Conjunction Junction
I was reading the comment section on someone else’s blog and came across something that really horrified me. The commentator took the blog owner to task for a misplaced apostrophe. Are you kidding me?! Do I need to worry about stuff like that? That’s too much pressure. I barely know where to place a comma. I have no idea what a prepositional phrase is.
Sometimes I reread my old posts or the comments I’ve left on other blogs and they are fraught with mistakes. At least on my blog I can go back and correct the gaffes (which I occasionally do). A comment left somewhere else is forever. If it’s incoherent or improperly punctuated, tough shit. It’s a good thing my laptop comes equipped with spell check or I’d really be in trouble with the grammar police.
Last week I read posts on at least three different blogs that all said, “It’s really slow and I don’t have anything to write about.” If I don’t have anything to write about, I don’t write. Please, please don’t let blogging turn into a goddamn job. I’ve already got a goddamn job and one’s enough. This is for fun, right? Or is this yet another one of my responsibilities that I’m taking too lightly?
Sometimes I reread my old posts or the comments I’ve left on other blogs and they are fraught with mistakes. At least on my blog I can go back and correct the gaffes (which I occasionally do). A comment left somewhere else is forever. If it’s incoherent or improperly punctuated, tough shit. It’s a good thing my laptop comes equipped with spell check or I’d really be in trouble with the grammar police.
Last week I read posts on at least three different blogs that all said, “It’s really slow and I don’t have anything to write about.” If I don’t have anything to write about, I don’t write. Please, please don’t let blogging turn into a goddamn job. I’ve already got a goddamn job and one’s enough. This is for fun, right? Or is this yet another one of my responsibilities that I’m taking too lightly?
posted by The Unbearable Banishment at
10:39 PM
8 Comments:
Hey T.U.B.,
Yeah, I feel your pain. As a blogger, you start to get hung up on the "stats" and when you don't write anything, no one stops by.
Yet, I don't need another "job". I've got one already, that I dread. And lot's of other stuff to do as well. So, I often waffle between quitting blogging and not. So far, I haven't given in to the quitting part.
Mind you, I foolishly try to keep up with the Mrs. The only thing is she's a writer and has ambition to be published. And she's an itinerant and prolific blogger. So it's almost pointless to try to keep up with her.
As for comments and spelling, etc. I'm a bit anal there. I just hate it when I notice a mis-spell, typo or word missed just after I hit the "Publish Comment" button. I'm trying to get over that, but...
Anyway, just wanted to say I relate to your post. Somewhat.
Cheers!
Rob
Thanks for the counsel, Rob. Sometimes I think the amateurs—people like myself who do not aspire to be published or cannot properly punctuate a sentence—should get out of the way of the professionals. We are their cross to bear, I suppose.
Yeah, I agree with you twofold, TUB.
Personally, I think if you have nothing worthwhile to say, then don't waste time. I don't write every day either, but when I do, I try to make it count.
I saw that commenter too, and I thought it was kinda tacky, but she's new, and the host seemed to take the criticism in stride while politely shrugging it off good ol' boy style.
Some random thoughts while waiting for my gf to get out of the shower. Who, by the way, is an excellent comma chaser. ;-)
Pax from San Diego,
SA
your so right ;)
*shudder* I have to admit, I do get a bit worked up about grammar and punctuation and what not. But that's because I'm sad.
You carry on doing things how you want to. After all, it's your bloody blog. You can do what you like :)
As for the "I have nothing to write about posts", I suppose people feel the need to reassure any readers that they haven't up and died on them!
sonny: I saw you make a Bukowski reference on another blog. I’ve been reading that guy for a long, long time and have many rare Buk titles in my collection, including books with his paintings bound in. I thought I detected a certain quality about you…
nutty: I’ve always suspected you were a member of the grammar police. Hope you’re able to see past my sloppiness.
Wow, totally envious, man. I love Bukowski. Probably not as extensively as you, however...safe to assume you saw the documentary Born Into This?
Seems like you should know about Powells Books, out in Portland, OR. Biggest book store on the West Coast with a rare book room to boot that has some really valuable stuff (corrs. between Jack London and his publishers, for example). Look them up online, you won't be disappointed. Oh yeah, one other thing: no sales tax in OR.
SA
well I was going to comment about commas but when i saw the bukowski references I changed my mind
Bukowski is The Man!
"a wild onion in the gutted road, Paris in the dark...."
*sigh*
Unless someone is paying you, why do anything that isn't fun?
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