The wind is roaring around the house, rattling our windows and I can hear heavy sheets of rain smacking into the gable end. Its a good backdrop to our warm fire, it makes it seem all the more welcome and its spurring me onto getting this post written that I have been fiddling with for over a week.
Have you ever felt your finger hover over 'publish'. I haven't until very recently. If I am honest about what this blog is for me -its about my voice, the writing, or it has seemed to develop down this route recently. It grew out of having things to say and words that wanted so badly to be strung together. And crucially I wanted to share them. Not in a narcissistic way but in the way I want to read words and thoughts, loves, and opinions that chime with mine (and sometimes challenge), which I do in your blogs, your stories and the journalism and books I love. My favourite words are about experiences, the emotion of family life, of loss, descriptive content about ordinary and extraordinary lives.
Recently I have written a series of posts that are quite personal. I am happy with them, they read like they are meant to in my head and my heart, but they are something different and I guess that makes me nervous. They are however, just a variation on a theme, of me really, and they are meant to be a more consistent bringing together of my internal voice. I will post them over the next few weeks interspersed with my usual updates. As ever I would love to hear what you think. I appreciate you being here immensely.
Oh I feel excited by this Jo. I really look forward to reading them. Just don't do what I did tonight and accidentally post two at the same time!
ReplyDeleteThank you Karen, I feel the same with what you write too, I appreciate the support very much, Jo x
DeleteWell, for starters, you write beautifully, with honesty and thoughtfulness, so I am eager to read your posts!
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, I've found it scary to write personal things on my blog but I'm always very glad I did afterwards, it feels rewarding somehow.
Gillian x
Thanks Gillian, I will just go with it. I have written some personal articles before for other places and survived, so I am sure it will be ok. I very much appreciate what you said, that is a huge complement, Jo xx
DeleteYou are quite poetic in your language Jo. When I started reading this post, I noticed I tucked my feet up on the chair and settled in to enjoy the read. I agree with Gillian; you do write beautifully!
ReplyDeleteI myself find it hard to know how much of the personal 'real' stuff to share as I'm quite shy really and I suppose it's a bit like when you make a new friend and your story comes out over months or even years. In the bloggy world, there are always new people popping in so it's a tough one to gauge for me.
I think the main thing is that you write what is important to you and write from your heart. I really look forward to sharing the next phase of your writing journey with you through your blog. And there's always the delete button if you do press publish and feel a little over exposed!
Jo x
Thanks Jo, How nice of you to be so kind. You commenting is very welcome. I think I have always been quite open in my own small way with people that I trust so I will just go with it! Jo xx
DeleteHi Jo ... I look forward to your posts ... this is your space to use as you please ... you write so emotively and your words are a joy to read ... I love to see your new posts ... Bee xx
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Bee. It is very special that you say that. Very kind. I get a lot out of writing and this blog and its great you like to read it. Hope you are having a good week, Jo xx
DeleteYou write so well so I'm looking forward to reading your posts! You're so brave - I always feel very cautious about writing personal things. But that has more to do with actually stringing a sentence together and not so much about sharing it. xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Col, I did a huge amount of thinking and worrying before I started a blog and recently I have felt a bit anxious again about what I plan to post. But its all part of a bigger plan, I think, I just don't quite know where it will end up yet!!Your comment is wonderful, thank you so much, Jo xx
DeleteHow honest to tell us this. Your voice shines through this post and I look forward to reading more xo
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much. It just felt right a bit of pre warning for people. I will see what people think, but I do so appreciate what you say. If I achieved you hearing me authentically then I can't ask for more, Jo xx
DeleteI think it's a beautiful post and I am keen to read a lot more! I find it difficult to write personal things on my blog as I feel it's 'crazy stuff in my head' that probably wouldn't make a lot of sense if I tried to write it down. You'd all think I'd totally lost the plot! x
ReplyDeleteps I have a question for you! Can you recommend any new Scottish writers to me? I miss having a Scottish Writing section in our bookshop, so I feel a bit behind! x
Hi Jen, I will pm you through Facebook. And thank you as ever for your supportive words. Jo xx
DeleteHi Jo, having just blown the dust off my blog and started to reaquaint myself with my blogroll I too have been thinking about if I can afford to wear my heart on my sleeve so openly on my blog as I do 'in real life'. I absolutely look forward to reading what you have to say and have no doubt it will be respected and recieved with kindness. I am going to try to take courage from you and write the things I want to write too!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much and lovely to welcome you back. I will get their soon I promise. Finger still hovering! Jo xx
DeleteJo am not sure how I haven't discovered your blog before, but am glad I came across it today, with such a thought provoking post! Feel confident about what you have to say, it will shine through. I look forward to listening. X
ReplyDeleteThanks Jen, I am so happy you visited me here and you followed. I am going to pop over and see you soon. I am always so thrilled and excited when people comment, Hope to be in touch a bit via blogs soon, Jxx
DeleteYour comment on my blog just reminded me that I meant to come and comment here, and never remembered to. It's always scary doing something new, something outside of our comfort zone, something personal that reveals more of our true self. I echo all the other comments when I say that I love the way you write. The easy, conversational flow, and the honest sincerity that you know I appreciate! I look forward to reading more of your lovely words - this is your corner of the internet, do with it as you please! x
ReplyDeletep.s. I completely know what you mean about the finger hovering over the publish button. I umm-ed and ah-ed over whether to publish my sincerity post earlier - and in the end thought to myself 'I wanted to write this, what's the worst that can happen?!' and pressed that orange button!
Thanks Helen, thats very, very kind of you to comment. Its great to meet people who you identify with so lovely to be in touch, you keep doing what you are doing. Look forward to reading this year, Jo xx
DeleteLet it all out, girl, let it all out! The good stuff, the bad stuff, the cake stuff. It all contributes to your experience in this life, to who you are. In responding to these experiences and contributions, you are acknowledging them. Something that not many folks allow themselves to do, for fear of where it might take them. Others find a need to label their experiences as good or bad, identifying the culprit, perpetrator or victim. To me, what you are doing, is voicing your experience - sharing what you see, what you do, what you think, what you feel. This is SoulSpeak, as I like to call it. We can all tap into the flow of our SoulSpeak, but only when we leave the fear behind and the judgement to a higher being than ourselves. I love reading your posts. You are such an inspiration Joanna on so many levels - as an individual, a momma, a wife, a friend, a storyteller, a life teller, a reader, a writer, a poet, a creative, a soul sister (to me!). Stay tuned to your SoulFlow and shine your Light to the Universe and beyond. Wendy x
ReplyDeleteThanks you Wendy Louise. You know I was looking at your new painting I think when you were writing this! spooky but not at all so really! Will be emailing today when I get a wee minute, Jo xx
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