Future Blog: A Discussion
Dec82008
I’m getting serious about fixing this blog. It’s starting to feel like Howl’s Moving Castle with extra pieces stuck on anywhere as it grew, no plan, and now pieces of it are falling off as it stumbles across the internet.
And since the website is getting revamped sometime in January or February, I figure that’s a good time to hit the restart button here, retire Argh and start something new with some focus. So I need direction. What would you consider the one category/topic/subject/direction I should keep in the new blog? (If you need to say more than one, rank them, please.) I’ve got a couple of months to reconfigure this, so we have time to talk about it, but really, this thing needs an overhaul. The wheels are starting to fall off. Steam issuing from the cracks is polluting the blogosphere.
For example, I needed a picture of Howl’s Castle for this because Howl’s Castle is fabulous. (So is the movie, BTW.)
But Google images let me to this paper sculpture:
Which let me to this blog featuring Ben Millett, the guy making it:
http://www.pjlighthouse.com/2007/12/09/art-howls-moving-castle-papercraft-by-ben-millett/
Which led me to the download which took FOREVER and then I couldn’t open it because I didn’t have the right app. Which led me to Amazon which had nothing, which led me to eBay which had nothing, which sent me back to Google which sent me to this blog: http://paperkraft.blogspot.com/2006/03/howls-moving-castle.html which gave me another link to download the pdf, which worked, although I still haven’t managed to download the English instructions which I have a feeling are going to be essential.
As you can see, I lack focus.
So what should the new blog concentrate on?
Help.
PS: If you’ve got time to spare, start looking at the other stuff on the Papercraft site. Kung Fu Panda. Hellboy. The Mayor from Nightmare Before Christmas. I have to stop and get back to work, but it’s AMAZING.
PPS: On no account should you go to the Disney papercraft site (http://www.disneyexperience.com/models/wwench_model.php) because they have a pirate ship. And now really, I have to get to work.
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53 Comments to 'Future Blog: A Discussion'
On December 8, 2008 at 12:44 am robena grant said...
Anything with levity. Doesn’t matter the topic. When I come here it’s always with a sense of wonder. What is Jenny up to now? You never cease to amaze, you find things of interest from sites I’ve never heard of, you make me laugh, or make me think. It’s all good. BTW, I love the paper sculpture.
On December 8, 2008 at 1:38 am toni said...
I have always thought of this blog as a collage. There’s not one particular focus, but it ends up showing who you are and has creative combinations that are fun. So I’d say call it a collage, and if you have to narrow that, focus on whatever’s inspiring your creativity.
On December 8, 2008 at 2:17 am hollygee said...
I hesitate to offer this suggestion because your blog is singular, unique, one-in-a-million. But.
Would you consider making it a group blog, ie. the Lipstick Chronicles? Since you, Lani, Anne, Bob are semi-regular bloggers, you could mass into a more regular, semi-regular posting. On TLC they each try to have blog once a week. You guys might try for one a month.
Idea second: I’m happy to see pictures of the dogs/cat at any time.
On December 8, 2008 at 4:21 am colognegrrl said...
The main reason why I visit your blog regularly is the discussion on writing. I started out with the HWSW blog and learned a lot by the writing workshop. Of course I also like the glimpses into your personal life – the dogs, the crocheting, your grandchild, etc. – but this is more like a personal touch and I guess I could do without that. Although I suppose then it wouldn’t be you.
So I support the idea of collage – it’s something that suits your way of working as well as the Argh People’s way of ranting on any topic that comes their way. The main topic of the collage being novel writing, you may adorn it with anything you wish.
On December 8, 2008 at 7:32 am Amy said...
See, I would go the other way and say more of what’s going on in your personal life, with the pups and who threw up on what that morning, and how Wolfie managed to chew on someone’s ear…
On December 8, 2008 at 9:05 am Flamingo Cherry/Shawn Reed said...
I like the randomness of your blog. I like getting lots of little “Crusie fixes” while I’m waiting for the next book to come along. I like it that sometimes your random thoughts and directions lead me to cool stuff you’ve found (like Margaret & Helen) that have now become regular stops for me.
