Saturday, April 25, 2009

JAMAICAN ME CRAZY

Know what makes me crazy? Trying to figure out which of my blog posts will strike a chord with readers, and which won't. I mean, there's just no way to predict it. Sometimes I put my heart and soul into a post, and as I'm writing it, I can just feel the words falling magically into place. My fingers are on fire, and I'm thinking "This is good, really good. This is important. This is going to resonate! Then what happens? Zip. Nada. Not one word of response. Other times, I'll dash off a quick filler piece, just off the top of my head, without putting any real thought into it, and the second I push "publish" I start getting feedback! Go figure?

To tell you the truth, it kind of makes me nuts, trying to second guess you guys. I am hopeful though. Many veteran bloggers claim that you eventually get over this need to have positive feedback, in order to feel that a piece has value. My brain keeps telling me that just because no one comments , that doesn't mean the essay didn't strike a chord somewhere, or send out any ripples. But alas, my heart has a hard time believing it. I'm going to work hard to convince it, though, for that's exactly where I want my writing to come from - the heart - and not from some need to please an audience. Because, when all is said and done, that's the only way it can have any real value, don'cha think?

3 comments:

Judie said...

Actually all of your posts have a special interest to me. "Why Wimberly" for instance brings back happy memories of New Braunfels and the Hill Country. We still go back 3 or 4 times a year and I spend a lot of time feeling sad that I can't live in Lubbock and New Braunfels at the same time. There are good things about both. I'll bet more people ask me "Why in the world did you move back to Lubbock" (paint an absolutely incredulous look on that face) than question any move to the Hill Country.
And now that I have time, I am spending a lot of days trying to catch up with all of the things I wanted to do when I worked full time. Right angle learning curves !
So you may not always hear from us but you are appreciated. (Just lurking around is easier that trying to not sound like an idiot. Oops, I just did. Oh well.)
Keep up the good work. JudieJ

Hill Country Hippie said...

That's too funny, Judie. We lived in west Texas too (Midland) and no one can believe me when I tell them it was one of our favorite spots we ever lived. Hubby was raised in Odessa, and I had only visited there a couple of times when we found out we'd been transferred to Midland. I admit to being dubious as we approached and caught our first whiff of eau de oil, but I grew to love being able to see for miles in every direction, and the sunsets - OMG! Anyway, I eventually told my husband "You know you've been here too long when west Texas starts to look beautiful to you!"

Polly said...

Actually, I love Lubbock! Don't get back there very much, just every few years but I always love to visit. And everyone I know who lives there loves it as well!

And Becky, I really enjoy your blog, but don't get online as much as I used to. I'll be sure and leave a note when I do. Wimberly has always been one of my favorite places and reading your blog reminds me again and again why.