Bill Conrad's Blog - Posts Tagged "blogs"
Negative Blogs
Recently, a few people have commented that my blogs have gotten negative. Here are a few recent topics: Writing about superheroes is annoying. Bad book reviews. Complaining about “did.” In looking at these topics, I suppose I have dipped a bit too deep into the dark side. What is the origin of my negativity? In a recent blog:
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
I revealed that by my 20s I had turned into a very negative person. Since then, I applied a lot of effort to change myself to be a better person. However, a negative aspect of my personality remains, and I should focus more on the positive aspects of life. Granted, this virus quarantine has made my outlook rather dreary.
I have selected several positive topics for my next few blogs. There is a problem with this choice. In the above blog, I delve into the concept that people like negative topics. For example, the recent Avengers movie was full of death, revenge, destruction, and spite. Did people like this movie? It was a worldwide hit with few complaints.
However, the movie would have been more pleasant if the Avengers cleaned up trash on the beach. Thanos could have used his Infinity Gauntlet to move lots of garbage. Everybody wins!
Obviously, that would not be an entertaining movie, but the point is still valid. People dislike constant negativity. A negative discussion goes on forever, a dreary film or a book that does not have a positive plot.
I supposed it would be nice to write about positive topics. No, that not the correct attitude. I will write positive blogs and like them!
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
I revealed that by my 20s I had turned into a very negative person. Since then, I applied a lot of effort to change myself to be a better person. However, a negative aspect of my personality remains, and I should focus more on the positive aspects of life. Granted, this virus quarantine has made my outlook rather dreary.
I have selected several positive topics for my next few blogs. There is a problem with this choice. In the above blog, I delve into the concept that people like negative topics. For example, the recent Avengers movie was full of death, revenge, destruction, and spite. Did people like this movie? It was a worldwide hit with few complaints.
However, the movie would have been more pleasant if the Avengers cleaned up trash on the beach. Thanos could have used his Infinity Gauntlet to move lots of garbage. Everybody wins!
Obviously, that would not be an entertaining movie, but the point is still valid. People dislike constant negativity. A negative discussion goes on forever, a dreary film or a book that does not have a positive plot.
I supposed it would be nice to write about positive topics. No, that not the correct attitude. I will write positive blogs and like them!
My Best and Worst Blogs
I recently analyzed all my blogs to determine the time to write them. In doing so, I read a few. My travel down memory lane inspired me to go back and take a deeper dive into my blogging past.
I have a distinctive writing pattern, and my past works had some writing issues. Of course, that is expected. It also should come as no surprise that I liked some blogs more than others. I thought it would interest my four blog readers to explore my best and worst.
My favorite: When Your Best Isn’t Good Enough
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
I liked this blog because I took an honest look into my shortcomings. It’s essential to understand and face one’s limitations. This blog is strong and still reads well, and I am proud of my creation.
My least favorite: Great Protagonists
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
I missed the mark on this blog. While the writing is not too bad, it came off reading like a Wikipedia article. Should I have skipped this topic? Hmm. I wish I put more initial effort into how I wanted to discuss the topic. However, from a high-level view, this blog is not too bad.
Fan favorite: If Aliens Arrive, Science Fiction Will Change
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
This blog asks a simple question. Would science fiction change if aliens arrived? I have not seen anybody ask this fundamental question before. Several people read this blog, and I got many great comments.
Most read: Writing an Intimate Scene
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
I wrote about creating the sex scenes for my second book. Sex sells and blogs are no different. This blog got the highest number of people who read it. No comments, though. Hmm.
I have recommended my “how to write a book” blog several times and received many positives responses. I suppose this makes these three blogs the most popular. A lot has changed since I wrote those blogs, but the basic principles still apply. If I were to update it, I would have stressed the importance of developing a full plan before beginning the writing process.
