Two years ago this week, I launched this blog.
I was a very reluctant blogger. My editor (very kindly) insisted that I start blogging. He suggested I tie my blog to my book and write about the church year. So I did. I wrote weekly reflections on the Sunday lectionary passages from Ash Wednesday through Trinity Sunday that year.
After those four months, I increased my posts to twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays), and I’ve stuck with that schedule ever since. I also shifted my focus to be more broadly about books and writing in addition to the church year.
When Doug and I found out last April that we were having twins, I added that to the subject matter mix. I mean, how could I not write about the ludicrous changes to my very pregnant body? It was all so laughable, and I wanted to share the laughter. From there, it was an easy step to writing about my kids and, most recently, about my postpartum depression.
Throughout these past 24 months, though, I’ve repeatedly struggled to figure out why I’m doing this whole blogging thing anyway.
I don’t actually like the short, unconnected nature of blog posts. I prefer to explore and ruminate, roll ideas around in my mind, try to paint them with words, connect the pieces of this idea with that one. That’s hard to do in 500 words or less.
And I don’t really like the immediacy of a blog, either. There just isn’t time to go deep and long and ponder and wonder and really get into the heart of a thing when I have to write this now and post it in an hour.
Which is not to say that blog posts are inherently shallow. Some people (my friend Susan, for instance, or Ann Voscamp) are able to be thoughtful and reflective and go deep on their blogs.
But I’m just not one of those people. I think slowly. I write slowly. I have to revise endlessly to get my words right.
Still, I keep posting twice a week. And I keep asking myself, why am I doing this again?
Well, for one thing, the discipline of writing on a schedule is good for me. It forces me to publish pieces that are unpolished and to put writing out there for others to read before I think it’s ready, which means I have to let go of my perfectionism.
For another, blogging forces long-winded me to be concise. With a 500-word limit, I really have to focus and omit needless words (Strunk and White, Rule 17).
And perhaps most of all, I feel a sense of gratitude that makes me want to keep writing for you, dear readers, the cadre of lovely people who faithfully read my blog.
So, here’s to another year and another hundred posts. Cheers!
