A few weeks ago I was interviewed by a reporter from the Eagle about blogging-local style, and will apparently appear in an article in a new section the paper is launching. Not really sure what kind of section it is; local, technology, fabulously sexy red-heads and their maniacal plans to rule the world with Beowulf cluster of cyber goats.

So during the course of the interview there was the standard reporter boilerplate, "how often do you post?", "What do you write about?", the typical stuff that could be easily attained for oneself by perhaps, reading the website. But there were also some questions a bit on the atypical side. One in particular got me thinking: "If I weren't a blogger, how would things be different, would I still write, think, believe the way I do now?"

It’d be wonderfully independent to think that I am who I am and the world doesn’t change me. But that’s crap; surroundings influence everyone. I can’t turn back time and unread or un-believe, nor would I want to, but I can’t help but wonder if I would still write knowing no one would read it. So I’ve be experimenting, writing without the intent of posting, or publishing, or making public in any manner. It’s something I’ve never done before. Everything up until this point has always been written for the purpose of someone else’s reading, either a teacher, professor, or you-gentle TOG follower.

The experience has been almost entirely negative. Writing and reading my own work, knowing no one will see it, has a different feeling to it; slightly less inhibitions for one, but I also seem to be writing poorly. Grammar, phrasing, and literary excellence are apparently not my forte. Why didn’t anyone tell me that I write in terribly colloquial expressions?

I can’t stand the idea of doing something consistently poor. So I want my reader to tear me a new one. I’m openly inviting you to correct my grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and I’m allowing you to make fun of any pedestrian phrases, colloquial idioms, or generally cavalier language that I may use.

…It’ll make you feel better, I promise.