So What the Hell Should I Write About?
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This blog started as a lament. As most of you know, I started writing at a time when I most felt like my personal dreams were slipping from my reach. Though I had been working hard at “jobs” (many hours, etc.), I was operating at half-throttle, chomping on the bit with some fire in my gut, wanting to get going toward the pursuit of my education but entirely unable to. I watched five years of my life evaporate. Writing a blog seemed like a good way to do something creative, something the mundane machinations of restaurant management, then “cubicle monkey” didn’t accommodate.
Then, out of the blue, some opportunities opened up and I kindly rewarded my readers for listening to me by practically stopping writing ever since. Though I haven’t been writing, I’ve often been thinking about writing, which of course, is the important step in writing. I’d like to share with you what I’ve been thinking about.
1. My general theme is too narrow.
I started writing because I was full of passions that I could not spend. I felt like my dreams were dying and I so heavily identified myself with those dreams that I soon thought of my dreams’ death as my death. The metaphor seemed meaningful, so I ran with it. My original objective was to write about not giving up on dreams. But one can only write so many things about that, and, I may not be very qualified to actually write about that. Here’s what I mean: I didn’t start writing because I felt like I was going to make it, I started writing because I was afraid that I wasn’t.
2. I can’t write about what I really love
All of you know: I love the subject philosophy. One might suggest that I write on that topic, but, I’m merely an undergraduate who is still learning, and anything I felt like I learned about philosophic writing I acknowledge as merely tentative, a step on the way to a clearer understanding later in life. I would insult the great thinkers and even myself if I wrote about what I’m studying.
3. Even if I tried to write about philosophy, most people wouldn’t appreciate it
I’ll be the first to admit, philosophy isn’t for most people. Most people are interested in things that philosophy isn’t. That is, most philosophic topics don’t enter people’s day-to-day lives in a way that would appeal to them. And of course, the themes I focus on are still generally unsavory to most people: atheism, liberal in many respects, non-patriotic, etc.
4. So now what?
I’m left with non-philosophic topics in my life, which, might still be a rich source of material. I have lots of hobbies and interests that might have broad enough appeal. But, writing about these things will be a significant deviation from “I Will Not Die.” If I tried to stick with the theme of not caving in to apathy or something, I would have something of a journal talking about what I’m doing in the post-I-almost-died phase of my life, and that doesn’t really appeal to me.
And as always, do accept my apologies for being absent. I have a somewhat significant class load this semester, plus work, etc. See you soon.
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Dereck :: Apr.19.2009 :: Uncategorized :: 12 Comments »



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