To My Fellow Bloggers and Commenters
Here’s a quote that my wife shared with me, and I, in turn, wish to share with you, hoping that you’ll cherish it for the rest of your blogging and commenting lives:
Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.
—Cyril Connolly
For example, Jeff, who blogs at Scripture Zealot, oft refers to me as a controversial blogger. Let me see. I think he’s right! (My top two posts have controversy written all over them: here and here.)
So what’s the harm if you’ve got a pound of controversial biblical and life related topics, mixed with an appropriate amount of leaven (yeast) and out comes—New Leaven Blog?
None.
Categories: Anecdotes, Biblical Studies
Blogging, cyril connolly, New Leaven
Wow, how did you know that this very concept has been rolling around in my head for days?? I’m actually strangely relieved on days when I don’t have blog traffic, because it means that it’s just me talking to and sorting things out with God, which is precious to me… and, that I won’t have to be accountable for what I say so much. ;^) I’m quite content right now writing for myself and determining who myself actually is, as opposed to trying to create this big blog following. That’s actually quite intimidating.
So, all that to say that I’m living this quote right now. Thanks so much for sharing it.
Great quotation!
Alisa, you’re most welcome.
Nick, I think so too.
hey dont talk about nick like that. he’s sensitive.
Jim, next time you need to give me a heads up before I go public.
I’m so dull, I don’t understand the last half of that quote.
So what’s the harm…
No harm.
I wouldn’t call you a controversial blogger, but you write about controversial things. You do it in a good way.
-You do it in a way that is conversational.
-You usually have a position of your own that you feel strongly about but listen to others and even change your opinion slightly if warranted
-Which means you’re not just posting to incite
-You can handle the controversy well–it’s too stressful for me
And you have plenty of non-controversial posts. So I would say you write about controversial subjects but it’s not like, “T.C., he’s the controversial guy.”
If you could explain that quote I’d be grateful. How do you write and have no self? Thanks for mentioning me.
Jeff
Jeff,
Thanks for the compliment and the gentle correction.
You’re too slow, man.
I think it means don’t write simply to please others that you’re not being true to who you are. Be yourself in your writing.
In other words, don’t be a Jim West.
You’re welcome. I know I’m slow but I’ll get there. Thanks for the explanation. I think I’ve injected more of my personality lately into my posts but I don’t know if I’ve ever written just to please others. I’m still working on being more of myself in my posts.
You forgot the Dr in front of Jim West. I still can’t figure him out.
Jeff
Jeff, I noticed that. But a blog’s feel depends on the blogger.
Jim goes with his themes.
I love controversial posts! As long as everyone participating plays nice
I agree with Jeff that you handle controversial topics in a good way.
Oh, well! I wanted to be more controversial.