The Joy Of Writing
The Big Cheese of Dad Blogging. Love this stuff.
Sometimes I miss the old blogosphere where it felt like people were blogging because they wanted to share stories or because they loved writing.
I miss the days where we didn’t spend time worrying about whether we had built Facebook pages, Twitter followings and G+ outposts. You didn’t feel badly if you weren’t picked as one of the Top 198 pickle bloggers, weren’t asked to be a keynote speaker at a blog conference or didn’t get pitched by Porsche to test drive their cars.
You just got to write for the joy of writing and for the love of sharing good stories. You enjoyed the camaraderie of others who knew we weren’t a bunch of losers living their mother’s basements.
Time Moves On
Time moves on and what once was is no more and that is ok. It is not just ok because we all have to adjust but because there are good things that come with the changes. There are new friendships and opportunities that draw our attention.
The kids and I talk about this often and how to roll with the changes that we face. It is funny to me because I don’t think of myself as being particularly adept at dealing with change but when I flip through the pages of the blog I see my impression isn’t entirely accurate.
I am much better at this than I realized and that realization is part of what I love about blogging. It is not just about the joy of writing or the friendships but of learning about ourselves and growth.
It feels rich and rewarding.
Old Posts and New
My son is going to be Bar Mitzvahed in December. It throws me and makes me smile at the same time.
That kid is a huge part of why I am a blogger. When I started he was a toddler and an only child and life was so very different from now.
Different doesn’t mean better either, it was just different, albeit easier in some ways. But time passes and things change and now the toddler is a preteen who has a little sister who has lit up all of our lives.
She has no bigger hero than her older brother but that doesn’t stop her from screaming at him from time to time or change the pride I feel when I see them playing together. They have their own world and own relationship that are separate from the rest of us and it is a joyful thing.
Those old posts in the archives touch upon some of that and make mention of the magic I felt then but they don’t have the same touch as the ones I write now.
Sometimes I read them and think I was a better writer then and sometimes I read them and wonder why people paid attention to such awful stuff.
Most of the time I don’t pay any attention to any of it and just come out here to write for the joy of writing because this is the present and it is where my primary focus has to be.
Just write baby, just write.
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Kyle Wiley January 26, 2013 at 5:28 pm
Love your post. I haven’t been writing for very long, but my wife and I just had a conversation over dinner about how cool it will be to look back on my articles and revisit some great memories. Someday when I’m long gone, my kids and my kids’ kids will have my blog as a pretty introspective view of their past, which is something I wasn’t given by my predecessors. Signs of times I guess
Jack January 26, 2013 at 11:30 pm
Hi Kyle,
That is a great gift for your children. It is one of the reasons I blog as well.
This is a great way to chronicle the lives of our kids and to give them something that they can use to learn more about who we are and what we are like during certain periods of our lives.
Jose Luis Cervantes January 24, 2013 at 2:35 pm
I wish I could have started blogging in those days. As a matter of fact, I am about to just embark on my writing and blogging journey and it is a big intimidating to do so amidst so much noise. But at the end of the day whether I get traffic or not I hope that what continues motivating me is not the extent of my audience or followers but the simply joy of writing and improving my craft.
Nice post, thank you.
Jack January 24, 2013 at 11:03 pm
Hi Jose,
My unsolicited advice is to not worry about it and just go for it. Write your heart out and enjoy– it is worth it.
Jose January 25, 2013 at 12:00 am
Thank you Jack. Sorry for the typos earlier, I was on my phone. Thanks again for the advice.
Jack January 25, 2013 at 7:13 am
Any time.
Kristen January 24, 2013 at 1:23 pm
Right on, Jack.
Jack January 24, 2013 at 11:01 pm
That ought to be on a t-shirt. 😉
Alyson January 24, 2013 at 12:30 pm
I wrote a similar blog post about this topic recently. As someone who’s been blogging for close to a decade, through various platforms, it’s hard to watch “real life” blogging get lost in the scramble for stats and recognition. But the people who are good will always be good for exactly the reason you described: they write because the love it.
Great post.
Jack January 24, 2013 at 10:59 pm
Hi Alyson,
It is nice to meet you. I agree, good people will remain good because the love they feel will keep them going in the right direction, whichever way that may be.
Ginny Marie January 23, 2013 at 6:50 pm
I have certainly seen those changes since I first started blogging! I wasn’t on Twitter or Facebook, and Google + didn’t even exist! (At least I don’t think it did!) It is so much fun to go back and read what I wrote about my kids when they were younger.
Jack January 24, 2013 at 10:56 pm
Hi Ginny,
I love the historical components of our blogs. It is fun to go back and have a written snapshot of time we can refer to.
Loved the Vlog you did today.
Amber-Lee Dibble January 23, 2013 at 5:48 pm
Jack,
Man. I really do and have since I met you the first time two years ago… On Jan. 31st Alaska Chick’s Blog will celebrate (that would be me, me and my little friend, me) our 3rd birthday.
The thing is… “It is not just about the joy of writing or the friendships but of learning about ourselves and growth.”
