Today is as good a day as any for a new beginning, right? I’ve been wanting to start this blog for weeks, but have been having this experience:
- I sit down at the computer, head full of things I want to write about and share.
- I log into WordPress.
- I look at the blank new post page and freeze.
- Rather than write my first post, I instead tweak the design more, experiment with various widgets, change another word on the About page.
- I decide I can’t possibly commit to a first entry yet and log off.
There’s something about the blank page (whether it’s on the screen or in the notebook) that terrifies me a little more than occasionally. It’s clean, pristine, perfect. I want my expression to live up to that perfection. And in terms of this blog, I feel like my first post needs to be seminal, all-encompassing. A decisive mission statement of what I am doing here and all that will follow.
But the truth is I’m not totally sure.
I know that I want to write. And that I will write about many things. Adventures I embark on. Projects I’m in the midst of. Organizations that rock. Thoughts on current events and issues that I care about (including, but not limited to, domestic violence, LGBTQ equality, the environment, and social justice of all kinds). Musings on books I’m reading, music I’m listening to, and movies I’m watching. Freewrites. Photos. Surely some goofiness.
When I sit down to write, after staring at the blank page for long enough, I just take a deep breath and write something down. Anything. So, with the pressure of this first post behind me, I can get on with it already. I plan to post two to three times a week, or as often as life inspires me. Vamos a ver. Stay tuned!
8 comments
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July 29, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Laura
A most excellent first post, lady!!! It’s inspiring me to go write on my blog which I have been somewhat remiss in keeping up with.
You are a breath of fresh air (and fresh writing)!
July 29, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Melanie
Perfect beginning, the first post is certainly a road block because you feel like you can’t just jump in and talk about all the topics you want to — you need an intro. You handled it very well, yay.
July 29, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Momers
yeah! I’ll be following the journey(ies)—>doesn’t quite work with that word huh Grammar Queen?.
July 29, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Judy Jolicoeur
Jessica!
I am so proud of you for putting yourself out there. You are a woman I will always admire for the work you do and for who you choose to be (of course always ever-evolving!…hopefully we all are). Can’t wait to see how this evolves!
July 29, 2009 at 11:00 pm
mariegauthier
Congratulations on a great start! Looking forward to seeing you grow into The Boots…
July 30, 2009 at 7:29 am
Sarah Burcalow
Well this is exciting! I will link to you from my blog. I can’t wait to see you in a couple of weeks.
July 30, 2009 at 9:23 am
Victoria
Welcome to the blogging world, though I’m still standing at the door myself. Great start. I hope those are running boots!
July 31, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Jessica
Thanks, everyone, for all the great feedback and encouragement! I’m totally excited about this new project, and hope you all find things of interest here in the days to come!