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
Since I began blogging, I rejected many topics. Some topics I felt would not be entertaining, and others were too short. Another problem is that I have to keep remembering that not everybody has read my book. So, I cannot take a thorough analysis of what happened in chapter three.
In future blogs, I want to explore motivation and the essence of the story. I also want to provide more information about my book’s content, so I might entice potential blog readers to click “buy it now.”
On that same note, you can do that right now.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074F3RF8H
I have a distinctive writing pattern, and my past works had some writing issues. Of course, that is expected. It also should come as no surprise that I liked some blogs more than others. I thought it would interest my four blog readers to explore my best and worst.
My favorite: When Your Best Isn’t Good Enough
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
I liked this blog because I took an honest look into my shortcomings. It’s essential to understand and face one’s limitations. This blog is strong and still reads well, and I am proud of my creation.
My least favorite: Great Protagonists
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
I missed the mark on this blog. While the writing is not too bad, it came off reading like a Wikipedia article. Should I have skipped this topic? Hmm. I wish I put more initial effort into how I wanted to discuss the topic. However, from a high-level view, this blog is not too bad.
Fan favorite: If Aliens Arrive, Science Fiction Will Change
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
This blog asks a simple question. Would science fiction change if aliens arrived? I have not seen anybody ask this fundamental question before. Several people read this blog, and I got many great comments.
Most read: Writing an Intimate Scene
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
I wrote about creating the sex scenes for my second book. Sex sells and blogs are no different. This blog got the highest number of people who read it. No comments, though. Hmm.
I have recommended my “how to write a book” blog several times and received many positives responses. I suppose this makes these three blogs the most popular. A lot has changed since I wrote those blogs, but the basic principles still apply. If I were to update it, I would have stressed the importance of developing a full plan before beginning the writing process.
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
Since I began blogging, I rejected many topics. Some topics I felt would not be entertaining, and others were too short. Another problem is that I have to keep remembering that not everybody has read my book. So, I cannot take a thorough analysis of what happened in chapter three.
In future blogs, I want to explore motivation and the essence of the story. I also want to provide more information about my book’s content, so I might entice potential blog readers to click “buy it now.”
On that same note, you can do that right now.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074F3RF8H
A Blog Not Far Enough
I recently discussed which blogs were my favorites and which ones I regretted. It occurred to me that one blog needs a special mention. This particular one stands out as a topic I think about often.
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
In this blog, I discuss how my personal ethics hinder the kinds of stories I allow myself to write. Let’s take a second look at this topic. Some real-life people are racist, sexist, closed-minded, or overtly offensive. Most of the time, we ignore these people, but sometimes we confront or even celebrate them. For example, the obnoxious talk show host Howard Stern has a large following.
Am I afraid of offending my four blog readers with offensive material? Yes, and no. My four blog readers have stuck with me this long, and I am sure they would accept one offensive statement. However, that is not the issue. I cannot stand the idea of intentionally offending somebody, especially somebody I have never met. To me, that is the mark of a poorly raised individual.
Let’s examine my mental block logically. I write funny offensive statement X. From my perspective, there are four likely outcomes. A percentage of my readers will like X. A portion will not care, and a portion will dislike X. Lastly, a portion will take great offense. Given equal people, that means I could lose two of my four readers.
However, this is not the central issue because there is an additional argument. In real life, people are offensive. There is a perception that if we pretend this class of people does not exist, they will multiply in the shadows. As a good person, we take on confront offensive material and adequately react to it.
This is not my core issue, but we are close. I do not permit myself to write offensive material. Let me explain. Let’s invent the character Sally. As a writer, I can write Sally into every situation and make her any type of person. Of course, I avoid lots of territory because of my ethics. For example, Sally’s dialog will never contain racial slurs. Granted, I might write, “Sally made a racially insensitive comment about Steve.” That statement completely covers the topic, and the reader understands exactly what is going on. In my mind, Sally can be a racist character, but I do not need to offend my readers with offensive statements.