My outlook tends to be a little “much” for some, too, at times. I figure when you’ve beat “Death” as many times as I have, I am qualified to point out the blessings and having you all in my life today is a huge blessing. You each, in your own ways, teaching and guiding me, making me a better …everything, including being a mom.
So, thanks, Jack.
Jack January 24, 2013 at 12:37 am
Hi Amber-Lee,
Happy early Blogiversary. Three years is worth celebrating, a lot of folks don’t ever come close to making it that far.
It is always nice to see you here and read about about your exploits. Your blog and your work make me smile. It is a mutual fan fest.
Shonali Burke January 23, 2013 at 6:50 am
Ann Bevans (who is a BRILLIANT writer and whom I adore) wrote something similar recently – just write. And that is advice I have to take to heart, since I have NOT been writing regularly (as you know). So thank you. I loved this post.
Jack January 24, 2013 at 12:24 am
Hi Shonali,
I am so glad. I have to imagine that you came back from India with more stories and more ideas than you know what to do with.
Might be kind of fun to share a few.
Betsy Cross January 23, 2013 at 4:06 am
I’ve come to love writing…and hate my old stuff, too!
Jack January 24, 2013 at 12:22 am
There is just joy in putting pen to paper and letting the words flow.
Brenda Pancratz January 23, 2013 at 3:50 am
This is just the post I needed to see… “Just write baby, just write” LOVE THAT!
Thank you for inspiration, Jack!
Jack January 24, 2013 at 12:21 am
Hi Brenda,
I am glad you like it. I really believe in “just writing.” When we let go and stop worrying good things happen.
Hajra January 22, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Very wise indeed. A few days back a fellow blogger thanked me for reading his post and then asked me “Did you share it around? On all the platforms, there are buttons everywhere you know” Well, stop pushing my buttons!
The need for popularity on social media platforms is somehow beating everything else up.
Jack January 22, 2013 at 11:55 pm
Hi Hajra,
Popularity isn’t all it is cracked up to be.
Lisa Gerber January 22, 2013 at 8:15 pm
I’m going to heed this advice. I love it. It’s way more fun when you don’t have to worry about all that extra stuff.
Jack January 22, 2013 at 11:50 pm
Hi Lisa,
I don’t know about you but when I write for fun it helps feed my creativity and it translates into positive benefits for business. It just recharges my batteries.
Jennifer January 22, 2013 at 6:31 pm
I love this post – words of wisdom. Write for the joy of writing, not for anything else. I need to remember this more often. Thank you for sharing.
Jack January 22, 2013 at 11:49 pm
Hi Jennifer,
I am glad you enjoyed this. The joy of writing and wonder of words is the secret sauce or at least I think so.
Geoff Livingston January 22, 2013 at 3:06 pm
I have been craving the old days myself. I actually bought a new domain to start a second blog on writing itself, and to focus less on marketing long term. It’s good for business, but not always the soul.
Jack January 22, 2013 at 11:45 pm
Hi Geoff,
That sounds great. It is important to find those things that make our souls sing, helps to recharge our batteries so that we can do more on the business side.
Kaarina Dillabough January 23, 2013 at 5:19 am
Ditto that
Kaarina Dillabough January 22, 2013 at 12:02 pm
I miss those days too. I’ll heed your words: “Just write baby, just write”. As a matter of fact, I’ve written that out and now have it on my desk:) Cheers! Kaarina
Jack January 22, 2013 at 11:43 pm
You get credit for helping to inspire this post. Our email exchange made me realize this just had to be written.
Kaarina Dillabough January 23, 2013 at 5:22 am
Well my friend, it certainly hit a chord when I read it after our email exchange:) It was like your voice was speaking directly to my ear and heart. Glad to have provided a slice of inspiration, and thankful for your words:)
Momalomjen January 22, 2013 at 11:59 am
Yes. Just Write. I find myself not only trying to keep the inner critic quiet these (blogging) days but also having a hard time staying focused on the writing for as long, because there is SO. MUCH. ELSE. out there. I want my words to be what makes me thrive. Not my Twitter feed or any other social equivalents. On the other hand, I’m not ready to give up some of the great connections I’ve made. And so, thank goodness for Tuesdays and Just Write.
Jack January 22, 2013 at 11:41 pm
Hi Jen,
Sounds like we are in a similar space. That inner critic likes to yap and yammer so it takes a bit of doing to shut them up, but it seems to become easier with practice.
Some people say balance it a dream, but I think we can find a place between writing and the other platforms.
sara January 22, 2013 at 11:51 am
I kind of wish I could go back to those days when stats and numbers didn’t matter. I can certainly choose to not let these matter – the question then becomes why don’t I?
Moving through change is learned and parenting is one way you can learn it. Change can be good or bad – it’s all in how you choose to look at it. I choose to see change as necessary for growth.
You certainly don’t have to do what ‘everyone else’ is doing but adding little things, like your FB page for your blog can be a good thing. It can introduce you to more of your audience as well as inspire new writing projects.
Jack January 22, 2013 at 11:38 pm
Hi Sara,
It is easy to get caught up in the stats. I figure it all depends on what you want/need from our blogs.
I have had a lot of fun adding bits and pieces to my “social media empire.” I enjoy learning so that has been good.
Appreciate your visiting and hope you come by again.