Voices in My Head

Today's writing prompt:

How is your writing voice like you?  How does your writing voice differ from you?

I have always been told that I write exactly the way that I talk to people.  I take that as a compliment, since I'm guessing it means my writing isn't stilted or dry.  But I do think I'm a hell of a lot funnier and weirder in person.  I also edit the heck out of my writing for this blog, because it's not just about me.  Which I know is a funny thing to say what with this month's NaBloPoMo theme being SELF.

Day 2: Procrastination

I started off the day ready to sink my teeth into this blogging exercise (NaBloPoMo, courtesy of BlogHer and the whole thing started for me right here).  Raring to go, if you will.  It's now evening and I've made Chrismukkah lists, paid bills, searched for work shoes online, re-sorted all of my hair accessories (I chopped more than half my hair off a few nights ago, so all the hair ties are going back into storage until they're useful again), read part of a book and just. didn't. write.  That's how it goes - it's so easy to procrastinate when there are just so many other things to do, so many distractions to get distracted by!

Which is why it is nice to read about other people's issues with procrastination, especially when those people are attempting to complete the same project you are.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading Project Marie's first NaBloPoMo post for this month tonight.  I had been reading through some of the posts on NaBloPoMo Soup and hers was the first one that went into the reality a lot of bloggers face, as Marie put it, "blog death by neglect."  I've had a few of those and do not wish to see LostGirls endure the same fate.  As far as followers, it's already suffered quite a bit, so NaBloPoMo makes even more sense to do this month - for myself, if no one else.  And even though I'm not joining the Soup for my first round, it was pretty cool to find something motivating on a stranger's site.  Sort of like unintentional moral support.  Which is one of the benefits of doing this kind of long-term writing exercise.

In any case, BlogHer's theme for December's NaBloPoMo is WORK.  Quite fitting considering that I interrupted my blogging to start a new job.  Now I can tell you all about that and keep on track with both of the things I love to do with my time.  I'm planning on doing the writing prompts from BlogHer for the next week and would love to read what everyone else thinks of the questions asked and my answers.  

Oh the Humanity

I do not consider myself a particularly fashionable person.  While I have my own style, it's more about comfort and function than being on trend.  But I do appreciate fashion, even if you'd never know it by looking at me, and I do occasionally check out fashion blogs.  I've been pleased to find that my body type is actually represented by some blogs.  And I've found even more diversity since I became a member of CapFabb (Capital Area Fashion and Beauty Bloggers).  Obviously I'm not going to be writing about style or fashion any time soon, but I do write about beauty products on The Thinnest Skin.  Since joining CapFabb I have noted that it is mostly about the fashion world, but my fellow members are a very kind and generous group who take the time to answer all questions, go to each other's blogs and events, and really just support each other in full.  

They also prove that you can be fashionable at any size, in any shape, etc.  I feel my self-esteem rises more from looking at their blogs (and seeing all differents kinds of men and women represented) than it ever could by looking at the advertising in magazines, on television, or on billboards.  I am proud to call myself a member of this extremely diverse group of people (size, shape, age, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, etcetera).  If anything, I feel a bit guilty at times for not participating enough.  Perhaps that is why I feel I would be remiss if I did not state my utter dismay at an article from Washington Post Express that was shared with our group.  I may not be a fashion blogger, but I do support the fabulous fashionistas who brave the blogging world every day, in DC and elsewhere.

Mary and I have had quite a few conversations about haters.  We are often disappointed (and mystified) to find women hating on other women.  We just can't get used to the idea that anyone would find it necessary, but some women seem to consider their entire sex competition and do their best to keep other women from succeeding.  And though this article states that both men and women write fashion blogs, women are clearly targeted (see all of the examples the author lists throughout the post) - men appear to be just an aside here to cover the author's ass.

Jennifer Barger's My Blog, My Self post from August 24th 2012 is a remarkably negative and catty view of fashion bloggers in general.  She seems to typecast all fashion bloggers as insecure ninnies who need regular validation of their fashion sense.  Or "mostly 20-somethings...fishing for compliments...without much useful advice."   Both petty and inaccurate.

I have no doubt that some fashion bloggers fit the bill here, but to throw the entire group into that pigeon hole shows a serious lack of research and some misplaced vitriol.  What self-righteousness!  Criticizing these people for not allowing modeling agencies or fashion magazines to dictate who gets to have their picture taken and shown to the public.  Oh, the humanity!  Thou dost protest too much, my dear.  Your insecurities are showing.  

When I shared this with Mary, she said, "The article itself is pretty shallow.  While there are narcissists who blog about their style, there are many (perhaps more) who are creative, artistic and entrepreneurial.  And why not?  Women are getting their names out to the public - it's a form of networking, of developing business contacts, a career, or just sharing something fun.  To look down one's nose at these people shows a lack of insight into the whole blogging phenomenon."

But don't take it from us, since we don't even blog about fashion.  Instead, read the eloquent and well-researched response that Rachel posted on Fair Vanity.  It is far kinder to the author than I'm feeling right now, but I appreciate that Rachel took the high road.  Don't forget to scroll down - a couple of the bloggers that Barger wrote about left comments under the Fair Vanity post.

One thing I can attest to, though I haven't had the experience on this blog, is that weeding out negative comments isn't a way to make ourselves look good.  It's a way to eliminate trolling.  I have seen some pretty vicious trolling on other blogs and I am fully aware that whether or not my blog is successful, I could easily fall victim to the same thing.  Internet trolls have only one purpose - to harass other people.  You can disagree with me all you like, you can comment in a negative way on one of my posts and I will keep it, as long as it's appropriate (constructive, not offensive).  But if someone leaves a comment that is only meant to harm one of the LostGirls contributors or another reader, of course I'm going to delete it.  I'd also like to note that it's easy to criticize how other people moderate comments when you don't have to. If you'd like to let the editor know how you felt about this article, contact the Washington Post Express at inbox@readexpress.com.