I always look for what I think is the best of the best. The New York Times is one of the most reputable papers in the history of writing. When looking for blogs to get a feel for perception, voice and tone I came across the blogging area of the New York Times -http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/ . This blog in particular gives you hints to make your writing better. I think this person sounds confident and their writing stands out to me because of the vocabulary they use. When Nugent writes "I got into a master’s program in fiction and moved to a college town on the prairie. On my stipend, I was able to live like an unprosperous gentleman-landowner of 19th-century Russia. There was nothing to do besides read, write, reflect on God and drink. It was a circumstance favorable to writing fiction.But it was also conducive to depravity, the old Calvinist definition thereof: a warping of the spirit." I see how much I can grow as a writer and look at this as a goal. I do like this blog because I feel like it will help me strive to become a better writer, it is well written and comes from a reputable website.
I searched and searched and then realized there is a type of blog I love more than anything and I don't know if you would consider it one but I do. This is the website https://soundcloud.com , it is a music blog where artist upload their latest tracks and people with soundcloud accounts can comment on exact seconds of the track. This gives the artist the opportunity to hear direct feed back (good or bad) at precise moments of their music. This goes to show there are endless ways to blog or get people to participate in blogs. My favorite song as of now, it is always changing, is https://soundcloud.com/thisistrapmusic/adele-skyfall-wiggznwonz-young-piff-sandor . This is a newer style of music that is called trap. I love music and this would be one way to keep me going back to someones blog, especially if they had a new song to check out every time I read about what they were doing.
I read some of the blogs on http://phoenix.craigslist.org/ and I have to say there is so much potential, they just have no regulations. I was trying to read about some pretty serious issues that I was interested in, and it really sucks that people have to be immature and post things about porn and tons of negative feedback that is a total waste for people trying to find facts. I was reading about HIV/AIDS and people insist on smashing on minorities, blaming them instead of reaching out a hand to end the spread of HIV. Everyone has their right to opinion but I believe there is a time and a place for it and http://phoenix.craigslist.org/ doesn't have the man power to regulate all that is being said. If you want a raw blog with no hold backs than craigslist is a good way to see the ignorant, uneducated side of the world.
As you can see I found some pretty diverse things to read about and the sites I went are completely different styles of blogs than the ones we are used to seeing. I look forward to checking out your blogs, have a great day and thanks for reading.
-Crashed out Crash
I really appreciated the first part of this post. I'm always afraid to TRULY express what's going on in my head because I think, "if these people really knew what was going on, they would call the paddy-wagon and ship me off." Connecting with people on a deep level has always been difficult, but for my future professions it doesn't matter much.
ReplyDeleteFor you, however, I think it's a shame to keep that person locked inside your head. As an aspiring writer, it is so important to put yourself out there so that your readers have something with which to connect. Sure, you may alienate some readers, but would you rather have: 5 out of 10 readers be some-what interested in your writing, or 1 out of 10 readers be completely in love with and affected by your writing?
I think that finding an appropriate balance of your voice is like a pendulum. Currently, you're swung to one side where you're stifling yourself. When you let the writing flow the first few times, it will swing all the way to the other side. This will happen over and over, back and forth, until your pendulum settles into a comfortable medium.
Better to find your voice now than struggle when beginning your career. I'm excited to read more. I'm ready to "Crash."
Honest, thoughtful post here that is well support with your visuals and nicely organized to make the information accessible to your audience. You are on the right track.
ReplyDeleteOne suggestion would be to change your font. While it is a unique style and gives your blog perhaps a "handwritten" feel, it is difficult to read, at least for me.
As of 2/15 there is no Self-genereated blog #1.