Why Writing Matters: Reflections from an Introverted Blogger

I have always had the urge to write but never knew what to say or to who. I am trying to remember what made me write the first post or why I decided to blog. It seems I just started… but nothing starts out of the blue, right.

I grew up in a house full of literature. We have a lot of respect for the art of writing and creating. It was an activity I saw my father do almost daily. If he wasn’t writing he was painting. I grew up in a house full of books. My mother always has a pile of books beside her anywhere she sits. (I always wanted to start a Goodreads account for her to try to quantify the books).

It’s always fascinated me that you can read words on a page that someone wrote, and they can make you feel a certain way. In the last few years I have been listening to audiobooks and last month I wanted to read something I couldn’t find on audio. Thinking back on that book now, I can clearly hear the voices of all the characters in my head, as if they were an audiobook. I know I am going off on a tangent, but I forgot how powerful the written word is because I’ve been hearing it instead of reading it. Anyway, let me find my way back to the point.

I started writing here and then on some other blogs, as well as as a guest writer. There is nothing like the validation of being listened to. But in a very introverted look at me but don’t look at me kind of way. It’s a kinder, softer way to be bold. I put something out there and there isn’t an instant reaction. The feedback is slow, so if it doesn’t come, I get to move on to something else, and if it does and it’s positive, then beautiful. Negative is a slow slap but also it’s on a page you can turn away from after replying to it. And if it’s really bad and someone is rude, you can block them! Try to block someone in a social setting, and you may get arrested.

One of my favorite quotes from the book Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott is “Writers who tend to be shy, get to stay home and still be public. There are many obvious advantages to this. You don’t have to dress up, for instance, and you can’t hear them boo you right away”

So, I am back now to be introvertedly bold and outspoken, behind a screen, about relatively benign subjects that some people want to discuss. I am here for the community of it. I want to drum up some mini excitement that would get you, the reader, to write something in reply.

You see, this is such a selfish project of mine where I get feedback on all the little things in my life that many of you may have been through. In return, I promise if anything is working and I feel you should try it (or it is not working and you should avoid it), I will share it here.

Also, books! Let’s talk about books here. I mean, why not? I joined Fable, a fantastic social media app for books. It’s like Goodreads but more visual and fun. I cannot let go of my Goodreads account, though, because it feels like Fable’s older and wiser sister. Fable is where you go to talk about what you found on good reads. Join me there if you’re interested.

Before I go, I have a couple of questions for you:

1- I have been going through my old posts, and some of them are outdated, and I’ve changed my opinion (as one does as they grow). Do I keep them or remove them?

2- Anything in particular you want to see here on the blog? I take requests.