We are now closer to the core issue. In the actual world, offensive actions have happened, are happening, and will happen. The argument is that unless we explore offensive material, it will continue its hold on society. If I write an offensive scene, my actions will help people understand and confront offensive people.
There is another part of this issue. Sally can be offensive, understand her problems, apologize, and grow. Also, Steve can confront Sally and put her on the right path, or he can learn to ignore Sally. This kind of writing should be acceptable.
And there is my dilemma. I disagree with the concept that presenting offensive material is honorable or morally needed. Yet, as I have seen in actual life, offensive actions can lead to positive outcomes.
Here is the heart of my issue. Does not violating my ethics make me part of the problem? I want to scream, “NO! I am a good person and want to improve this world.” Yet, if we think about this logically, a tiny part of myself contributes to the pain associated with real world offenses.
I have explored this moral dilemma ever since I wrote that blog. Of course, I will not be writing offensive material. So, the point is moot. However, a small part of me thinks about being part of the problem, and a different small part of me wants to explore offensive material in my writing.
A larger part of me has reacted to the criticism my work has already generated and never wants to offend another reader. Yet, I know people will occasionally get offended no matter what I do. I also know that offensive work has a large niche in the entertainment world and has been responsible for significant positive change.
My mental argument is not going away. Yet, I like that I understand and confront my own beliefs. This is how people grow.
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
In this blog, I discuss how my personal ethics hinder the kinds of stories I allow myself to write. Let’s take a second look at this topic. Some real-life people are racist, sexist, closed-minded, or overtly offensive. Most of the time, we ignore these people, but sometimes we confront or even celebrate them. For example, the obnoxious talk show host Howard Stern has a large following.
Am I afraid of offending my four blog readers with offensive material? Yes, and no. My four blog readers have stuck with me this long, and I am sure they would accept one offensive statement. However, that is not the issue. I cannot stand the idea of intentionally offending somebody, especially somebody I have never met. To me, that is the mark of a poorly raised individual.
Let’s examine my mental block logically. I write funny offensive statement X. From my perspective, there are four likely outcomes. A percentage of my readers will like X. A portion will not care, and a portion will dislike X. Lastly, a portion will take great offense. Given equal people, that means I could lose two of my four readers.
However, this is not the central issue because there is an additional argument. In real life, people are offensive. There is a perception that if we pretend this class of people does not exist, they will multiply in the shadows. As a good person, we take on confront offensive material and adequately react to it.
This is not my core issue, but we are close. I do not permit myself to write offensive material. Let me explain. Let’s invent the character Sally. As a writer, I can write Sally into every situation and make her any type of person. Of course, I avoid lots of territory because of my ethics. For example, Sally’s dialog will never contain racial slurs. Granted, I might write, “Sally made a racially insensitive comment about Steve.” That statement completely covers the topic, and the reader understands exactly what is going on. In my mind, Sally can be a racist character, but I do not need to offend my readers with offensive statements.
We are now closer to the core issue. In the actual world, offensive actions have happened, are happening, and will happen. The argument is that unless we explore offensive material, it will continue its hold on society. If I write an offensive scene, my actions will help people understand and confront offensive people.
There is another part of this issue. Sally can be offensive, understand her problems, apologize, and grow. Also, Steve can confront Sally and put her on the right path, or he can learn to ignore Sally. This kind of writing should be acceptable.
And there is my dilemma. I disagree with the concept that presenting offensive material is honorable or morally needed. Yet, as I have seen in actual life, offensive actions can lead to positive outcomes.
Here is the heart of my issue. Does not violating my ethics make me part of the problem? I want to scream, “NO! I am a good person and want to improve this world.” Yet, if we think about this logically, a tiny part of myself contributes to the pain associated with real world offenses.
I have explored this moral dilemma ever since I wrote that blog. Of course, I will not be writing offensive material. So, the point is moot. However, a small part of me thinks about being part of the problem, and a different small part of me wants to explore offensive material in my writing.
