Hm

[kerriesakura]

The facts are these:

1) I miss writing
2) But not in LJ
3) I don't want to blog about hockey again
4) I can't be bothered to blog about music as there's too much to keep up with
5) The only other subject I can write loads about is depression
6) ...ah

Now, this is probably going to happen. But I'm a bit wary. Sarah already raised the possibility of awful, awful trolls but I think I'm better equipped to deal with those now. There are two other things bugging me more, though.

The first is: I hate walking into Waterstones and seeing an entire section dedicated to "painful lives". I'm sure that writing those books helped the authors and I'm sure some people find solace in reading them. But I'm a bit concerned that it's now a genre in its own right, and I'm a bit concerned about the accusations of cashing in on pain that fly about. So if I write about depression - and obviously the only experience I can directly write about it my own - what's the difference between me and those people?

Well, I guess I'm not asking anyone to pay for it. And I'm sure an awful lot of those writers had the intention that I have: maybe by writing about this will help someone else, maybe someone else will know they're not alone. Hmm. Tricky.

The second is the anonymity thing. Now, I'm very careful with my real name and don't intend to call myself "Kez" on this. I don't intend, either, to link out from the new blog to this lj or my twitter account. But if I'm going to get people to read it - and I'm afraid I do want people to read it, no point taking the high road and saying I don't - I'll have to link out the other way around!

Trolling is the one worry, the other worry is the practice of employers looking you up online to see whether you're a twat or not. Real name and picture and all that stuff won't be on there, but still, is it too much of a risk? A blog saying "hello, I have an illness" isn't going to be the best ad for, well, very much of anything really.

But. You see, Chris posted this last night: "Write the blog that you wish you had found when you were ten years younger."

So I want to do it, but thinking about the logistics of it is a bit more of a headache. So... ADVICE PLEASE. Thank you. Oh and if you're in favour of it, can you think of a good title? That'd be much appreciated.

Thank you, and thank you for the comments last night, too. :) <3

Comments

[speednik.livejournal.com]

I think the thing about the "painful lives" books and what makes them so easy to mock, and then feel guilty, is that they have all been designed in the same way - especially the "shitty childhood" books: white cover with monochrome child image faded at the side and a title like "Reaching Out to Shadows" written in a fake handwriting font.

That and there was that one guy whose book was a total fabrication and incurred the wrath of Oprah, which has - to some - made the whole genre look suspicious.

So you're already one ahead - you aren't asking for money. This is a good start.

Trolls will be trolls and are part of modern internet life, and if they cause problems and if they cause upset for you and your readers then it is something that the blog itself can address. If there has been a particularly bad one that massively upsets you: be totally honest about what it has done. This may be seen by some as "letting them win" - but genuinely I think many of them, particularly if they are just flippant "ironic" commenters - don't actually realise the level of upset they cause and a stark explanation of exactly that may prevent them doing so in future.

Not all of them - some will just be tossers and tossers who will thrive on that information. For that reason, it might be worth finding a blog whose comment field has some kind of "blocking" mechanic. They may be able to get a different email address and set up a new account but eventually that will become far too boring for them.

For name, there's the ever popular K. Or you could fabricate a name, use your middle name (which is a nice name) or just utterly avoid names all together. The last one may not be as difficult as it sounds. Some folk will probably only refer to you by the name of the blog anyway, so it might be best to name it first and then refer to yourself by it, or by some diminutive form thereof.

As for title suggestions, I don't have any at the the moment: I'm much more a "silly title" guy.

Do you have any thoughts on a name? I can certainly (as can we all) comment on a list of possibilities.

[mirrorballmoon.livejournal.com]

I can of course moderate comments on Blogger, and not let trolls through at all.

Still dunno. Not enough responses yet. But yours is noted. :)

[speednik.livejournal.com]

I thought about the moderation thing - but YOU still get to see them. Although knowing that replies are moderated may deter most of the types who just want to see their amazing words on the internet and so will go anywhere that will just let them comment directly. Usually YouTube and IMDB forums.

[ihavecake.livejournal.com]

Oooooh Chris is all wise and shit :) Listen to this man.

The title is going to be tricky. I'd say that anything too earnest will get you lumped in with the "painful lives" and anything too silly discredits and dismisses the actual subject you're writing about.

[speednik.livejournal.com]

If one of these books is actually called Reaching Out to Shadows or similar I'm gonna feel like a total bastard.

[whalefish.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think those books are the ones that used to get put into categories called things like True Life Stories, until it was pointed out that they were obviously fiction. All called things like Please, Daddy, Stop!

[whalefish.livejournal.com]

(Chris kind of just said that, but put it a lot better. Just ignore me!)

[mirrorballmoon.livejournal.com]

I don't want to be one of those, you see... it's not meant to be a blog about how terrible everything is all the time. It's meant to be about recovery and reflection, not "I feel this now".

[myfirstkitchen.livejournal.com]

Do you read 'Neen's blog and her blogroll? If not, you should: http://thesecretlifeofamanicdepressive.wordpress.com/

Keep it up

[omaniblog.livejournal.com]

Write your blog. It'll do you good I bet. There is no best way. You have to find your own style. I know this is a cliche but on way as a writer you'll come across all sorts of issues, many of which you've already mentioned.
Gradually you'll find clarity and know when you're speaking from your centre rather than your head.
This is to wish you well and encourage you to keep going.

Re: Keep it up

[mirrorballmoon.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) the actual blog itself lives at http://fearitselfandmonsters.blogspot.com and I'm really really enjoying writing it. I think it helps.

Thank you for your encouragement. It means a lot!