Every once in awhile, in a daze where the moon is blue and my mind renders no immediate thought, a title of a post comes to mind and I have no clue of what the context may be about. So, off the cuff and raw/uncut as I can be....this would be one of those times.
I told my sweet and even-tempered co-worker Ann Guy that I want to write about something that has never been written about on this forum. At the same time, I wanted to make sure it fits the parameters of what Active-Rain is all about. I can honestly say I've read thousands of blogs and will do so ongoing, but rarely does one catch my eye as being off-the-charts fantastic.
The featured posts are for the most part, very good. The posts with a large amount of commentary & comments tend to be interesting and thought provoking. And as the nature of the beast would have it, a lot of very good stuff gets unnoticed. Yet, I get bored easily. Especially if unchallenged and reading the same old crap over & over & over again. I want something different, something unique, something special that will challenge my world and awake my thoughts. Then, I thought about it. It's not so much what you write (though subject matter remains key to a large extent), it is how you write it. I'm not looking for Shakespeare or King, but I am looking for those who make their posts fun to read.
Don't get me wrong, there are an abundance of talented writers & knowledgeable professionals here. I just want to push the envelope to some degree. Now, that may mean writing Hard-Core Real Estate Stuff, Consumer-Oriented Material, a better way to garner attention to your writing...or maybe even trying to conquer or at least have a stranglehold on Google...
I've said it before and will say it again. I will always look for those words, that sentence, that paragraph, that explains it all. While I will never find it, the search is freaking on!
I love the fact that Active-Rain has reached the point where more than 50,000 people share whatever they have to contribute. And posts & contributions, no matter how mundane, will continue to be churned out in great numbers. It's not what you write, it's how you write.
We all have a role, in life & this forum. While I'd love to sit and chastise those who write what I perceive as crap, is it? The contributions are many and as long as we all share what we got, the wheels will spin and we will move forward. Folks, to some extent, we are a team. I may not read you, like you, know you, or have a clue that you even exist...same goes for your perception of me. But, if you give me YOU in what your write, I don't give a flying rat's beady arse how bad your grammar or spelling may be, how misconstrued your facts might be, you gave you. This forum is better for it.
With every post, the wheels spin. Yet, the highway is long...we have a long drive ahead. Keep on blogging, contributing, and whether the stuff you post has been posted or talked about before, it comes from you. That, in my estimation, is very important. That is what makes this different and very real. The wheels go round and we aren't driving, but I'm very sure we can be contributing passengers along the way.
Hi Jason. I understand where you are coming from completely. I have to say though....I get a little tired (yawn) of hearing people talk about others people writing being crappy. I cannot stand the kind of stuff Danielle Steele writes, but theres a lot of people out there who love it and I shouldn't judge them for that. I think a lot of people write crap at first and that can help them write better so I think we all agree there is a process. :)
We all want to be inspired by words...impacted by thoughts, but theres beauty in the attempt as well. As long as its original.
Jason, I joined AR in late May. I've read some excellent writing -- the quality of which one would expect from a national magazine. I love the craft of writing. Wordsmithing is an art, perhaps a lost one.
Of all the blogs I've read I have to vote the gentleman's (Gary?) who penned the parody of selling Crest for $35 as the most creative, well-structured. As a frustrated creative writer I liken blogging on AR to Dicken's serialization of his famous novels. At the time he was paid by the word so he stretched the stories out. That profit incentive produced Great Expectations and Oliver Twist.
Someone from this community will produce a seminal piece or an outline of a book that will be a future bestseller.
Jason,
I'm all for pushing the envelope....sometimes a little to far for my own good. But when you put your self out there, it definitely is much more interesting than the same old boring stuff. Nicely Done!
Everything....this is the song my son sent me from Japan in 2006.
What you see is what you get...I get the same thing here...thank you.
