Goals Set for August

Seeing that many other writers are setting goals for themselves, I’ve decided that I want to participate and set a couple goals for myself as well. Of course, I’ve never really been good with setting goals and keeping to them, but by the end of the month, I want to be able to feel good about what I have accomplished, or sit back and laugh at myself for having not accomplished them.

Seriously though, I will work toward these goals and try my best to achieve them. Since I am still unemployed, they shouldn’t be too much trouble to keep to, though I still have my doubts.

• Better quality posts; each of which offers some kind of informative edge or insight.
• Five posts that are not personally inclined, nor personally benefited from, that include images.
• Four entries about writing, to help along fellow bloggers and fellow writers.
• Make a short list of achievable goals and share on WordPress.

Okay, so I cheated on the last goal, but at least I have one of them completed. Now, I just have to worry about the other nine posts, at the very least, as well as offering a better quality of post each time that I sit down to write about ideas.

To make it a little tougher, I’ll toss in one that I’ve been considering for the passed couple of months…

• Submit at least one article or short story for consideration to be published.

World’s Worst Blogger

There was a time when I heard the word ‘blog’ and wondered what people were referring to. No, not everyone learned right away what blogging was all about. I was one of the few, apparently, who knew very little to nothing about it.

I came to learn that blogging is much like keeping a journal of sorts; a way to share with the world what you enjoy, feel, experience, love, and so much more. It’s a way, through writing, to share with the world of writers and readers.

I have studied many different types of writing. From simple essay writing to the specific business jargon that is written in business newsletters and the like; I’ve seen it, read it, made my own attempt of writing similarly.

After doing research on novels and short stories, I added some research on poetry, novellas, screenplays, and teleplays to the list of information that I wanted to learn more about. There are so many wondrous options available to writers. — Want to write a book? Will it be a novel or a series of short stories? How about a short story alone? Perhaps, you’d like to write a poem, or have already done so. Maybe, you would like to learn the ins and outs of becoming a playwright, or begin writing for the big screen. If you choose to write for the big screen: Will you choose to write for a television series or dream up the next big blockbuster? — Oh, so many available options.

Learning has become one of my most treasured pastimes of all. There is always something more waiting just around the corner. Then, there’s more to it than what can be seen at first glance. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find the secrets that make it tick, but in doing so there’s also many paths that are likely to lead in various directions toward other useful knowledge.

Blogging, on the other hand, is something that I never really put too much thought into. Sure, I did a little research here and there. I found out that many compare it to keeping an online journal, while others compare it to e-mailing thousands of friends all at once with news of what’s happened most recently.

Just yesterday, I read an article about blogging. The author described this and that and then added that many blog entries are typically around 200 words. This news came as a complete shock to me. — Really?! 200 words?!

I have visited several blogs during my journey through this blogosphere, and hope that I used the correct term there. I’ve read many posts and articles and thoughts and dreams of those who wish to share such things with the world. Many of which, I have come to notice, are usually more than a simple 200 words. Some, of course, offer fewer than 200 words.

Now, I’m thinking that I have got to be the worst blogger on the planet. I mean, I’ve been blogging about various topics for a month now, and most of my entries are well over that 200 word limit that I read about. I’m still trying to figure out how I would limit myself to so few words in order to describe and explain everything that I have, without appearing as some sort of robot from another galaxy. — Don’t bother doing a word count on this entry. I’ll tell you now that I passed that mark long ago.

After reading about the small word count that seems the average for many blogs, I stumbled upon another blog that offered a bit of wisdom. I believe the author is some kind of professional blogger or he professionally writes articles for a magazine. Either way, he offered the piece of wisdom that, paraphrasing here: A blogger, so long as the topic being discussed is able to keep the reader’s attention, shouldn’t worry so much about the length of nor the word count of the entry, but stick to offering the information that the reader has come to expect, instead.

That made perfect sense to me. Suddenly, I didn’t feel so out of place with my own entries. I’m sure that I keep the attention of at least a few people who stop by (I hope), so I don’t feel so left out of this blogosphere, anymore. I’m part of the game and enjoy it right along with everyone else.

