Why Do We Blog?

Social networking is a weird thing. Why do we do it? It's so we can keep in touch with our friends, right? Which brings me to blogging. Here I am attempting to blog, but I'll be really honest with you: it's awkward. The idea is to create content that people want to read. On that list are the popular subjects for authors: teaching about writing craft, griping about politics, or talking about author/industry news. These are all noble things about which to blog, yet there are serious problems with all of these when I consider using them.

Allow me now to provide you with a lengthy discourse on this conclusion:

Writing Craft: This is where authors write blogs about how to be a good writer. All joking aside, I'm good enough to get published and to enjoy moderate success based on my efforts. However, Robert Liparulo, Frank Peretti, or even Ted Dekker, I am not. Even if I am good, I have yet to enjoy the kind of serious success that is really required in order for me to stand before all of cyber-space and declare that I have better things to say about the craft of writing than anybody else out there blogging on the subject (Including Brandlyn Collins, who not only blogs daily about her craft, but has absolutely earned the right to tell others about how she does it). I just haven't proven my quality to the world yet. It's sort of like newly weds teaching a class on marital longevity. I simply don't have the credentials.

Politics: I don't write overtly political books; therefore it is not pertinent to my writing career. The only other reason I would do this is because I perceived myself as a celebrity worthy of everyone's attention so that I could tell you what is wrong with this country. Even if I were enough of a celebrity to warrant someone's attention about politics, I am fundamentally opposed to this practice. Celebrities are as qualified to use their platform to comment on politics as a bumblebee is qualified to comment on the quality of motorcycles. I write books about people getting punched in the face, I really have no place using that fact to tell you my thoughts about a flat-tax or to gripe about politicians who don't belong to the same party as me.

Author/Industry News: The problem with author news is that most of it is boring for the moment. Do you really want to know that I procrastinated all day? I know I don't want to admit it to all of you. As for the industry: I'm new to all of this. I'm just now learning all of this myself. And I'm not exactly standing in the pipeline of new news. For that I'd look to Chip MacGregor (who is my hero).

Therefore I have come to only one conclusion: Today I shall post a picture of my parent's brand new kittens.

[image error] Missy - the only girl

[image error] Tigger - The hyperactive male

[image error] Group shot - Including Hobbs (white paws) the other male

And there you have it. The important and interesting things I have to talk about right now. It isn't the most amazing thing ever, but these kittens (about 6 weeks old) are so cute they'll make your head explode :)