tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967652318279509650.post5082265691407818385..comments2008-03-20T16:43:36.033-04:00Jesse Hinesnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967652318279509650.post-9140044722179957892008-03-20T16:43:00.000-04:002008-03-20T16:43:00.000-04:00A Clear Berth,<BR/><BR/>I think you're right. Committing yourself to your topics and trying to honestly understand them and present them well is key.<BR/><BR/>You're also right that writing on your muse or passion doesn't have to exclude writing on more popular subjects--just find a healthy balance that you can enjoy doing.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by and commenting.<BR/><BR/>----------<BR/><BR/>Ken,<BR/><BR/>Good point that injecting truth into even fiction can significantly enhance it. Thanks for adding your thoughts.Jesse Hineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343273212728851657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967652318279509650.post-72335719405541720632008-03-20T16:11:00.000-04:002008-03-20T16:11:00.000-04:00I agree very much that even a small injection of truth into any piece of fiction/creative writing is that magic ingredient which can make it fly.Ken Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967652318279509650.post-30495076266350185142008-03-20T15:57:00.000-04:002008-03-20T15:57:00.000-04:00I fully agree with the opinion in the post and am glad to read it.<BR/><BR/>I think to build a bridge between a) and b) in Mary's comment is indeed to commit yourself to the topics you meet and are interested in and to make an effort to understand all aspects of it. I am sure you'll get an honest opinion from reading what it is all about.<BR/><BR/>It is good to write from your own honest world-perspective but that doesn't have to exclude popular subjects like blogging, writing or "great writers".<BR/>The balance might be obtained by not forcing yourself to write more about subjects you feel you already dealt with in a good an honest way.A Clear Berthhttp://aclearberth.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967652318279509650.post-46661643804142314922008-03-20T07:18:00.000-04:002008-03-20T07:18:00.000-04:00Bob,<BR/><BR/>Thanks. Glad you liked the post.<BR/><BR/>Originality is on the minds of many bloggers lately, and rightly so.<BR/><BR/>Yes, I take any opportunity I can to quote Lewis, as he's probably my favorite writer.Jesse Hineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343273212728851657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967652318279509650.post-12045903506085726452008-03-19T23:53:00.000-04:002008-03-19T23:53:00.000-04:00Excellent post. I've been working through this whole "originality" thing myself lately. <BR/><BR/>Plus, anytime you can quote C.S. Lewis, it is a plus in my book.<BR/><BR/>Good form!Bob Youncehttp://www.writing-journey.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967652318279509650.post-85927741607174034842008-03-19T22:55:00.000-04:002008-03-19T22:55:00.000-04:00This question is all about what you want out of being a writer/blogger. If you want to grow a huge blog/website, then you are certainly going to want to post on what the "people" want. If you want to spread your advice and express your opinion, regardless of whether it gets comments or grows, then you write only on what you like. <BR/><BR/>It's all in what you want. If you want a balance, then you mix in different posts of both kinds. One post might be what readers like, while another might be what you really want to write about.<BR/><BR/>I think you have to search deep within yourself and only YOU can answer that question.<BR/><BR/>"Keeping it Real, Learning How to Write"Writer4Lifenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967652318279509650.post-66985305331778099372008-03-18T17:07:00.000-04:002008-03-18T17:07:00.000-04:00Mary,<BR/><BR/>Great question.<BR/><BR/>I wrestle with that a lot myself.<BR/><BR/>I think that whatever our aim (muse post or popular post), we should be honest and thorough--that will bring out the "originality" that we're striving for.<BR/><BR/>Now, as to finding the right balance...I think the first thing is you have to write about what interests you and what you know about. If you display real passion and knowledge about your subject, that will come through and the right readers will relate to it.<BR/><BR/>Certainly your topic has to be of interest to people, but I think in the long run, you will get more attention if you blog on your muse as opposed to what's popular.Jesse Hineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343273212728851657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967652318279509650.post-20539917575497440612008-03-18T15:40:00.000-04:002008-03-18T15:40:00.000-04:00I think there is a tension between <BR/>a) writing what we are musing on (which is, as you point out, part of being an original writer), and b)looking to what might be a popular blog article.<BR/><BR/>I'm still sorting those 2 sides out in my blog. If I go too far in the direction of a) I get less comments to the posts (which I take to mean that less people related to it.<BR/><BR/>So, where do you see the balance between a) and b), Jesse?Mary Jaksch @ GoodlifeZenhttp://goodlifezen.comnoreply@blogger.com