George Jackson, Author

To Blog or Not to Blog

     Funny thing, as I began my first meager attempts at blogging, other writers around me online began discussing whether they blog or not. It's an interesting issue, perhaps more of a dilemma for some. I understand the issues. If you take time to blog, you take time away from writing. Blogging means learning yet another technological skill. Blogging is a whole different type of writing from what most of us are accustomed to. But then again, blogging is writing...it's just not writing on the story that you're presently working on.

    So, it seems that writers have a wide variety of perspectives on blogging. Some feel they don't need to or want to, that they would rather spend their time on the stories they are working on. Others feel that blogging gives them an opportunity to reach out to their faithful readers, let their fans know a bit more about them as a person, and feel a closer bond to their writing. Still others feel that it is something that will increase their exposure, a free way of advertising and a way to expand their readership base. Still others see a blog as a way to give out clues to upcoming stories and share their personal and professional triumphs and day-to-day activities. Others do it with a true sense of delight and enthusiasm.

     One thing I do know: whatever a writer's reasoning for writing or not writing a blog, that's their personal conviction and should be respected and honored. Blogging is as personal and as varied as anything else a person does. It speaks to the innate essence of one.

     Now, you might ask, what about me and blogging? Well, the dragons and I have taken the giant step into cyberspace and we will write a blog. It won't be fancy. It won't be as inspiring or as stunning as some of the beautifully crafted and written blogs that are out there. It will contain bits of who I am and where I come from. It will talk about the characters from my stories. It will shed some light on how my stories are written and why I write. It will speak personally to those that read my small stories and give them some insights that they won't find in the books. It will reveal as much about me as it does about my stories and characters...how could it not? It will get better over time, because that's what the dragons and I do. We work at something and get better at it.  We grind away at things. We pride ourselves of getting whatever we do right. We're kind of like the turtle in the Aesop's Fable, The Tortoise and the Hare. Slow but steady wins the race. 

     I truly hope you stop by and read our blog from time to time. Who knows? It might even have a few wise sayings from my grandpas and grandmas and a reminder or two that life is way too short to be too serious about ourselves.

     I hope you have a great day...and the dragons do as well...