Taking It Off & Putting It All Out There

I don’t know how other bloggers feel about this, but I’m finding that writing–not for a company, but for myself, as myself–feels like taking my clothes off in public: y’know, an unpeeling of layers, a revealing of self, on a stage in front of a relatively unknown audience that’s completely comfortable for some and seriously taboo for others.

Since high school, I’ve always enjoyed publishing my opinion, either online or in the high school newspaper (admittedly, once at the expense of a few grades). And in the past, I was used to having my name (and for awhile, picture) attached directly to my writing; however, having written on behalf of a company for almost 2 years now, I’m no longer used to having my name in the byline. Writing on a website (with my domain name) is a huge leap to the other side of the road. I have no clue what I’m doing. :)

I’ve been lucky enough to have a few college professors who made it very clear to us that the Internet is public. I know this is very obvious now, but at the time, most of us students didn’t think about private vs. public space (hence, all the typical college party pictures that would usually show up on Facebook anywhere from 3-36 hrs after any party of note. Yea, we’ve all been there…).

But now that I have my own space to write to my heart’s desire, I’ve run into… not so much of a writer’s block, but sort of a privacy block that my younger, uninhibited (read: uncensored) self was not so concerned with. (Yep, life’s funny like that.)

“Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.” -Cyril Connolly (1903 – 1974)

I know I could avoid this minor dilemma entirely, but I’d rather be slightly uncomfortable and contribute something (even if it’s my humble opinion) to a conversation than be a comfortable wallflower. Besides, I’m already used to this writing thing; I just need to warm up to being a little naked. :)

-Candy