Blasting Into The Blogosphere!

I've only been here a few weeks - doing this blog thing that is - and already I see the benefits.

The thing is I am WRITING. And if I want to be a writer, it's all about actually getting down and doing it.

I've read other blogs by wordsmiths lately where the authors have questioned what they are doing, and whether it's a worthwhile venture. I've seen one or two blogs with a sign up to say they've pulled the plug. One writer said, "I'm going back to my real writing, novels and poems." I can relate to this and maybe it's too early in the piece for me to be saying I'm here for the long haul.

But, what makes it all add up for me is the fact that I'm being read - it's only a small number of people at the moment, but it's growing fast. Thank you to The Grumpy Old Bookman and Books, Inq for their plugs for my site. They have brought readers my way. Thank you to the other sites who have made links to me: Roger Morris, Mostly Books, The View from the Pundy House and Litbitch. Others have mentioned me as well and I am grateful.

Why am I doing this? I basically want to be 'out there', dipping my toes into the surf and feeling what it might be like to write creatively all the time, for a living. I am a journalist, working in news, and creative writing it is not! I want to start putting my writing out there (you know what I mean) and to see what reaction there is. Having some kind of presence here makes me more confident about making submissions and carrying on with my new novel. I am already a writer, in front of the public, and the next glorious step (being published) will be such a natural step.

Writing for the blog (as the writer Minx pointed out to Pundy House) is like a warm up, before you head out on to open road and really go for the sunset. After posting, and getting encouragement from the fact that people are reading what I tap, I find it easier to open up the Word document and imagine what those same people would want to read in a novel.

I must say that I am also keen to keep the photos, paintings and poems coming, because there's been good feedback and because they are also part of my creative process.

I've burnt a few candles here with this lot, but I am more grounded because of it. I look forward to your company for my morning warm ups. I hope I will be able to last the distance.

By the way, to those of you who have asked, I am remaining anonymous for now, until I really need to give my real name for promotional purposes (fingers and toes crossed). Shameless is very fitting, as one day you may discover. Let me know what you like and don't like about this blog and I will obey. The reader is my bread and butter - without giving up my artistic integrity, of course!

Don't forget, you have to visualise the thing you want. If you can't see it, you won't get it.