A larger part of me has reacted to the criticism my work has already generated and never wants to offend another reader. Yet, I know people will occasionally get offended no matter what I do. I also know that offensive work has a large niche in the entertainment world and has been responsible for significant positive change.
My mental argument is not going away. Yet, I like that I understand and confront my own beliefs. This is how people grow.
Non-Bloggable Topics
I recently finished reading the book, Notes From the Hard Shoulder by James May. It is a collection of short articles about cars and other topics previously published in newspapers and magazines. In reality, James had been blogging for years (in printed form.) Hmm. I could write a book like that…
Back to the blog. I enjoyed the book, but the topics got me thinking. I never write blog entries about cars. Why? This blog is a thinly veiled marketing ploy to get potential readers to click “buy it now.” As a result, I focus on writing and book-related topics.
However, I would like to blog about all kinds of topics. Politics, cars, electronics, life, family, mountain bikes, personal opinions, history, and other random junk. Could I take a day off of literary topics and discuss my first car? Spoiler alert. Her name was Kim… Girrr. I need to focus on being a modestly successful author.
How about a Facebook post or a new blog? Feed my creative side. Girrr. I have enough on my plate. What about bending the rules? A car discussion once a month. While I have only four regular blog readers, that effort would be a dangerous distraction and I cannot allow myself to go down that path. Girrr. I am too focused.
I have lots of writing ground to cover in my blogs and can feed my creative side in my books. For example, many scenes involve cars. Yet, I might try bending a few rules. Perhaps we could discuss cars as characters? Or is that a blog too far?
February
Back to the blog. I enjoyed the book, but the topics got me thinking. I never write blog entries about cars. Why? This blog is a thinly veiled marketing ploy to get potential readers to click “buy it now.” As a result, I focus on writing and book-related topics.
However, I would like to blog about all kinds of topics. Politics, cars, electronics, life, family, mountain bikes, personal opinions, history, and other random junk. Could I take a day off of literary topics and discuss my first car? Spoiler alert. Her name was Kim… Girrr. I need to focus on being a modestly successful author.
How about a Facebook post or a new blog? Feed my creative side. Girrr. I have enough on my plate. What about bending the rules? A car discussion once a month. While I have only four regular blog readers, that effort would be a dangerous distraction and I cannot allow myself to go down that path. Girrr. I am too focused.
I have lots of writing ground to cover in my blogs and can feed my creative side in my books. For example, many scenes involve cars. Yet, I might try bending a few rules. Perhaps we could discuss cars as characters? Or is that a blog too far?
February
Will Writing Ever Rule the World?
While searching for new blog topics, I came across a great list of popular ones. Instead of choosing the one I liked the most, I challenged myself. “Will Blank Ever Rule the World?” Since this blog is about writing and books, “Will writing ever rule the world?” My first thought about this profound question was, “Of course not! What are you thinking?!”
Umm, that was not the intent of the exercise. I was supposed to describe all the wonders of books and writing. For example, let’s pretend my blog was about horses. “Will horses ever rule the world?” Of course, horses will rule the world! People love horses, and it is natural to think these majestic creatures could become a much larger part of our society. Heck, with artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, horses could even evolve. I suspect talking and voting is in our near future. More arguments include…
That’s the proper line of thinking. Writing and books should be fundamental to a person like me. Therefore, books could become the world’s most important topic. However, I am too realistic and do not believe this could be possible. Does this mean that writing and books are not the most important part of my life? They are important, but I feel this blog exercise is silly and illogical. “I do not wish to take part.” Come on, man up, and make this blog topic happen. Hmm… Alright, I will make a better (fictional?) attempt.