Jason,
To me, your posts are most often entirely thought provoking! While I understand your thoughts I find it impossible to classify the entire site as "mundane". There are just too many blogs to read, and unfortuntately many are mundane. But there are many that are not, too....such as yours and hopefully when cleverness strikes, mine too! :)
I have to admit that I do believe the truth won't be found in a phrase alone, but in a book. I believe that "raw' comes from the heart and soul of a person. Anything else is just fabricated, albeit very well fabricated in the case of some of the greats. I hope to see that next big post from you Jason. I am always looking for that next opportunity to stretch myself, to see a new horizon. I hope the same for you. Until then, keep letting the words and thoughts out. It'll come together one day.
I bet having that title bouncing around your head was driving you nuts until the concept eventually fell into place. LOL. I tend to look for great writing more than I look for great information. I blog for business, sure, but it's also an outlet for me. I've always fashioned myself an author without a topic. Love to write, never know what to write about. The beauty of AR is that you can pull a Seinfeld, and practically write about nothing some days. I usually like those entries the best because they are not forced, carry no agenda ... just simply are. I admire craft as much as content. Take this one. I didn't learn a damn thing, but it was a great read. Thanks for that.
Jason- ummmm I can honestly say that what I write is ME. I don't write many Posts, but when I do they all have something I want to convey, from me.......
NO YOU DIDN'T!! (the wheels on the bus....)
I think we should do more video blogs, or even podcasts. That would be interesting. Since today seems like the prediction day, that would be my prediction for blogging. Less text and more multi media.
What do you think Sardi, (I mean dahling)?
Suzanne - I agree my dear, and I think it is fun!
Sis - I'll check out the song. I am familiar with Lifehouse:-)
Melissa - Ohhhh, maybe you should create one. I like the concept!
Ginger - Give me time gal, I'll work up something to inspire you. Welcome back.
Sarah - Oh, you are clever alright. I first noticed that at the Carnival of Content for Mortgage Folks. And I don't know why I haven't before, but I'm subscribing to your blog. I'm deeply afraid I'm missing some very good stuff.
Aziz - Lol. Which one? There is the one where I'm dressed in a Barney-esque looking purple shirt and tie with a manufactored smile or there is the MEEZ below it where I'm sitting at a desk conjuring up a way to Rule The World:-)
Andrew - I love the big posts, I love the small posts...as long as their real. In my mind the worst stuff I've written was forced and/or manufactored. The best was from the soul. YOU are becoming one of my favorite writers here by the way.
Paul - LMAO! Now that is a comment that made me laugh. Very true and I didn't learn a damn thing from writing it. Oh, you just gave me an idea....
Kathy - That's just one of the reasons why you are very special my dear. I like the way you write.
Dahling - Yes I did:-) I would love to do video blogs and/or podcasts more often, I just need the proper equipment. I think that is a splendid idea.
Cyndee- Crap and My Blog go hand in hand, like peas and carrots. Eat your veggies and read my blog:-)
Marlene - I hate the bus but as long as I'm on it, it would be a nice ride being able to actually talk to you. You are very inspirational you know!
Crouch - This weekend I may go on a Newbie search....just to see.
Cooper - I respectfully disagree, I believe it can be done. I may be wrong, but I'll die trying & searching.
Chris - You are becoming the Localism Queen. Even though I'm directionless, if I keep reading you I may be able to find myself knowing my way around Bonita Springs!
Jason,
Who is to say what is good content and what isn't. Well I guess it is the moderator who chooses you or not or the rating you get:)...but that does not necessarily mean your stuff stinks or is very good. It is all about what the percentage of readers think ...unless we are being judged by some professor who is an expert I'm not sure how critical it is to be judged.
Jason, I kept having that song go through my head when I read this, " The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round all through the town. The people on the bus go up and down, up and down, up and down. The people on the bus go up and down all through the town.
" The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round all through the town. The people on the bus go up and down, up and down, up and down. The people on the bus go up and down all through the town.
" The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round all through the town. The people on the bus go up and down, up and down, up and down. The people on the bus go up and down all through the town.
Ok, you get it.
