A Letter From A Concerned Friend
I just got an email from a good friend (Jesse) who offered to be my own personal blog critic. He notes that he reads this blog every day, but has little interest in continuing to read about just my beverage interests. Profoundly, he suggests that I continue with the same style of posts I’ve been doing (coffee, beer, web design, etc.), but also focus more on some important things, like what I think about the great books I’m reading (A Primer on Postmodernism and The Church on the Other Side), among other things.
Taken aback by his statement that he didn’t enjoy reading a blog
about just the little things, I began to think a little bit about why
I’m really doing this thing. A question I asked myself early on was: do
I write this because I want to serve the people who are reading it or
for an outlet for my own thoughts, no matter if people liked reading
them or not. At first, I said "I’m writing about stuff that interests
me, so I don’t care what somebody else thinks." But as I evaluate it, I
actually think there may actually be some room for reevaluating my
purpose here and focus on turning my writing up a notch. Stupid posts
will still be made, but maybe I should also begin to spend more time
and get out some of the thoughts I have about what I’m reading these
days, talking about with friends, etc.
One major hesitation I
have when I think about writing on the ideas I’m reading these days
(postmodernism, emerging theology, or even politics) is the fear that
my words will come across the wrong way. I don’t feel confident enough
most of the time to really put into words what I’m thinking when it
comes to these ideas, mostly because I don’t feel like I know enough.
That’s where the "lack proper authority and have much to learn" pieces
in the banner above come in. There are a lot of great blogs out there,
great websites devoted to this stuff. I don’t feel like I write with
much authority or hold my position very fast compared to other people
out there.
This is one of those posts that I’d love to get some
good commenting/feedback on. What do you think about this? Do you give a crap what I write about? Would you be more interested if I took things a little more seriously (while maintaining the fun side)?
I’ve been in a state of
reevaluation with this blog over the past couple weeks anyways, so
Jesse’s email has just made me really think. There are some cool things
in the works over the next few weeks here that I’m excited about and
I’ve just been trying to figure out what my focus will be here over the
next year. I start full time at the INN next week, so that’s a big
thing I’d like to write about. I think God is doing something in me
right now, helping me to start stretching a bit, preparing me for a year of excitement, challenge, and growth. Maybe it’s time to
start engaging these ideas a bit more and sharing my thoughts with
ya’ll.
Anyways, I’d love to hear what you think. It’d be
really cool to know who all is out there too, just for the sake of it.
Thanks for reading and please, stick with me.
I love that I can read your blog and picture you sitting at the computer writing about something that is interesting to you. It makes me smile everyday
See you in a week!
I actually enjoy the beverage posts quite a bit- it’s a little piece of Seth that comes over the i-net to Hawaii. There’s something to be said for the little things that is not always taken into consideration. Little things- good coffee and beer, appreciation for one’s hometown, the color blue- are vital to who we are as individuals. The big things, like post-modernism, objectivism, Ayn Rand, and Confucianism, are important too, of course. But a focus too constrained on “big, important” thoughts will quickly become erudite and contentious. I feel that all those big philosophies, vital as they are to our daily lives and even our perception of reality, are only important insomuch as they relate to us as individuals. And it’s our attidues, loves, desires, and hobbies that define us as individuals to others. So please, do both!
I do appreciate the intellectual posts as well, as another person with tons to learn and the love of conversation and discussion. But I would caution against losing perspective. I guess it comes down to the purpose of the blog, as you said- is it about Seth and Stacy, or about Seth’s intellectual adventures? (or savage brewing? yeah!)
My two cents: Blog success is keeping your blog lively and/or interesting.
And it won’t be lively or interesting to anyone else if you’re not having fun yourself. You want to know your audience, sure, but you shouldn’t have to pander to them.
As for me, I’ve been trying, in whatever little way I know, to use my blog as way to focus my thoughts and to learn to write. I’m not sure how well it’s working, since I get very little feedback on such things. All I have is the mundane, so it’s what I work with. I figure that if I can keep that interesting, then I’m on the right track.
Write what seems important or interesting. On personal blogs like ours, not everything needs to be full of profundity or pith. Don’t sweat the details.
Cardinal rule: Have fun. People like to be around others who have fun and don’t take everything so seriously. Blogs are no different.
I agree with everyone’s comments. There is no need to lose the essential Seth, because that is what this blog should be…Seth’s perspective on life. And, no doubt, that perspective involves seeming trivialities such as coffee and beer. But I think even those things, perhaps just because I know Seth so well, are not meaingless trivialities, they are Seth. I guess, I am considering the blog as a tool for conversation for more abstract topics, such as the books he is reading, rather than a brewing log. I think that if he wants this to be a place for deep conversations than he has to start them, but if that is not the case, than blog about brewing coffee, because I love coffee and will still read it everyday, because I love Seth, but I probably won’t have anything to say.
I think a little bit of both is great, however, I am a big fan of the posts that dig a bit deeper…I think it’s because I’m on such a high intellectual level-I can really only relate to those issues…Ha, I love it bro, keep it up.
I have really enjoyed reading all of this “stuff”. This is the first blog I have seen, let along responded to. The conceptual framework of a blog is intriqing for an old man like myself as it appears to be a great tool for virtual conversations and timeless dialogue about all topics-from beer to politics.
It occurs to me that one’s blog should not be limited to a single purpose, but might fulfill both the fun and intellectually stimulating. Oh but wait, can’t we have an intellectually stimulating conversation about beer or coffee? Does it matter?
In terms of “not knowing enough to comment”, I would say “not to worry”. Who does have the corner on the “facts market” when it comes to the really challenging quesions to be concerned with? A solution might be to pose a blog entry as just that. . . an essential or guiding question to struggle with, and know that the ensuing conversations would lead to learning for all participants? As Stacy knows, writing is a learning tool.
Regardless of all of this extreme intellectuallism, I love the idea of a blog and ALL of it’s potential-fun, connections, communication, relationships, and grappling with difficult subjects. Thanks!
Do you need to spell correctly to participate in this game?
adsulutly knot.
For me, your blogs are a way to continue knowing you and hear about whats currently brewing in the life of Seth: your thoughts on books and religion or just beerverages. Your blogs are windows into your life and sometimes they make me laugh because they are so you! Only Seth would write a blog on the Northwest Brewing News and his polygamous passion for the brewed sisters. Perhaps, your blogs make me a wee bit nostalgic, but importantly, it reminds me of a friend.
I would label myself part of a specialty audience. A reader more interested in the writer than the content. With that said, though, I also hold your opinions to high esteem. I know you read, research and are curious; your comments add perspective to my life. By writing on what you like, you serve me; there is room for both your outlet and service to the reader. Although in many ways this is a public journal, it may be interesting and worth while to take the risk. Allow readers a greater view into the window. Show the ideas that are on the cusp of your understanding while extending an invitation.
I apologize for the cheesy sound of that! But I do enjoy your blogs and I’m impressed with your boldness for writing.