I’m tired of the blog. I felt guilty yesterday when I checked the sitemeter and saw how many folks dropped by to see my post on free bandaids and then my weight check-in. I mean, y–a–w–n.
I don’t really feel like I need to apologize; after all, this isn’t a subscription site, so nobody’s losing any money when I don’t post. But still, surely I’d have one interesting thing to write about in five days’ worth of time. But I’ve got nothing.
It usually takes me saying I’m ready to give it all up in order for my brain to come up with blog-worthy fodder again, so maybe I’m just trying to trick myself into keeping on. But if it doesn’t work, it just means I’d rather be outside right now than in front of the computer. And that’s just the way it goes.
In other writing news, I tried submitting something I wrote to an as-of-right-now-unnamed source. They don’t like my style. I was partially disappointed by this and partially relieved because you know what? I don’t really like theirs, either, yet I was willing to submit my writing there anyway on the off chance there was a kindred spirit in the submissions department. No such luck.
I’ve discovered this about my writing: I’m too Christian for the secular sources and I’m not cheesy enough for the Christian ones. I’d like to think there is some really big philosophical thing I could say about that, but as I’ve got nothing much to say right now, I can’t think of what it might be.
About blogging, I’ve discovered this: I’m not cutesy or crafty enough to attract a lot of readers, nor am I crude or crass enough to attract the other end of said readers.
I’m just me, and sometimes that’s ho-hum. I mean, I’m not coming up with new ways to creatively display your below-farmer’s-market-price fruit finds from the ceiling or anything, but I am willing to show you what’s underneath our beds. That’s just the kind of gal I am.
When I got that rejection letter (and before adding it to my other rejection letters), I had the thought that the only way I would ever see my writing published in a magazine would be if I started my own magazine. But then there’s that small problem of advertisers…and subscribers. And to get either one of those you generally have to be of the above mentioned cutesy, crafty, crude, or crass.
Looks like I’ll just be riding along here at Half Pint House for many moons to come.
That is, once I feel like writing again.
15 Comments
May 25, 2007 at 4:17 am
From Rhonda:
I decided a long time ago that my blog is for me, not for anybody else. Sure, it would be good for the ego to have a lot of readers, but since I rarely share my blog with anyone, that’s not likely to happen.
I enjoy reading about what’s under your bed.
May 25, 2007 at 4:17 am
From Shannon:
You just need a nice little bloggy break, my friend. Go recharge yourself and try not to think about blogging–when you come back (and you will!) we’ll all be waiting.
And, by the way, “I’m too Christian for the secular sources and I’m not cheesy enough for the Christian ones.” I feel exactly the same way sometimes. If you start a magazine, I’ll be your first subscriber.
May 25, 2007 at 4:18 am
From Jeff:
I love the “real folk” of the Dunhams, not the quad-c’s of the world.
May 25, 2007 at 4:18 am
From Martha:
it sounds like you need a break. of course you need a break! it has been an insane school year, classes and deadlines coming out the kazoo during the last 2 months especially. i’m certain you need a break.
all i know right now is that all the things you view as negatives–too christian for secular publications, not cheesy/crafty enough for many christian ones, willing to show the dust bunnies under your bed…
those are ALL attributes in my book and the book of any of the people who will be reading what you write–not on your blog, later in books or magazines. you know you are a good writer. you’ve won an award to “prove” that already.
take your break. you love to write too much to be gone for long. financial pressure does weird things to us. it makes us doubt things that are true. God is sovereign. God is faithful. God has been taking care of you this far and He will continue to do so. One of these days, the things you are doing to bring in cash will bear fruit. maybe the season isn’t right.
we all know you are the kind of writer we like to read, so there! m
May 25, 2007 at 4:19 am
From Mopsy:
Breaks are good.
C.S. Lewis said something like this:
“The world needs less Christian writers and more writers who are Christians.”
I don’t think I really fit in anywhere, either. Maybe we should start a magazine. I’ll write it with you, Shannon would subscribe. We’d have to charge her $12,000 a year, however.
May 25, 2007 at 4:19 am
From Laurie:
You should submit that sign to SPOGG.
http://grammatically.blogspot.com/
They’d love it.
May 25, 2007 at 4:20 am
From Angie:
I can’t count the number of times I’ve felt the exact same way. In fact, I’m just now feeling more in-the-mood to get back to blogging after my month-long hiatus. ha ha ha…
Love that C. S. Lewis quote in the previous comment. And I agree with your surmise about the “quad Cs”. We need more real life Christians who blog. No more sap!!
Hey, there’s a new slogan…Blogging without sap…..
May 25, 2007 at 4:20 am
From Christy:
Well, I love reading your blog. I don’t care what anyone else thinks (but it sounds like I’m in good company here). I like you just the way you are.
But if you need a break, go frolic in the sun! We’ll all be here ready to read again when you’re feeling jazzed.
May 25, 2007 at 4:21 am
From Rebecca:
“I’ve discovered this about my writing: I’m too Christian for the secular sources and I’m not cheesy enough for the Christian ones.”
Yes! I feel exactly the same way. At least you’ve actually submitted your work.
May 25, 2007 at 4:22 am
From Chelsea:
I’m grateful you don’t write cutesy blog fluff (bluff), cuz that ain’t what real life is like.
Can I be the copy editor for your magazine?
May 25, 2007 at 4:22 am
From Caron:
it’s the summer…it’s outside time, megan. no guilt.
May 25, 2007 at 4:23 am
From Margaret:
I like your blog because it fits that niche between secular and cheesy.
However, I also think that such an articulate, talented and giving individual deserves a break to smell the roses.
May 25, 2007 at 4:23 am
From Sally:
I am noticing quite a number of blogs I read having less frequent posts since the weather got nicer. Maybe blogging is more therapeutic during the colder darker months? Maybe bloggin parallels the TV season!
Post when you feel inspired to, even if it is only once a week or less. And certainl don’t feel guilty!
May 25, 2007 at 4:23 am
Okay, so. I didn’t really mean to be an affirmation hog today, but I’m not going to pretend I didn’t like it either.
Thanks for all the kind words here!
And as for a blogging break – well, I don’t think I have much of a choice right now because I did something stupid on the admin side of the blog and I now have no ability to get in anymore.
I’m begging a smart friend for help right now, but until then, consider me signed off!
May 27, 2007 at 11:30 pm
I know you’ve gotten this impression from the other comments, but you’re not alone in feeling that you don’t have a place in the publishing world as it now stands. That’s one of the problems my creative writing prof warned my class about. When it comes to long fiction, some of the major publishers like NavPress are starting to build a market for quality Christian writers, but it’s early days yet. Frustrating, but there it is.
If you want someone other than CSL to affirm your position (although On Stories is one of the most encouraging collections of essays on writing you’ll ever read), you ought to read Mystery and Manners by Flannery O’Connor. She takes aim several times at the notion that Christian literature has to be fluff, and while I’m not a huge fan of her fiction, she makes some really great points.