So, before I close yet another entry that has lived well passed its 200 word lifespan, I just want to say ‘Thank you’ to everyone who has visited for not complaining about my lengthy entries. I appreciate knowing that I ramble about interesting topics that others enjoy as much as I do.

Thank you.

Career Decision

I have recently been looking at many things that I am good at, as well as my loves, likes, and dislikes. I’ve been doing some thinking here and there about some things and have come to realize that I have yet made up my mind about what I actually want to do in life.

When I was young, I would pretend that I was a gymnast, flexible and motivated to jump high into the air, attempting something like the splits and later a cartwheel. Lord knows I couldn’t do such things now, no matter how much I wanted to. I also would pretend that I was a professional ballroom dancer and dance about the living room in whatever I was wearing at the time; I’ve never really cared for the attire of penguins. Being a police officer was also an interest of mine, when I was young.

Now, looking back, I know that there’s very little chance that I will become a gymnast. Ballroom dancing is still on the table, if I ever get around to finding a partner willing to teach me all of the steps that I need to learn, but it won’t be something that I pursue as a profession; maybe, as a hobby. I see now how little police officers are paid for their services, and how much respect they get while performing their job. Actually, I’m surprised anyone would choose that profession on their own. Smart move; thanks for showing up a few hours after I’ve called.

No, I know that many of the dreams that I had as a child were simply dreams. They were imaginings that I had and are of little importance to me now as an adult. I need something more concrete, solid, stable, and most of all, something that will actually provide me with an income that I don’t necessarily have to wear tights for.

Quite a while ago, I came to the conclusion that I enjoy writing. It’s fun to learn new words and doing research on topics of interest, learning on the go, is just as fun at times. I’ve always been a critical thinker and have also enjoyed toying here and there with the possibilities of what could’ve been. (Diving too deep into some subjects is unhealthy.) Since I have learned that there are many careers available for people who love to write, I have kept my mind open to many of the possibilities.

Another career choice that came up a few months ago, that I have been considering more seriously, is to become a disc-jockey. Sure, a real life deejay (DJ). I love music. I may have trouble attempting to mix my own tunes that hit the 808 frequencies and still offer a variety of rhythms and what-not, but I know how to push a ‘Play’ button and enjoy the tunes like anyone else. I also have a bit of experience in the department.

I suppose it was about six months ago that I signed up with a virtual world service. Members of this service run around a virtual world by use of their avatar (a character that you choose to represent you) and do things that are otherwise unavailable. Just as in the real world, there is a wide variety of things that a member is able to do, even with a simple, free account. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of clothing stores available. There are malls and clubs. Music is streamed from the internet into the clubs and mall areas. Virtual land is also available to purchase, or rent, from the service provider, or other members, for real and virtual currency. It was in this virtual world that I took on the role of a DJ and provided a few clubs with music.

Seeing the reaction of the people, by use of their avatars, was completely awesome. Characters can walk and talk just like real people. Dancing and other moves come at a price, though many of the simplest of moves can be freely distributed. It was amazing to be at the center of the clubs in this virtual space, providing music that people enjoyed listening to. We really rocked that virtual beach like no other club ever could have.

Looking back on that experience, because I rarely ever log in to see how old friends are doing, I really do miss hanging out and talking all day (and night) long. I miss sitting back for a couple hours here and there playing music and watching people dance.

Instead of keeping it to the virtual world, though, I’ve been thinking about making it possible in real life as well. I won’t give away the stage name that I used in the virtual world, but I’m pretty good with playing music, choosing what comes next and setting up some lists. My soft voice has been commented on by several women who, for some reason or another, find it attractive or soothing. Men, I don’t really get comments from about my voice, but they enjoyed the music that I played. So, why not become a radio personality and be heard by hundreds to thousands of people while getting paid to play and listen to music? I haven’t yet found a reason that has turned my head away from it. Nor have I received any bad comments from my mentioning it to others that I have spoken with.

I’ve recently taken up blogging as a way to improve my writing habit. I’ve considered writing more than a blog, and have many projects already in progress. Music and becoming a DJ only add on to my imaginings of what could be and both give me hope for a brighter, and louder, tomorrow.