I offered myself as an example to state that your reasoning is flawed. “All bloggers” do not secretly imagine being published.

It was not to state that the whole world sees things as I do. It was to state that your reasoning, your sweeping statement, was obviously untrue. Hence, I offered myself as an example. Hopefully, that’s understood.

I think that when you say that all bloggers secretly covet a book deal in the end, that you are simply speaking for yourself and perhaps your circle of fellow bloggers.

Hmmm: Even though Rhino blogs to keep in touch with family, I don’t feel that he’s reinforcing Mungo’s point. Mungo is speaking of the general public, and an earlier comment posted here pointed to blogs in general that they happen upon. If someone’s writing on a blog that’s family-oriented to keep their family abreast of their situation, I wouldn’t expect it to be written artfully…I feel silly even writing that. It seems obvious to me…

I just think it’s ridiculous that people are expecting Hemmingway, Camus, or Neruda from a blog. THEY’RE BLOGS! lol The Nerudas and Hemmingways of the blogosphere are far and few! If that’s someone’s expectations from a blog, then they’re setting themselves up for a large degree of disappointment.

Although Mungo may be wrong in suspecting all bloggers of covertly looking for a book deal. Although the idea of an X-factor style Blog competition is appealing…With a book deal as a prize…I think I’ve been watching too much This Morning.

If it was just that typing is easier than writing then why not just keep it on your own hard-drive? Or carry it around on a USB stick? Why inflict incoherent ramblings on the unsuspecting googling public? I suspect its cos all bloggers secretly imagine that their wondrous words will be picked up by a roaming publisher. Kind of the literary equivalent of the school-girls who sing at the back of the bus hoping a talent scout just happens to be sat at the front!

I, personally, find it easier to type out my thoughts, as opposed to writing them down. It saves paper, I type quickly, so I can type my thoughts as they come…it would be a lot slower and harder to keep up with my thoughts if I had to write them by hand.

As far as spell-checking, a blogger’s literary eloquence..etc. I think we should remember that bloggers don’t necessarily need to be eloquent or articulate. They simply need to write in the voice and method that is most appealing and convenient to them.

Unless of course you’re writing as a precursor to a book or what have you.

I just think it’s funny when I read comments from people stating how inadequate, poorly written, boring blogs are. I would never read someone’s journal, and then complain that they’re writing is poor. lol

I guess the difference is the assumption that a person wants to keep a hard-copy journal private; and the assumption that a blogger wants to write for an audience or a reader, other than him/herself.

It has become my secret hobby – none of my friends know about it, not even my boyfriend. I guess I am a little scared that people will judge me or think I am being pretentious or sappy, but I feel the whole process is helping to remind me that there ARE people like me in the big wide world!

So, for now, my blogging will remain anonymous. Maybe I will share the secret when I feel more confident about what I have to say, and when I realise my words have not been written in vain!

After I caught the blogging bug, I felt compelled to go out and do more, just so I would have more interesting entries.

Soon I had to do something blog-worthy every weekend. It was exhausting.

Now I have to tell myself that good writers can make the most mundane experiences interesting.

By the way, I adore your blog. I’ve been a lurker for a long time.