I like insights into your writing … I too enjoyed HWSW and am impatiently waiting for it to come out in print. It did a lot to steer me in new directions and appreciate craft.
Hollygee suggested turning this into a group blog, but I like keeping it just you with the occasional visitor. I enjoy some of the group writers’ blogs out there, and if you joined one of those it could be cool, but I really enjoy a blog that is totally your voice.
All of that being said, everybody you ask is going to have a different opinion, and ultimately you will have to do what works best for you, and given how much I’ve enjoyed everything else you’ve done, I’m pretty sure I’ll enjoy whatever your new incarnation is.
Happy Holidays!
On December 8, 2008 at 9:14 am Patrice said...
Life and writing. Writing and life.
The unique Crusie perspective is highly valued, appreciated and applauded.
Many thanks!
On December 8, 2008 at 9:50 am Anne said...
I would suggest focus is not necessarily a good thing…
Chaos is necessary for both creativity and discovery. See “Bellwether” by Connie Willis and the lessons learned therein.
On December 8, 2008 at 10:37 am Victoria said...
I think this blog is just fine, no overhaul needed. Toni is spot on. This is a blog-collage and should be treated as such — random things making a very vivid picture.
I second Anne’s “Bellwether” recommendation by Willis. Excellent novel and a stealth romance, as well. Go read it then consider not re-doing your blog.
On December 8, 2008 at 10:37 am Minze said...
De-lurking to agree with everyone. Your collage is much appreciated.
On December 8, 2008 at 11:16 am Jenny said...
Mollie weighed in on the “leave it alone” side, so I’m trying to decide why I’m so dissatisfied with it. (It is NOT the commenters.) Maybe I just want to hit the reset button on everything. I do this about every ten years, but maybe Argh’s just getting caught up in it.
Maybe I need the focus, not the blog. I just keep thinking people click on here and think, “What a mess. This woman just rambles.” Or maybe that’s what I think and I’m just projecting.
I just got the Huff Post blogging book. Perhaps there will be insights. Argh.
I do like that collage concept, though. Toni knows how to get to me.
On December 8, 2008 at 11:49 am Stephanie Leary said...
I agree. Leave it alone! If you have a topic, what happens when you want to talk about the puppies or show off baby pictures? Nothing wrong with a personal blog, especially if it’s amusing and well written.
On December 8, 2008 at 12:00 pm Pam said...
You are projecting. Knock it off. (Said with love.) You’re trying to make us pick why we like Buffy–the characterization OR the world-building OR the dialogue OR the arcs and themes and so on. If we picked one out and focused on that, the rest would not work and Buffy would not be the magic that it is.
Or you’re trying to make this into a single-string crochet project. We want more than scarves and you have more to crochet than that.
Pick whichever analogy works. I’m off to get some decent caffeine because whatever I had this morning obviously isn’t working.
On December 8, 2008 at 12:03 pm Becky said...
As long as there is some focus within the post, I don’t think the overall blog has to have one. The posts fall far enough apart that each one is a discrete conversation. If you were posting several times a day on a various topics it might seem like rambling. But as it is, each post is like a separate conversation with a friend. The topics may vary from conversation to conversation (and wander in the comments), but we’ve all been drawn together by multiple common interests.
If the blog was only about writing, we would have missed out on Prop 8: The Musical, and that weight discussion we had surrounding Val Frankel’s book, and all those pictures of the herd that we enjoy so much. And cutting books and writing out of your blog entirely would make no sense. That was the first thing that brought us here, and this is, after all, a marketing tool as well as a community.
On December 8, 2008 at 12:17 pm inkgrrl said...
You’re projecting sweetie. The point of a blog is whatever you want it to be, which means each blog post can be different if it pleases you.
And WTS.
On December 8, 2008 at 12:22 pm Donna said...
