My posting here has been somewhat languid, and I think it has been because I’ve been self-conscious at writing for a site with the explicit aim of reaching people I don’t know. My writing here has been polite and restrained, and ultimately somewhat lacking in personality. Consequently, I’ve never felt the drive to keep posting something new, because when I do, I’m trying to eliminate my voice.
I don’t know why it took me so long to realize that. It took this entry of author Justine Larbalestier to crystallize it for me. When I look at the blogs I read regularly (such as Neil Gaiman, or John Scalzi, or Charles Stross), it’s because of their unique voice, and not necessarily because of their content. I’ve come across lots of “voiceless” blogs that have an interesting post or two, and I’m glad to get that content, but without having a unique voice, I’m not motivated to read more. So I don’t know what the rationale was for trying to de-voice my own writing.
Clearly, that mindset has to go. Which means my writing style here is going to change a bit, become a bit more casual, and hopefully a lot more fun. Changing that mindset will mean that some of the content I’ve been sitting on for a few weeks now will actually see the light of day, and make this site more interesting for whoever stumbles across it.
So cheers! Here’s to fun!