The Boundaries of Blogging
Dig through the archives of the blog and you’ll find that I have tested the boundaries of blogging on multiple occasions. I have written posts that were taken from darker places of my soul and those that light up my heart. Read my words and learn things that I have never shared with those who are closest to me. Discover truths about Jack that are perhaps better left unsaid among polite company. Recognize that sometimes I write from happiness and sometimes hurt.
These words I write here are sometimes the best example of my own humanity. These words I write are where I let down my guard and allow unfettered access to places that no one gets to see. It is not always easy to read what I have written. Not because it is riddled with grammatical errors and or spelling mistakes. I rarely say moot when I mean to use mute or make similar mistakes. It is hard because sometimes I read these words and see something raw and unpleasant.
The blog is daylight shone upon darkness. It is where I am forced to confront broken promises and dreams that remain unfulfilled. It is where I air out and explore my dark side.
But it is also filled with happy thoughts, silly stories and unabashed optimism about the future. Interspersed among the painful places are those that are filled with the sort of joy that makes my heart sing and my spirit soar. Goofy, I know but it is what is. Still, I haven’t forgotten that there are boundaries that are probably best observed and not ignored. So some stories are never told nor hinted at. Some pieces of Fragments of Fiction are complete fabrications that have no basis in fact and are mere fantasy.
This blog is what it is, but whatever that “is” is, I like it.
ChopperPapa February 13, 2011 at 7:37 pm
“These words I write here are sometimes the best example of my own humanity.” — that was very well said. Unfortunately if that holds true for all bloggers, there are some scary people out there.
Jack February 13, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Aye, that there are.
Mitchell February 10, 2011 at 8:22 pm
Reading your stuff always makes me want to write, which is usually how writers I really enjoy affect me. Thanks for the inspiration yet again, sir. Off to write…..
Jack February 10, 2011 at 10:22 pm
I am touched and pleased by that. I always say that I write for me first and I think that my work shows that. There is a lot that I could do to improve it. Yet I never get tired of hearing people say that they enjoy it. It is quite gratifying.
Don’t mean for that to sound arrogant because that is not the tone of this.
Mitchell February 10, 2011 at 11:03 pm
didn’t sound that way at all.
30ish Mama February 10, 2011 at 2:03 pm
One can definitely pick up on your honesty when reading your posts and I love how you say “the blog is daylight shone upon darkness.” As a new blogger I don’t have enough experience to know where to set boundaries or if I will at all. I know that I am honest, but I haven’t really bared my soul yet. I have mentioned situations that were very painful to me but I haven’t truly explored them on my blog. I think that subconsciously I am treating my blog/readers as a new friendship. I imagine us to be in the getting-to-know-each-other phase, where we keep the conversation light and positive, with random complaints about general topics.
Jack February 10, 2011 at 10:20 pm
I think that is a good way to start. I got into the blogging business on a whim and found that it was cathartic. It was shortly after my father had a major heart attack and we didn’t know if he was going to survive.
For months it was touch and go. The blog was where I admitted that I was deathly afraid of his death. And now almost seven years later I have been through almost every blogging experience you can have. There are lots of stories that came about because of blogging but I don’t share them all anymore.
Seattledad (Luke, I am Your Father) February 10, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Yes, you are the variety pack of bloggers. Good stuff here. Enjoy it.
Jack February 10, 2011 at 10:17 pm
I am just more relaxed about allowing the craziness to shine through. You do a nice job too- Very steady quality wise- I appreciate that.