I think this is a byproduct of the election – for 2 years we’ve heard “CHANGE” thrown out so frequently that change has taken over our collective subconsciousness – we now think we have to change everything. In the last several months I’ve changed my hairstyle, my car, my hobbies, my church, and I’m fighting very hard not to give all my furniture away on freecycle and buy all new.
Not everything needs to be changed, we need to resist changing some things. This blog is one thing that I personally don’t think needs to be changed. I’m not a writer, so I hope you don’t change it to all writing (although I do enjoy some of the writing posts). I’m not a dog person (sorry – don’t throw me off the blog please), so I don’t want it to be all about your dogs. But since the blog is so eclectic, I can stand the dogs when they show up because I know something else will be coming soon.
On December 8, 2008 at 12:24 pm Sara C. said...
I enjoy the randomness of the post topics. I never know what to expect except that I will enjoy the conversation. Focus isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
On December 8, 2008 at 1:27 pm Shari said...
I like the randomness of your blog. It gives me a lift everytime I read it. Love the writing tips, slices of life, and philosophy. It is one of the few I check every day. Thanks for all of the smiles!
On December 8, 2008 at 1:30 pm Anne said...
Hey Victoria. I love the thought of Bellwether being a “stealth romance”. I’ll now be looking for them everywhere….
On December 8, 2008 at 2:13 pm Naked Under my Clothes said...
For me, the blog is a peek into a creative mind and a creative life. That’s why I stop by. (And to confirm that it’s OK to be exuberant in life from time to time, as opposed to driven and organized and Quickened.)
But I also understand the need to examine the blog in the cold hard light of day, with attention to market and purpose and time (mis)spent here and all those things.
The real question is this: Is this blog doing what YOU want and need for it to do, Jenny?
On December 8, 2008 at 2:47 pm Jenny said...
Well, you know, there never was a plan. That’s how we ended up here. Me just following my nose, occasionally nudged in a direction by you guys.
I’m good with free-form, like jazz. It’s random and chaotic that make me itch.
Mollie says we can change the look of the blog. I think she’s pandering to me. I can have a new font and a different color if I’ll just leave the damn blog alone.
I’m cogitating. But the twin pressures of you all and Mollie are making me think about this in more depth.
On December 8, 2008 at 2:49 pm McB said...
I’m with the “leave it alone” crowd. If you were to pick one, I’d say blog on your writing. However, your writing blogs tend to segue into other areas so often that I think you’d end up collaging again. We don’t think you ramble, because it all comes around to the bigger picture.
Maybe you don’t need it to be different so much as differently organized. For your own satisfaction, not ours, because we’re perfectly fine with the way things are.
On December 8, 2008 at 4:11 pm Lisa said...
Jenny, I think maybe you are projecting. I NEVER think “What a mess.” Visiting here is a delightful adventure of discovery, never knowing what I’ll find each visit–a link to European commercials? Hats? Musings on your WIPs? Pictures of your remodel / view / dogs? And these are all great. I’m never disappointed.
Except when you disappear on us, and while disappointing, it’s understandable.
I say “Keep as is, please!”
On December 8, 2008 at 4:11 pm Lisa said...
Jenny, I think maybe you are projecting. I NEVER think “What a mess.” Visiting here is a delightful adventure of discovery, never knowing what I’ll find each visit–a link to European commercials? Hats? Musings on your WIPs? Pictures of your remodel / view / dogs? And these are all great. I’m never disappointed.
Except when you disappear on us, and while disappointing, it’s understandable.
I say “Keep as is, please!”
On December 8, 2008 at 4:42 pm Lily Blues said...
I second and third and fourth the blog as collage image. I love the seeming randomness: writing, pets and family, funny little thoughts, paint and paper and yarn projects. I come for the humor and the cheer, because even when you’re feeling blue you turn it around to examine the various shades.
And really, where else am I going to find Prop8 the Musical sharing space with The Dark Side of Susan Elizabeth Philips (one of my alltime favorites.)
So play with the exterior if you must, but please leave the core “collage” feel of your blog topics alone.
(But if you absolutely insist: I have no doubt that any blog you eventually produce will be just charming.)
