A New Direction

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I'm going to change what I post on this blog somewhat. I have tended to shy away from posting anything other than fiction for many reasons. For example, I'd rather entertain than lecture. I'd prefer to stimulate people's thinking than proffer my own thoughts. I'd like to make people feel strong emotions and re-evaluate their beliefs, but through telling stories of imaginary others rather than by direct confrontation. My own preference has always been for 'make believe', for the writer's world filtered through the writer's imagination, rather than straight autobiography. I want to avoid trolls, and not putting myself too far 'out there' seems the best way to do that. Most of all though, I have never quite understood why a virtual stranger might want to hear my opinion on anything.

However, from time to time on various forums I have offered information about my writing process and other ideas about writing, and these have been well-received. Then I read, in the course of a week, two separate pieces, one by Jeff Goins and the other by Austin Kleon in "Show Your Work" on the importance of sharing not only what you write, but how you write. It had never occurred to me that I might have something to offer to other writers, or to anyone else, other than the work itself.

I'm still not entirely convinced of my new direction. I admit to having some fears about putting myself out there, undisguised by fictional characters and situations, but I am willing to give it a go.