Thursday, November 17

Reading and writing

I've been reading a lot about cognitive biases - through a link I got from Ann's blog about the Barnum effect. A lot of it kind of goes over my head but I keep reading hoping to be able retain some of it. It's all so fascinating. Most fasinating to me because it's so true (of me anyway) is the fundamental attribution error. Don't you just love Wikipedia-the free encyclopedia?

I was thinking today about my blog and how I never seem to wrap things up here. I detail problems and issues, both major and minor, yet don't often write about how or if they were resolved. I was wondering if I should do that more. I don't consider myself a writer, 2 of my sisters are more fit than I am to have such a title as writer.

I was thinking that a true writer would probably want to have the whole story rather than just excerpts. Then I thought that maybe my blog is more like a collection of short stories. I don't really like collections of short stories because I always want to know what came before the story starts or what comes after. I find this kind of annoying, this not knowing. So I usually read full books instead so I avoid this frustration. I suppose if people are curious about missing pieces they'll ask.

2 comments:

leesepea said...

I prefer to think of blog entries as vignettes.

Vignettes can be either: short, usually descriptive literary sketches or short scenes or incidents, as from a movie.

Here's the thing - life isn't linear. Sometimes it's rambled and jumbled with an underlying sense of connectivity, but it doesn't have a plot full of rising actions, climaxes, falling actions and resolutions. Therefore, I don't think your blog has to be linear either.

I prefer to think of blogs as little snapshots of a particular moment in your life. Sure, there may be some stuff in the background that's a little fuzzy, but as long as the subject is in focus, everyone will understand the picture. And maybe that little bit that's out of focus will add a sense of mystery, keep your readers coming back, waiting to see if you ever bring that part into focus also.

I tend to start things of like I've already been talking and someone's just wandering in during the conversation. They don't have to have heard the first bit to figure out what's going on. And they're free to wander out again before I've finished talking. It's a very casual form, blogging, so don't be concerned with things like structure and other expository information.

You're right; if your readers have a question, they'll ask!

Petra said...

Vignettes...vignettes...I really like the sound of that Leesepea. I really do :) Thanks much.