On December 8, 2008 at 5:19 pm Amy said...
The only thing I would change about the blog is the frequency of your posting. Every day would be perfect, but several times a week would be good, too.
I really like the idea that this is a collage. You aren’t JUST ONE THING, Jenny. You are many things, and they’re all part of who you are and they all find their way into the books in one way or another.
I like the 12 days and the writing discussion, but I also like the personal stuff. Your granddaughter is GORGEOUS. I learn so much when I come here, about so many different things. I like people who challenge me to think, and do it with respect. It’s really cool.
On December 8, 2008 at 6:00 pm Kathleen said...
Delurking to chime in on this discussion! I came here via an unknown route, but I have stayed because I enjoy the wide variety of topics and opinions, and the sense that the blog really reflects who you are as a writer, an interesting artist and mommie to some seriously cute dogs and one adorable granddaughter. A collage is the perfect metaphor for your focus or concept and why I keep coming back.
But as you pointed out, there are issues with the functionality of the support for the blog. Perhaps that is the direction for a focus of change. Maybe it isn’t about the contents…the majority appear to say we love it as it is…maybe it is more about how you interface with it. For that aspect, go for it!
Best of luck as you seek your solution…can’t wait to see what you decide!
On December 8, 2008 at 9:52 pm Courtney De said...
I shall weigh in with the majority and say: Leave it alone! Change the font and the layout, if you must, but there are no complaints on the content. And I’ve lost who came up with the collage metaphor at this point, but it is spot on. This is one of my favorite places to visit. It’s like a favorite restaurant where you never know what will be on the menu-only that it’s all good. So, go ahead and redecorate, but don’t mess with the menu-please!
On December 8, 2008 at 10:55 pm Micki said...
I love it as it is; but then again, I don’t know what other blogs you’ve got in ya. Why don’t you give it a try, and if it sucks, let it segue into the free-form jazz blog we know and love.
I have to say, I’ve gotten a lot of great recommendations from this blog — Spamalot, for starters, and books, and all sorts of good things. I hope the new blog has a regular/semi-regular “What’s on my bed table/DVD stand/iPod” feature.
On December 9, 2008 at 1:11 am RfP said...
You think if we chose you a topic you would be happy with it? You wouldn’t feel at all constrained? You sure?
Then I think you should blog about.. oh, say, romance and feminism. Every day. Every post. No deviations. Still sure?
(Mind, this is from someone with many foci and no ambition to Be A Big Blogger or to Own A Subject. Listening to me will get you everywhere and nowhere.)
On December 9, 2008 at 3:23 am Mel said...
I’m with the ‘leave it alone’ crowd. I love coming here and never knowing whether it will be something brilliant on writing, something creative or inspiring or a link/recommendation to something fascinating I never would’ve found on my own.
But maybe as random suggestion, maybe you could have a particular day of the week/month for particular categories? Then you’d have some structure to soothe the virgo side? Or you know, leave it alone : )
On December 9, 2008 at 3:26 am DownUnderGal said...
Put me down as a “me too” for leaving it alone. I like clicking on argh in my favourites and having those few seconds as it downloads to wonder what amazing musings/ramblings/educational things you’ll be blogging about.
Like Black Swans and that great link to the Prop 8 skit (which living at the arse end of the planet I didn’t even know about)and ramblings about the pets and the reno’s and the weather and the Bob and the process. People come here to spend half an hour of their day (or longer) because we like the randomness. Please dont take that from us. Listen to your kid. You raised her well.
Hi, my name is DUG and I am an arghaholic.
On December 9, 2008 at 6:31 am Kira said...
Agreed, but I’m curious why you feel this way, anyway. If you’re disappointed with what has come out, then you must have had something in mind that you were aiming at. But then, you haven’t actually articulated it when we’ve asked, so maybe you don’t.
I myself am a Virgo, and like things to be organized. I have not perceived a lack of structure in this blog.
OK, so I personally would like to be able to search for all TV show recommendations. But that doesn’t mean that there should be a TV Show category, with drop-down combo boxes along the side of the page. KWIM?