There is a hypothetical future where writing and books could become extremely popular. Rock and roll, designer jeans, beanie babies, and Pokemon Go took the world by storm. Writing is a fun pastime, important to society, and rewarding. Books are educational, enjoyable, and challenging. In addition, it is now super easy to publish. Finally, books and writing used to be super popular and have always been a core part of our history. In conclusion, it is 100% possible that writing or books could once again become super popular.
However, I still do not think I covered the core point. Will writing and books ever reach superstar status? Ultra-popular rulers and pop stars have only achieved that level of fame and devotion. The closest an author or book achieves superstar status is JK Rowling and the Harry Potter books. Yet, she is a far cry from somebody like Michael Jackson, Elvis, Madonna, Lincoln, or King Tut.
Alright, let’s set up a realistic situation. Mega author (let’s call him Bill) writes a fantastic book series that takes the world by storm. His message is, “Everybody can be an author!” This universal message inspires people everywhere to write and read books. Is this set-up realistic? We are in the middle of a crazy Covid 19 epidemic. If something crazy like Covid can happen, then books can rule the world.
But wait, books sort of ruled the world. JK Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books, they became mega-popular, and Amazon now lets everybody publish. So, therefore, writing and books rule the world (quietly). (With an occasional movie deal and check from Amazon.)
I suppose this is a bland ending to a bland topic. But it could have been worse. Imagine how my four readers would feel if I spent this blog trying to convince you that horses would rule the world. Want something worse? Imagine if horses ruled the world? My street would stink from all the horse poop. How did the horses vote in the last election? So, I guess I am ending this blog on a high note. Writing and books do (kind of) rule the world.
Umm, that was not the intent of the exercise. I was supposed to describe all the wonders of books and writing. For example, let’s pretend my blog was about horses. “Will horses ever rule the world?” Of course, horses will rule the world! People love horses, and it is natural to think these majestic creatures could become a much larger part of our society. Heck, with artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, horses could even evolve. I suspect talking and voting is in our near future. More arguments include…
That’s the proper line of thinking. Writing and books should be fundamental to a person like me. Therefore, books could become the world’s most important topic. However, I am too realistic and do not believe this could be possible. Does this mean that writing and books are not the most important part of my life? They are important, but I feel this blog exercise is silly and illogical. “I do not wish to take part.” Come on, man up, and make this blog topic happen. Hmm… Alright, I will make a better (fictional?) attempt.
There is a hypothetical future where writing and books could become extremely popular. Rock and roll, designer jeans, beanie babies, and Pokemon Go took the world by storm. Writing is a fun pastime, important to society, and rewarding. Books are educational, enjoyable, and challenging. In addition, it is now super easy to publish. Finally, books and writing used to be super popular and have always been a core part of our history. In conclusion, it is 100% possible that writing or books could once again become super popular.
However, I still do not think I covered the core point. Will writing and books ever reach superstar status? Ultra-popular rulers and pop stars have only achieved that level of fame and devotion. The closest an author or book achieves superstar status is JK Rowling and the Harry Potter books. Yet, she is a far cry from somebody like Michael Jackson, Elvis, Madonna, Lincoln, or King Tut.
Alright, let’s set up a realistic situation. Mega author (let’s call him Bill) writes a fantastic book series that takes the world by storm. His message is, “Everybody can be an author!” This universal message inspires people everywhere to write and read books. Is this set-up realistic? We are in the middle of a crazy Covid 19 epidemic. If something crazy like Covid can happen, then books can rule the world.
But wait, books sort of ruled the world. JK Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books, they became mega-popular, and Amazon now lets everybody publish. So, therefore, writing and books rule the world (quietly). (With an occasional movie deal and check from Amazon.)
I suppose this is a bland ending to a bland topic. But it could have been worse. Imagine how my four readers would feel if I spent this blog trying to convince you that horses would rule the world. Want something worse? Imagine if horses ruled the world? My street would stink from all the horse poop. How did the horses vote in the last election? So, I guess I am ending this blog on a high note. Writing and books do (kind of) rule the world.
