Is vs Not

Writing is a tricky business.  I’ve been writing my whole life, mostly journals and creative writings I kept to myself, but then I started blogging.  I’ve filtered through several blogs and always wind up struggling with the pressure I put on myself to keep up.  What inevitably happens is that I start writing.  Then I start reading what everyone else says I should be doing.  So I start doing what everyone says I should be doing and can’t keep up.  So I stop writing.

So I thought, while I still was clear minded and knew why I started this blog, I would write it down here for accountability.  This way when I start hearing what I should be doing, I can remember what I decided was right for me.  So this is my list of what this blog is versus what this blog is not:

1. This blog is a stress reliever.  Writing has always allowed me time to process and decompress from everything going on in my 3D life.  This Blog is not going to be a stress multiplier.  If I ever feel heartache over this blog and how I’m failing, it’s time to push the pause button and reread this list.
2. This blog is for fun. I love my job and know it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.  This blog is not a way to be self-employed or make loads of money.  The ARCs are a nice way to support my book addiction, but other than that, this is just a way to keep my self reading and writing.
3. This blog is to connect with a community.  I’ve been reading blogs from the book community for years now without ever connecting with anyone and I want to change that.  There are some amazing people out there who love books and love talking about books as much as I do and I’ve been missing out by being a virtual wallflower.  This blog is not a way for me to become famous.  I don’t plan on ever being a household name and therefore, am not keeping this blog like that’s what I’ll become.
4. This blog is a bonus to the life I live.  I love where I’m at and the people I’m getting to know.  This blog is not a way to replace any of them or to give me an exemption from living a 3D life.  If the choice is between adventure and blogging, I’m going to choose adventure.
5. This blog is about stories.  Books are the first stories that I fell in love with, and they will always be my primary addiction.  But this blog is not just a book blog.  I want to talk about all types of stories and I want to be brave enough to share my own stories with the world as well.