Whenever someone asks me why I write, my frequent lightheartedly reply often draws a tilted head and puzzled look from my questioner. “I write because I cannot paint.” I would love to have the skill to brushstroke a scenic turquoise and orange sunrise above shadowy buildings, zigzagging across a city landscape. But I believe that my God-given talent lies in coloring the imaginary canvas of blank, white pages with black key-stroked words. Writing — creating insightful poetry, thought-provoking essays, and personal stories that inspire, encourage, and entertain.
Speaking of writing, is there a learning curve for bloggers? Surely, there must be, because while I am an experienced author I admit that after months of blogging, I am still a novice when it comes to on-line writing. I know how to make my posts impressive with current topics, relevant pictures and properly placed links. Or so I thought until I committed a blunder worse than an atheist signing up for a subscription to Christianity Today. Wouldn’t you think that by now I would have familiarized myself with the tricky spots enough to avoid the BBB?
There are two things that make me feel bad after writing my heart out and publishing my creations on my blog. In reverse order, they are learning that only a few people who I really care about – that would be family and close friends – take time to read my blog. Then, there is the primary and by foremost the worse thing that occurs. After I publish a post that I proofread in draft form no less than 30 times, I discover a major goof.
It happened with my last post. If you are thinking that typos or misspelled words took the wind out of my sail, you are wrong. I found none. My blunder was much bigger than that. Straight to the point – I failed to properly insert the links. Did I hear someone say, “Oh, no you didn’t?” Oh yes, I did. I cluttered my metaphorical “painting” with cumbersome URLs; strings of gibberish, in places that should have contained tidy links.
The problem has been corrected, and that’s my true confession. If you are thinking that blunder will cause me to shamefully abandon my blog and enroll in a twelve step program for Embarrassed Writers Anonymous you are so wrong. I don’t cave like that. I am not easily discouraged by a temporary set-back. In fact, if I were a captain, I would likely be one who goes down with her sinking vessel instead of abandoning ship. Now hand me a pail so I can start scooping the fast rising water and fling it overboard.