Bloggy Stewing

I've been avoiding my blog the last few days, mostly because I'm stewing on something and I'm not sure how to put it into words. Heck, I don't even know if stewing is the right word.

Basically, Twitter is chock o'block full of bloggers. It seems everyone and their dog on there has a blog or wants to blog for someone else. There are giveaways galore and links to follow.

I'm new to Twitter, and when I decided to jump right in, I also started reading a bunch of blogs that interested me. While doing so, and coupled with tweets, I noticed many "Mom" sites asking for blog contributors. As I'm finally opening myself and my blog up to the world at large, I figured it might be a good time to get out there and throw my hat in a few rings.

However, I couldn't help but be kind of perplexed by it all. Part of that confusion comes from the fact that I'm really conscious of remaining true to who I am and my writing voice. The other part is, how can you get your voice out there if no one will give you the chance to do so?

Let me explain.

Many of these "Mom" sites want bloggers to write for them that have a large following. Now, I get that. They want people that can drive traffic and create buzz. Fair enough. I don't think that means you should rule someone out though that doesn't have that readership-yet. I know for me, I kept this blog private. I didn't want creepers following me or reading all about my business. You hear a lot of scary stuff on the net, and I was very leery of taking that chance. I kept my followers to my friends and family. Now, this is seemingly coming to bite me in the butt.

Here's the deal though, and basically what I've pitched, because it's what I'd like to be judged for anyways. I've asked that blogger employers just read my blog. If they don't like what I have to say or how I say it-fair enough. I just don't want to be written off because of a decision I made regarding security. Shouldn't they most be concerned by what and how I write above all else, anyways? I mean, sure, you could get a ton of people reading something hugely controversial but if you write horribly, does the message get lost in translation? It does for me. I have read many a blog (especially recently) where the topic is interesting, but I stop reading because of the grammar or spelling.

I think if anyone read through my blog from the beginning, well, they'd see I'm not afraid to say what's on my mind and I don't shy away from the tough topics. I'm no wallflower and I'm (unfortunately at times) very outspoken.

The other issue is, do I WANT my blog becoming full of ads and reviews and me trying to sell something or other to my followers? I can answer this one easily and honestly. Hell to the no. That's just not me. I'll tell you if I like a product, or if I got a great service. I have absolutely no issue with that. I'm NOT going to shamelessly promote something that I don't endorse, haven't tried, or don't believe in. Not gonna happen.

What it boils down to is what I've been keeping as my goal all along. That being the writing. I write because I love it. I write because I have a lot to say. If others want to hear that, fantastic. If a dialogue can come out of something that I've provoked? Even better. If someone likes my voice and wants me to bring that to their table-I'm in. I have to remain who I am and what I'm about, though. I'd love to have a ton of followers and to have people enjoying what I write-of course I would! I can't change who I am to get there, or I guess "won't" is more applicable.

So, I've avoided my blog as I've been kind of down thinking about all of this and what it means in terms of my writing goals and dreams. The blogs I love to read are the ones that are real, where the person puts it all out there and amazes me with their openness. I'm putting it out there. It may close even more doors for me.

I'm hoping that maybe it will open the ones I WANT to walk through, instead.