What would I write on?
I would likely make it worship related. Part of me wants to add in all sorts of reflections on Christian life. But then that blog is already like my current blog. Hmph. I guess the difference (he mentally processes as he types) is the thrust of the blog would be worship: Sunday sets, ideas, problems, issues, theology, liturgy, etc. Now there are already a bunch of those out there, so what would my niche be? What would make me different? That's always the marketing thought.
But, as The Golden Circle teaches us, starting with Why is much more effective than What. So, why would I do this to begin with? What's my foundational belief?
Ideally, here's where I would say, "I believe I have a unique contribution to the world." As a person, I think that's true. As a blogger? I'm not sure.
Here's where you, my readers, help me out. Have you noticed anything that makes my writing/topics markedly different than anyone else's? A perspective I have that I should exploit? Is there anything you think I should focus on or toward? What are my strengths you think I should play up? Anything I should cut out?
This could be a good thing for all of us.
3 comments:
First - if you do this you better keep up this blog, because a lot of your posts have already gone this direction, and I love the humurous side of Dan that blogs about grapes and getting turned down by girls and isn't "all worship" as much as I love the worship side of you. (My fear, you'll get all caught up in the other influential blog and let this one slide).
Second - I think your biggest difference is your young energetic voice. It's completely different relating all these stories and ties from biblical theology into everyday life from someone who is young and well educated, but still figuring it out, than priests/pastors who often teach like parents.
Third - Keep the humor, references and explanations to God can so often get serious to the point that you don't want to listen anymore. I know religion is a serious thing, but learning about God doesn't have to be all business. There is definitely a place for reverence, but don't just be a "preacher". I think you already know and utilize this, just don't lose it along the way like others do.
And that's my two cents. It's what keeps me reading anyway.
Erin said it well: humor and perspective. Your take on whatever you're looking at. This makes it difficult because that can be a diversity of stuff. But sometimes how you look at something is more valuable that what you look at.
So maybe you could ask, "How do I look at things? What's the angle I tend to take?"
For me that's skepticism, questioning, and contrarianism. For you, humor. What else?
Erin - I would like to keep up this blog, for sure. There's got to be somewhere to put all my random thoughts and stories about girls I (don't) meet.
I like the insight on "figuring it out" as I go. It comes across that way because it's usually the case - I sit down with an idea, but not sure where to go with it, and it unfolds as I type. I'm glad it reads like it's written.
Humor! So important. Note taken. I tend to get serious when I think too much. Not that I'm less humorous, but it doesn't bubble. It's something I'll stay aware of. Thanks!
Adam - I like those, humor and perspective.
Perspective is fun. It's like a stand-up comic approach, making something out of nothing. I tried writing stand-up a few weeks ago. That went... poor-ly.
I like the questions: How do I look at things?
I like metaphors and imagery, personification, all the things English told me make a good story but I didn't believe until I started using them. It's the difference between "I looked hungrily at the banana bread" and "The banana bread stalked me from behind my hunger." Thanks for the insights. :)
I really want banana bread.
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