On December 9, 2008 at 8:37 am Cathy said...
I *love* the variety! I love the 12 days, whether it’s a cleaning/organizing project, or writing. Or travel adventures. Or what the dogs are up to. Or what shows up on your deck. More focus sounds like it would be more a chore or a job. That’s just my opinion – I’ll read whatever you decide to write about – I too am an arghaholic.
On December 9, 2008 at 8:54 am Chelle said...
I’m with the leave it alone crowd. This is your place to play, and we get to watch!
Besides, do you reeeeaally want to focus the blog and then be stuck with it? Hmmm, you might eventually feel a bit hoist by your own petard.
Or, maybe I’M projecting!
Hugs
On December 9, 2008 at 9:55 am Carol said...
Leave it alone vote # whatever! Like all the other posters, I check your blog because you always have something to say that I want to read, no matter the subject. If this be rambling, ramble on!
On December 9, 2008 at 1:20 pm Kate said...
Hi Jenny,
I would love to have you continue the updates on drafts. I really enjoy the discussions and the times you ask for inspiration. I LOVED the comic pages that were created for something I can’t remember right now. They were memorable – REALLY! LOL.
I read so much doom and gloom and face it every day that I love to come here for something lighter and put all that gloomy stuff into perspective.
As long as you are still blogging – I’ll be reading.
Take care and have a wonderful Christmas- Hanukka – Kwanza – or whatever else you may be celebrating in December.
On December 9, 2008 at 2:29 pm Jenny said...
Yeah, I’m glomming onto Toni’s collage idea now.
That makes sense on so many levels and also in a weird way kind of organizes this. I’m cogitating.
On December 9, 2008 at 2:36 pm CrankyOtter said...
Since some of the things I like best about your blog are Random Sundays and 12 Days of and watching your mind ramble like in this blog, I’m against changing it. But if it’s not working for you, then you must.
I like your voice. I want to hear your voice oftener than you publish books, so I read your blog. Then I go buy a copy or 3 of your book the first week out so you can continue to write and blog.
I really like getting your insights on how your book comes together. There’s a lot of free association stuff going on that you spew out, then collect and organize, and then analyze and synthesize in the most fascinating way. How you go from words to collage and back is amazing. If you weren’t describing what the collage means to you, I would never get it. But I love seeing it and then reading your analysis of how you put things A,B,C into it, but it told you it needed D in order to inspire or reveal X, Y, Z.
So, focus. I like reading about your writing craft, and seeing picutures of collages and the dogs/pets of inspiration that surround you when you write.
On December 9, 2008 at 2:48 pm CrankyOtter said...
One more thing. I wrote my previous comment without reading any of the other comments so I brought up the collage thing independently only to find out that every other commenter pretty much said that too.
So what you do with your physical collages is put them together, look at them to see what’s going on, tinker a bit, look at them to see what’s going on, tinker a bit…
Have you assessed the blog as you would a collage? Maybe what you need to do with the blog is that “look at” phase to see what it tells you.
What it tells us is that you’ve a fascinating mind. Even if you think you’re a spaz or a rambling mess, that’s precisely what we like about you.
On December 9, 2008 at 7:44 pm Emily said...
I was bookless one evening last week, so I went back to your old posts and reread my favourites, which were the 12 days of cleaning your office, and the dogs eating your November. I also tried to find the Maui ones (‘the twins’, if you remember … it was a long time ago now) but I couldn’t find them. I don’t know what that says about what I like about your blog. The variety and the humour, perhaps? You make me laugh and you make me think, and I like your world view. I don’t really care what you post about! I wish I could find those old posts, though…
On December 10, 2008 at 8:59 am cindy said...
It’s fine to change the wallpaper or the sofa but I like the house.
On December 10, 2008 at 2:00 pm Eve said...
how about closing this blog up and starting with a new title or whatever suits your mood? but leaving this blog so it is still readable in the future (like your very first blog, I have trouble finding early entries).
