I think the secret to blogging is pouring out what happens to be on your mind (and in your heart) right there in the moment, and not worrying too much about editing your thoughts to suit your audience, or according to what you think your audience wants to hear from you (that’s what novels are for!).
There are basics of course - run Spellcheck, and read over at least once so you don’t annoy your readers with spelling mistakes (something I have been known to do on this blog. Sorry, guys) but let your mind roam, and spill. In its essence, that’s what writing is about. In the kind of writing that lingers and lasts, you might notice that the plot was just someplace to hang the writer’s inner thoughts, her worldview, her convictions, what stirs her soul and what drives her nuts.
You wouldn’t think that the random thoughts inside people’s heads would be interesting to others, but of course, through the explosion of blogging (who ARE these people writing random crazy and being read - by thousands! - must the established literary crowd be thinking), we now know that ramblings, as long as they are sincere and reasonably engaging, are fun to read. Maybe because they help us connect and feel less alone. Less like freaks on a planet where conformity is the de facto world religion.
Rebellious Arab Girl does this brilliantly - and has a really big following. Check her out. (that’s her poster at the top of this post)
So here’s what I’ve been thinking about today, as sit here in this San Juan Starbucks, blogging when I should really be working on an article. Relationships (the romantic variety) and guys who drive you nuts.
There seem to be differing opinions on this. I’ve noticed this when it comes to reaction to my books, especially the first one, Fashionably Late, which recounts a heady fling with a seriously hot Cuban. Younger readers love the Cuban heartthrob, older readers are glad Ali, the main character, doesn’t take him too seriously. That doesn’t surprise me at all - older readers probably have a few crash-and-burn style relationships under their belt, and probably wanted to tell Ali, “there, there, dear, it’s just the hormones talking”.
And if all you’ve ever been exposed are North American Male mating habits, then I can see where you’re coming from. Many of those types of males are disinclined to have big, loud, gesticulating fights about minor things. I have had a very serious relationship with one such male, and was always amazed at how he hardly ever instigated a fight. Never jealous, never loud, never bothered over my more minor flaws (of course, we had fights over chores, but not, say, that what I was wearing to go out was too revealing). But just because we didn’t have our big, throw-the-dishes-against-the-wall fights, did not mean I didn’t want to kill him much of the time.
I later entered another very serious relationship, and by contrast, became very acquainted with the throw-dishes-against-the-wall fighting. I also spend much of my time wanting to kill this boyfriend.
But here’s the funny thing - once the fighting lets up, there isn’t any trace of it left in my soul. Nothing, Whereas in my previous relationship, the fighting was far less frequent, but left a lingering malaise that poisoned everything else I did.
All this rambling to say,
- Either I have finally grown up some, and learned not to hold grudges, or,
- If you’re going to fight with someone and want to kill him much of the time, it might not be such a bad idea to choose someone with whom you have an intense chemical reaction. Sure, there’s more to a relationship than that (as is, you may throw stuff at the wall but never, under any circumstance whatsoever, at your partner), but really, you may be surprised at how passion - even passionate fighting - breathes freshness and lightheartedness into your life, and saps away predictability. And predictability, though a good friend to stability, is also an enemy to romance.
And that’s my random brain fart of the day.
Final announcement: Thank you to everyone who commented and e-mailed me privately and Facebooked me about last week’s contest - if you still want to get entered into the draw for the Amazon certificates it’s not too late - I kept this open until the end of June because I’m far too busy at the moment to manage a contest - take advantage of my pathetic lack of time management skills 
