Why I write – something a little different

There is a lovely blog-hop doing the rounds right now, with a heap of bloggers writing about why they write. I must say I feel a bit like a fraud, given I have been doing a massive amount of reading lately (mostly trashy popcorn novels, and no, I really don’t want to share titles…), and not a whole lot of writing.

Thanks to Steph from Grace in the Little Things for inviting me to participate.

So, why do I write?

I often ask myself that same question. Especially when I’ve been struggling to string a sentence together in recent weeks. I have plenty of great sentences in my head, usually when I’m lying in bed trying to sleep. Or daydreaming in the shower. Or out for a walk. Generally when I don’t have any way of writing them down. And don’t want to – or can’t – use a voice record memo app on my phone.

How does my writing differ from others in its genre?

Gawd. Dunno. I write what I think at the time. It can be a bit of a stream of consciousness. And I’m pretty sure I overshare sometimes. I’ve know I write in a similar tone to how I talk. At least I think I do. People who read my blog tell me they love how I share personal stuff with food stuff. Why do you read my blog? There are about a gazillion food blogs out there so what attracts you to mine? I know you don’t ALL read out of a sense of familial obligation…

What am I working on now?

Errrr.

OK.

Thinking frantically.

I have a list of blog posts I want to be working on. But I’m not. I’m at our family holiday house at Killcare desperately seeking inspiration. I’ve been here about a week and I’ve read about five novels. I have written a few emails. Suspect they may not count. A few posts I want to write are about:

• our beautiful and crazy chickens (and why we only have three now 🙁 )
• my 21 days on the Whole30 (yeah, called Whole30 because it’s meant to be 30 days. I lasted 21. Then there was wine…)
• my secret food loves that I really don’t like to share. Because they are, um, er, {whispers} frankenfoods…
• two of the totally awesome cooking schools I’ve been to lately
• a few months worth of Cooking the Books posts.

Ask me again next week how these are all going.

Why I write what I do

I write a lot in my job. My business is a marketing communication consultancy so I spend a fair bit of time writing for clients. This might be a strategy document, a communication plan, copy for a brochure or a website or a newsletter or a magazine article or anything else they need to communicate to their stakeholders.

This writing style varies from simple to sophisticated, from plain English to technical jargon, and is usually written in the style and tone of my client. Especially as it is generally printed with their name and not mine. I’m good at this and I like it, but it’s not a reflection of me. And it shouldn’t be.

So I blog to write in my voice. To share my experiences about the things and the people and the places that I love. Or sometimes that I don’t like very much. Basically my blog is my opinion about stuff – don’t you love that word? – that is important to me. And that I hope will be just a teeny, tiny bit important to you.

How does my writing process work?

Ha! I definitely don’t consider that I have a “writing process”. But maybe I do. What I do know is that I would like it to be a little more organised. And possibly more regimented. I feel as though I should write for me everyday, but I wonder if it would then feel like a chore. Maybe I should try.

My current process is very lackadaisical. I get an idea for a post and if I have time, energy and am in the mood, then I’ll write it. Otherwise I might make note of it for the future. Or I might not.

Like I said. Lackadaisical.

Do you write? What is your process? Do you have a process? Do you write? WHY?? I would love to know.

Part of this process is to nominate some other bloggers to write about why they write. 

I’d like to pass on to E who blogs at The Illusive Femme. E is a 20-something journalism and PR graduate and a lover of all things food, style and quirk. When she’s not working a regular 9-5 job, she’s finding the best spots to eat, shop and explore in her pretty city, Perth.