Putting My Best Shoe Forward
Shoes, one of my loves… I have more than a few pairs. When I was a kid I had a pair of patent leather shoes which I cleaned and shined with a little dab of Vaseline. Today I keep my shoes in their original boxes to protect them or sometimes in the nice felt bags that come with them. I want my shoes to look good. It’s partly an image thing but more about taking care of what is “mine”. And, I want to show off my shoes to their best advantage. It is a pride thing.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not obsessed about the shoe thing, nor am I obsessive about my blogs. But I do take the time to make sure my blogs are looking their shiniest. I spent well over an hour recently on a simple blog post, carefully checking for spaces between the words, and trying to line the image up on the exact spot of my choosing. Saving my draft and then previewing the post to read it as you, the reader, see it. I must have made close to 15 revisions. There were too many “I”s in the sentence, or possibly I’d used the same word in three consecutive sentences.
It’s about pride. And, knowing that with Facebook, Google Reader, and Feeds any mistakes I make will remain in the blogosphere and internet for all eternity. A first impression, like a smear of dirt on a shoe, which could reflect poorly on my writing. If I’m going to write for the public, be it a blog post or an article, my work should show my skill. This is where I have the opportunity to shine. I want to put my best foot forward, as the old saying goes.
How do you feel about your writing? Do you toil away to ensure your best work is on public view?
Shoes by Anniebee at Flickr.com
I do feel this same way, even in forums where shorthand and no capitalization are accepted, and even expected. I go so far as to edit my comments, in fact, with the same care I give my own posts. This could have more to do with OCD than professionalism, but I do feel put off when I see spelling or usage errors, or just sloppy writing from someone. It makes me question his intelligence and abilities, and I would hate to have a reader question mine.
Hey, you know sometimes a little OCD can be a good thing!
I try very hard to get it right on the internet. However, it seems like I find “just one more thing” to tweak right after I’ve hit “send” or “publish.”
Of course, isn’t that maddening!
Thanks for stopping in.
How hard should it be, right? Just put pen to paper and whip something out. Ha! I can’t even write this simple comment without revising thoughts and words every two seconds. That’s why I’m blown away by how many polished pieces you manage to put out on a daily basis, Walker. It’s all I can do to get one out every couple of days right now.
Well, thank you, I don’t really think of my writing as polished. I will admit that doing 3 blogs and a client blog or two is a big challenge sometimes!
I think you are a thoughtful writer with a nice, natural style.
Thanks to you back! And just so you know, since I’m pretty new to the game, you can add role model/mentor to your list (but not your plate – you’ve got enough going on!)
I also wonder how you can come up with topics to write about. Sometimes that’s a stumbling block in itself. I find it especially hard when life gets in the way or when I’m not feeling personally at my best.
Admittedly I have those moments of total blankness! I sit down occasionally and make a list of ideas to draw from. For my other blog I cruise through the New York Times, NPR, The Onion and other various websites looking for inspiration. I make notes when I go out and something strikes me.
I’d be more than honored to mentor you, feel free to ask. I’d suggest you pop over to SITS Girls and think about signing up for the 31 Days to Better Blogging challenge. I’ve done this ‘course’ before.. you devote a little time every day to a task designed to improve your blog. Doing this in a community also helps you promote your blog at the same time. You can do the course alone as well.
Thanks, Walker. I’ll definitely follow your suggestion and sign up for the challenge. I have this innate need to always keep learning and honing – this is perfect timing. I’ve been at somewhat of a standstill, and I know this will get me psyched. And thanks for the mentorship. I’ll definitely be touching base once in awhile. Much appreciated – big time.
I’ve given thought to what I write but not to ways to better blogging. Maybe it’s time to get serious.
I was amazed at how much I learned in the 31 days. The originator is Darren Rowe at Problogger.net. His blog has wonderful resources for bloggers.