writer's block
Dec. 10th, 2001 03:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
raybearWalking back from lunch, I passed a tall man reading a book entitle "Codependent No More". Between him and my man on the train reading romance novels, you'd think there was a s.n.a.g. convention in town.
Some random livejournal person on some random livejournal once made a random side comment about private entries violating the spirit of LJ. It seemed like a silly question. "Of course not," I thought. And yet, I often hesitate to write things only for myself, deemed 'private'. I considerate it, but perhaps think "what's the point?"
And this is the original reason why I've always been horrible at keeping a journal. There was only so long that I could keep up the facade that I was documenting for future generations. For some reason, I'm unable to consistently use journaling as a tool for my own self-discovery and self-reflection. I'm pretty good at doing it in times of "crisis" or when feeling emotionally overwhelmed. But that's about it. However, I'm remarkably honest in talking to others, as well as e-mailing -- I'm just not necessarily 100% forthcoming with 100% of friends. But if I added them all together, I could construct a fairly accurate reflection of myself.
Initially with this journal, I had the audience of someone I was e-mailing (i.e. an imaginary one), but the freedom to say anything, because I was writing to no one specifically, and no one who saw me in every day life. But even looking back on inital postings, they weren't completely free. I do believe that forming LJ-relationships with other journal-ers and such caused me to develop a more natural style, and to push myself to open up a bit more about whatever I'm writing. But the downside is that there are now some things about which I wouldn't write. For the most part, I suppose it's a fair trade.
I occasionally post private entries. Mostly just "memory-storage posts" -- e-mails to or from a person I want to remember, but they wouldn't make sense to the outside reader.
And I even have other online journaling spots where I am totally anonymous and occasionally post random thoughts or feelings that I don't necessarily want anyone to read.
So now my journaling has become just like my real-life. It's only 100% when you add up every outlet and source.
Some random livejournal person on some random livejournal once made a random side comment about private entries violating the spirit of LJ. It seemed like a silly question. "Of course not," I thought. And yet, I often hesitate to write things only for myself, deemed 'private'. I considerate it, but perhaps think "what's the point?"
And this is the original reason why I've always been horrible at keeping a journal. There was only so long that I could keep up the facade that I was documenting for future generations. For some reason, I'm unable to consistently use journaling as a tool for my own self-discovery and self-reflection. I'm pretty good at doing it in times of "crisis" or when feeling emotionally overwhelmed. But that's about it. However, I'm remarkably honest in talking to others, as well as e-mailing -- I'm just not necessarily 100% forthcoming with 100% of friends. But if I added them all together, I could construct a fairly accurate reflection of myself.
Initially with this journal, I had the audience of someone I was e-mailing (i.e. an imaginary one), but the freedom to say anything, because I was writing to no one specifically, and no one who saw me in every day life. But even looking back on inital postings, they weren't completely free. I do believe that forming LJ-relationships with other journal-ers and such caused me to develop a more natural style, and to push myself to open up a bit more about whatever I'm writing. But the downside is that there are now some things about which I wouldn't write. For the most part, I suppose it's a fair trade.
I occasionally post private entries. Mostly just "memory-storage posts" -- e-mails to or from a person I want to remember, but they wouldn't make sense to the outside reader.
And I even have other online journaling spots where I am totally anonymous and occasionally post random thoughts or feelings that I don't necessarily want anyone to read.
So now my journaling has become just like my real-life. It's only 100% when you add up every outlet and source.