I love the Crusie fix and my fav are RANDOM SUNDAYS> you always give us so many cool references and places to visit.
My only iffy thing is that maybe this should be organized a bit more like a book with some kind of an index, or tags to search for. Pet/funny/food/etc.
BUT WE LOVE YOU ALWAYS! no matter the blog
On December 10, 2008 at 8:54 pm Thea said...
What! How did I miss Susan Elizabeth Phillips, The Dark Side”? Where is it in the archive? Need tags!
Are you tired of blogging? We’re not, we want more. Press your Refresh button, please.
On December 10, 2008 at 9:29 pm RfP said...
Use the Search box. It comes up on the first page:
http://www.arghink.com/?s=Susan+Elizabeth+Phillips
On December 11, 2008 at 4:16 am Reb said...
Coming late to the discussion, but better than never, I hope.
I read this post and thought “noooooooooooooooooooooo”. I like this blog as is. I like your voice, and Argh cheers me up, even if I’m not interested in all the topics.
Then I thought again and realised I’d stay a happy reader if you concentrated mostly on your writing, so if you haaaave to change, my vote would be writing. But really, it makes a great collage as is.
On December 11, 2008 at 8:09 am lee said...
I read your blog because your books don’t come out fast enough, and I miss your voice. I would cheerfully read your interpretation of the New York Yellow Pages. Being able to read here about your dogs, struggles with writing, visits with friends and snuggles with a grandbaby is heady and intimate. Maybe it is heady because it is intimate – it feels like you are talking to me, in a voice I adore.
I still have a permanent link to Cheerful and On Wheels, because I think it is a nearly perfect piece of writing. How could that be categorized such that you might produce more of it? I think it has to come from the spontaneity of your life, as lived.
On December 11, 2008 at 5:41 pm Kira said...
I just thought of something – Jenny, do you have to pick a “category” every time you post a blog entry? Drop that, and you’re golden.
It’s not like we actually notice. Or care.
On December 11, 2008 at 6:14 pm Jenny said...
I changed the categories (which is why most of the archive is now “miscellaneous”) and that helped. But I think the collage concept really did it. So it’s now more Pictures, Opinions, People, Blog References, and Writing. Kind of Look At This, Listen to This, Meet This Person, Go Look at This, and, uh, Writing.
All of which sounds very bossy.
On December 12, 2008 at 1:13 am RfP said...
It’d be bossy if blogging were a unidirectional project: you to the world, “Do this! See this!”
It’s not bossy when you factor in the reader, who scans your categories thinking “I want to… [Look at this, Listen to this, Meet this!]“
On December 13, 2008 at 9:10 am Door Cty Bound Cherry said...
No way is it bossy. Your catagories are like a buffet of choices.
Luv it the way it is(the writing parts, pictures & links).
Very creative people, focus on the many things they find fascinating. This blog opens our own creativity.
I think collage is a great way to describe your creative process…
On December 14, 2008 at 1:24 am toni said...
I am happy that helped.
One maybe cool idea would be to have a changing monthly masthead made of images from your blog topics–a collage you could do, or maybe just from whatever you’re working on or cogitating on. Maybe develop it in Curio? (Scrivener?) Lock it as one jpeg that could be dropped into a template.
(dooce.com made me think of this–her mastheads are always a sort of collage but are a different personality than yours, I think, and usually there’s some inside joke, some random comment someone made or some image she found that ends up being her theme)
I dunno, just thinking of a way you could play with the visuals and typefaces and how they influence tone and theme and even story. Or if monthly’s too much, maybe a seasonal collage. Plus, lots of built in excuses to go looking for collage stuff online which could, in turn, help with story ideas. [um, if Mollie's head didn't just explode.]
On December 16, 2008 at 4:53 pm lady t said...
Love argh! The 12 days and the dogs and writing, and humor and everywhere you take us is wonderful. Sounds like you were in that point of your blog where you get in your manuscripts, when you need to collage and figure out true north again. Though in argh, the wandering does make me very happy. And it was fun to return to that SEP piece. Funny!