You know what I really love about the blogs here? There's no "right way" of doing it. *Pause to laugh at own stupid pun title* And I guess that's true of all blogs, but it's on display so nicely here where they're all right next to each other. Some people write poetry or stories, some people do essay like deep dives into kink topics, some vent about personal experiences, some just post memes, and that's awesome! I love writing, and I love seeing people express themselves however they like here.
As for myself this is one of the only spaces I allow myself to write with what I can only describe as reckless abandon. Proper punctuation? Maybe sometimes. Overuse of caps lock for exaggeration? YOU BETCHA! Weird conversational tone, random parenthesis for aside, stupid jokes, puns, too short sentences, run ons, whatever! I can just go nuts with whatever topic I want and not worry about if it's insightful, or interesting to anyone but me, or even makes any real sense. And I love it. I can forget about the often rigid style guide of the writing I do for work and just have fun.
Weirdly enough it's a parallel to submission for me, a similar freedom of surrender and self expression. Though both portions of my life have had hurtles to jump the writing has actually been tougher. Submission is something very natural for me, the biggest challenge was letting myself love it and not developing some complex that I was somehow surrendering my also strong opinioned and independent personality. (There's like a whole other blog in that statement, but some other time.) With writing....
Okay let me preface this a little by saying I have always been an English nerd. I still am an English nerd, but there was a time when I was also an asshole. You know the "How dare you butcher my precious English language you cretin!" type of asshole. Nobody really likes this person, and honestly I didn't like myself as this person. I was mostly like this in high school and early college, and I've since come to realize two important things 1. Though I still think good grammar and spelling are important to know and any writer needs constructive criticism to succeed there are times where it just doesn't MATTER. And 2. Where did I get off being so damn judgey toward anyone about it? But hey personal growth is often about realizing you're being shitty and then (oft forgotten but most important part here) NOT being shitty anymore.
I'm by no means perfect about it. There are moments where I slip back into being a Pretentious Pancake O'douchery, but I've at least developed the good graces not to say (or type) my needlessly pedantic criticism aloud. (unless someone's dropping into my inbox being rude AND a syntax disaster, sometimes I use my evil powers for good.)
Now what does all that have to do with my adoration of the no holds barred, fuck propriety, blogability going on here? Everyones harshest critic is usually themselves. I know that I am. And I've struggled a long time with putting out any pieces of writing that I haven't edited for days and carefully considered every sentence of. Care and editing has produced some good writing from me, but they've also produced stress and some over worked nonsense that isn't any fun. Much like kink, it's about balance.
Also like kink, this is a place to let go and even have fun being oneself without fear. That freedom is something I value very deeply, and when I feel as though I'm being too silly, or unoriginal, or whatever self deprecation my mind conjures it serves as an excellent reminder.
There is no right way.
