I wondered about the time commitment, because I didn't know if it would be worth it. From reading blogs, it's apparent that they have not let the world in on some otherwise undiscovered writing talent. Blogs are not unlike American Idol. Has that show really introduced the world to the next Barbra Streisand or Frank Sinatra? Far from it. Most of those participants are what they always were: great in their high school play and community theater. If they've gone beyond that, they were just lucky. Same for blogs. If the writer is any good, he or she works for a magazine or newspaper, or writes books. If they do a blog, it's to direct readers to their other professional outlets. Blogs, on the other hand, including this one I'm sure, are just outlets for mediocre writers to ramble about their pet peeves and other provincial concerns. While reading other blogs, I also asked myself "Is reading this really worth the time?" Most of the time, I had to admit, no. Sorry to those on whose websites I've commented. I figured other people would say the same about anything I wrote.
That's where fear came in. Who wants to write something and then discover that nobody read it? Or they read it and laughed when they weren't supposed to? I guess that's why I'm still single.
And of course, I am lazy. I have had great opportunity this year to practice being lazy. I have become quite good at it. I guess I should spin it by calling it "indolence." Like Bern Williams said, "Indolence is just a classy way of saying 'laziness'." Did I search libraries to come up with that quote. Heck no. I just Googled for a quotation website and plugged in the word. Don't ask. I have no idea who Bern Williams is. And I'm too lazy to find out.
But I decided to go for it anyway. I'm taking a writing course through my school district. (I'm a second grade teacher.) This will help me teach the next Rick Bragg, not be the next Rick Bragg. Remember that other quote? Those who can't, teach. This gives me a reason to spend time on it. So, for the next few months, I will prove my first three points. You can expect this to have regular updates as I try to impress the teachers of the course. Then, once the course is over, probably the postings will become less frequent. Eventually, like Keyser Soze, poof, they'll be gone.
