Change of Direction

So, I've been thinking about making a few changes around here. This has been percolating for awhile, and coincides with a few minor life changes I'm trying to make.

The idea, basically, is to open up this blog to all sorts of random topics and see what falls out of my brain. Writing, of course, will still be central, as that is what I love. And I'm hoping to continue with the flash fiction (please submit!). But! All sorts of other oddities! Perchance!

I know this goes against one of the prime Blogging 101 rules: base your blog on a specific topic, and stick to it. But, well, I've never written this blog with any idea of it being a "platform", or that it would in some way help my writing career. I do it because I like to write, and I do it because I enjoy talking with like-minded (and, for that matter, non-like-minded) people. The blog, for me, has always been the end, in and of itself. I've never wanted anything from it, except for the basic experience of doing it, of writing something and entering into interesting discussions.

So, if I do this, it will probably mean a few changes. First off, the blog might be a little more erratic, and I'll be less concerned with writing at a particular time, or to a particular schedule. And, the odd thing is, I think I may actually write more. But I'll mostly be writing when I want, and writing what I want. Strangeness may ensue!

It comes down, in the end, to meaning and motive. I've been thinking lately about why I do certain things , trying to scrape off the dirt and find the real roots, the ones buried way down deep in the dark. What are the meanings of my choices? And if I'm not really concerned with having a blog as a platform, why am I trying to write one as if I am?

It's a bit like that ol' writing chestnut: do you write to trends and publishers wants, or do you simply write what you want, what calls to you? I'm more of a write what you want type. The writing, in the end, is primarily for me. Selfish, I know! But that's the way of it. I want an audience, of course, but my first and primary audience is always me. Blogging to the rules, blogging to build a platform, is a bit like writing to a trend, writing to meet outside expectations.

So the plan is simply to write, instead, what I want. And hope it's interesting enough that a few people will follow along and join in the conversation.

Any thoughts? Concerns? Suggestions? Letters to the editor? Questions? Chinchillas? (Just cuz)

And, yes, this might mean I don't actually know where the hell I'm going. But sometimes those are the best sorts of road trips.