You must have something to say or don’t bother writing. That’s what it all boils down to, I think. At least that’s what I’ve been telling myself.
I caught up on some blog reading today. One of the blogs I like now is Copy Blogger (there’s also a link on the sidebar). One interesting article I found thereupon was The 10 Second Rule: How to Write for Diagonal Readers. Here was a quote I keep thinking about regarding the question, ‘do I really have something to say?’:
“Asking yourself this question allows you to determine if you are actually creating value for the reader by providing new information or unique insight into a matter or if you’re just regurgitating information that has already been covered elsewhere.”
Regurgitating being a favorite topic of mine, I found this insightful. I started writing about metal from the 80’s since that’s what I grew up with and felt I had a pretty good understanding of it. But, I gotta ask myself if I’m just spewing out crap I’ve read and heard over the years or really talking about the music.
I don’t know. Whatever. Why is it I’m writing? Just to say, “Yeah, I’m a writer?” Well, that’s stupid. Do I really have anything of interest to say about the music of my past, other than, “Yeah, that there was cool, eh,” or, “Wow, I could have wiped my butt with that CD and it would have been put to better use?” Not sure, just not sure.
Great. Now I’m unsure. Oh, how moronic. Hmm … maybe, since I do like the word ‘moron’ I should use it in my own special rating scale for music. If an album was good, it’s “No Moron.” If it sucked more than a black hole, it will be a “Moron.”
I don’t know. Whatever. Bite me.