I don't give a flying rat's beady arse how bad your grammar or spelling may be, how misconstrued your facts might be <------you may not, but others will, as they should. While it is altogether vital that we put "us" in what we write, it is just as important that our grammar and spelling be competent, even if not flawless. Grammar's harder, but c'mon, how difficult is it to run spellcheck on your post? As passionate as I am about that, it pales in comparison to my quest for truth. Misconstrued facts? We're in a business that relies heavily on facts. We can't suffer misconstruing them! Our consumer is counting on us to bring them accurate information. Facts, misconstrued, are in essence, lies.
Love the rest of the post Sardi, but I'm raking you over the coals for that one. (done with love of course)
I agree wholeheartedly, Jason.....what might be 'crap' to one person, just may be exactly what the next guy needed to read at that moment. If someone writes it, they are on a path that told them to write it for some reason.....they might not even be aware of the reason, however following your heart is what matters.
I don't believe anyone should be taking some one elses words or thoughts though and misconstruing or copy and pasting them....that, to me, is not really following one's heart; moreso following one's ego.
Jo
Jason - Wheels on the bus? Let's go deeper. How about a little Jerry?
I think the words flow right in to what your talking about.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=S7ItqmNqtFE
Jason,
I like that song, hey I have two Kids..I have always written whatever comes to mind, and I gave up on thinking about a feature, becauase I am not the greatest on a computer, but Having someone like you, really helps.. Hint!! The nice e-mail :0)
Thanks,
Tom Weiss
LOL @ Adam! :o)
Grabbing a chair, Maggie called you on that but good.
Neal - In the end, the readers decide in my opinion.
Missy - Catchy, isn't it?!!
Maggie - Believe me, I pretty much agree. Though I do urge those who are afraid to blog to do it (I'll post that at another time with links to some of my worst blogs:-) and as far as misrepresenting info...that's why there is a comment section. Often times we learn from our own blunders and people can call us out on info that isn't accurate. I've seen that time and again in this forum and from the mortgage side of things, products and players change sometimes daily, so what is true one day, may not be the next. Thanks for the love raking:-)
Carole - You do just fine! And trust me on this one, the process is ever evolving.
Diane - I have meant to try the game but haven't had the proper time to allot to it. I will do that over the weekend. As far as the videos, you probably won't see me doing that anytime soon, though I like the concept.
Jo-Anne - Well said, as has become the norm with you. You do have a way with words.
Mike - LOL, somehow I knew there was a hippie deep inside of you.
Waldman - I'm always ready for a battle! My inclusion of that song served its purpose, to stifle the creativity coming out of the Waldman brain. I was thinking of Sun Tzu's the Art of War as I was writing this, just knowing my devious ways might somehow kill the creativity that is Adam Waldman. HAHAHAHAHAHA!:-)
Tom - I've got your back man.
Cooper - Stirring up trouble on my blog again, I see.
Mr. Sardi - Please man, get a freaking life!
Tom - That we do Tom, that we do. I may need a little help with that Waldman character:-)
Dianne - I checked out your poetry, very nice! Thank you for your kind words and keep on writing, you definately have a knack for it.
Jennifer - I'm ready for the title, I know I am. It's funny, things have been running around in my head as of late, things of a surreal nature. I am loving it and I feel so rejuvenated that even listening to that song puts a smile on my face.
Thesa - The twists & turns are the fun part of the ride. And those wheels are going round and round...
Jason, you are in search for the Holy Grail...it's not there. But don't stop dreaming...you might just write it...you're that good.
BTW...that song sucks.
Jason,
Nice post! The mark of a 'good blogger' is that after reading many of that person's posts, you really know more about the blogger as a person! That's how I measure effectiveness.
None of us at AR have it 'all together', but together we have it all!!! Thanks, Fran
Jason,
Thank you, kind sir, for the vote of confidence. I will am looking forward to outstanding and challenging conversations with you. We may not always agree on things (if you recall that I enjoy the Eagles), but I do admire your creativity, writing style, and personality. Have a most fabulous day! :-)
Maggie - Now, do you really think I would advocate being careless with one's posts? After all, have you ever known me to be careless:-)
Sarah - I call it like I see it, but you are very welcome. You do the same!
Darn you Maggie!:-)
Diane - I will find the answers....it's my nature.