Sock it to me

So, dear reader, we've been on a long ramble over the past eleven blogs, but where has it led us?

Do you feel enriched for reading these musings? Do you nod along as you read or quietly debate me in your mind? Have I grown in the last 2 months of writing? Have I matured as a writer or as a person?

As I start this, my twelfth blog, I have no title - the first time I've begun a blog without knowing what it's about. That's probably because I was talking to a friend this morning about my writing process and how I approach my blogs, so my mind is filled with too many ideas and only one line to give this post a name.

On the one hand, I want to tell you all that I've previously tried my hand at writing poetry and I still do - I recently crafted a little rhyme for friends who have become parents. I've also written a more non-traditional musing on depression, which was quite dark but lyrical. But then I think that's all very poncey and decide not to mention it(!)

I was also considering the content of the blogs - have they been too political, too personal, not personal enough, too whiny? Am I writing about fun stuff or am I discussing the grand issues facing the world today. Looking at the statistics (which I mentioned in a previous post as being decidedly unhelpful) I see no pattern in content versus audience response. So that's no use.

Coincidentally, the person I was talking to was involved in the group where my music debuted (as mentioned in my first entry), so I was thinking again about the name of the blog - FeeGee's Ramblin' Prose. So far, that's what I've provided. Caveat emptor - these are my ramblings! They take no overarching shape or style. They are just the brain farts I have at 2am, mostly. This one is a 2pm effort, but it's rare that I have time to think during the day.

Where has all of this navel-gazing got me? I think the main thing I've learned is that I definitely enjoy writing and want to pursue it further. Which was rather the point of starting the whole thing; to dip my toe in the water. What shape should the writing now take? Shall I craft some fiction and see how it reads? Should I share my poetry and risk alienating my lovely readers? Should I keep blogging but narrow myself down to one or two subjects? Which subjects?

I'm not really any further forward for the exercise. And it's just occurred to me that this is what today's entry is about: what do YOU want? You, the person reading these words, right now, in your head. You're probably looking at your phone or maybe a laptop. Did you just look over your shoulder to see if I was watching you? (I'm not. I'm about to go pick up the kids from school, plus an extra one for fun. Who doesn't love a play date?)

What have you enjoyed reading? Have you read every entry? Do you wait for the next one? Do you only click through when you can be arsed? What has stuck with you? Can you remember old posts without going back through them? Have I written something that resonated with YOU? What was it?

I don't think I've ever written more questions in one place.

I'm going to keep writing as I am for now, but I really want your feedback. Go back through the blogs if you have time - remind yourself which ones struck you and what made you skim past. Tell me. Tell me the truth. There's no point in me writing if no one is enjoying it.

So be honest. Don't be brutal, 'cause there's no need for that! Just be true. Have you read or have you skimmed? What's working? Sock it to me. There. I've just typed in the name of this blog. But I'm going to leave the rest of this one unedited. If it reads poorly, I can only apologise. But if I'm asking you to be honest, I'll be honest too: I edit what I write. I do allow myself to ramble because that was the whole point, but normally I go back and clean it up. This entry is laid bare, warts and all. Sock it to me.

Peace.

FG x