This January, it will have been three years since I started this blog. I originally started with my family and close friends in mind. Honestly, I didn’t anyone else would be interested. But then I started getting readers that I had never met before, and some of them even linked to my blog from their sites.
That’s very cool. But also intimidating.
I love to write. Ever since my fifth grade teacher made us turn in creative writing every week, and my 12th grade English teacher taught me how to organize my thoughts, and my Advanced Writing professor in college really pushed me, I have loved to write. When I was a little girl, I dreamed about becoming an author. But since then, I never really thought that I had something significant to say. It took me a while on my blog to really write…to write something other than snippets of my life. And when people said they were interested, that was a shock. I have something interesting to say? That someone other than my English teacher wants to read? Well, okay then. But at that point my perfectionist nature kicked in and I was scared to post anything that I wasn’t totally satisfied with.
Yesterday, I read this in WORLD magazine: “The ease of self-publishing has resulted in many bad books by authors who did not spend time learning to write or building an audience. That’s too bad because we live in a time when anyone with talent, discipline, and an idea can start with a blog, keep at it over time, and eventually build an audience while learning to write better.” She then went on to describe four new books that have been published out of blogs.
At this point I have no ambition to publish a book from my blog! But her thoughts are freeing to me. Oh….I get it….blogging is about practice! I don’t have to only publish perfect thoughts. I don’t have to worry that everything I post is interesting to everyone.
So I am going to make an effort to post my thoughts in writing more often. Because I enjoy it. Because it helps me to sort out what I am learning. Because maybe God can teach others through what He is teaching me.
And I will think of it as practice. It doesn’t have to be publishable or perfect. Right?
Anonymous
well amy being of your many readers i love your blog and you being able to share your life with us! its great now that youve adde3d kids to the mix! keep up the great posts!
Mark Solomon
I really enjoy reading your blog. Practice makes perfect and I could see you writing a book someday with all your adventures with the kids, living in a different country, etc. 🙂
Mark Solomon
P.S. This is Jayme writing under Mark's account. 🙂
Unknown
Amen and amen. What a very encouraging post. Thank you.
brooke mardell
confession: i have sent readers your way that don't (yet) know you. i love your perspective and honesty. so while it is good PRACTICE, it would also make a GREAT book :)!