Lame Of The Game

I began blogging in earnest eight months ago. Since then I have learned lots of stuff I never knew before about this juggernaut that is the global blogging phenomenon, and the infinite amount of it that exists in cyberspace. I think it's here for the duration. Don't forget you heard that here first.

To write about not what you think your audience wants, but what you are simply dying to write about.

I routinely embark upon reconnaissance missions -- fact-finding expeditions as it were -- to determine what else is "out there" beyond the environs of my infinitesimal virtual staked-out postage-stamp-sized blogging milieu. That's because we bloggers are inclined to consistently seek out like-minded blogs which we can read and upon which we can thoughtfully comment, in hopes of establishing mutually profitable cyber-relationships that might result in vital blog-linking. Quid pro quo, y'all. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

One would think that this aforementioned activity, time-consuming as it is prone to be, might impinge upon the blogger's availability to perform the very function that inspired it. Funny though, the more I read blogs and the more I blog myownself, the more subjects spring to mind upon which to base a future post, without my even having to try. And as you know, I always find a way to blog about them. Of course it helps that I do spend quite a bit of time purposely thinking about what to put before you, my four dedicated readers (besides TG, my mom and my kids).

Like for example, last night (or early this morning to be more exact) in a state of half-consciousness (it might not even have been that much but for the sake of getting the story told let's say half) I mentally composed a blog about the spatulas and spatula scrapers lying around my kitchen waiting to be utilized in my infrequent culinary endeavors. Said implements reside in the drawer -- the one between the sink and the stove -- that I dip into while preparing the delicious meals and snacks for which I am quasi-famous. (That's different from queasy-famous.)

Make no mistake: If I blogged like I cook, you might well starve within a week.

But back to subliminal blog composing. In my zzz-fogged brain the post would have been entitled "Silicone or Say Lean" (go ahead; snicker ... you know you want to) and would have involved overt praise of my red silicone spatula scraper (and by proxy, my equally red but much more flaccid silicone muffin "tin" that's designed to endure an oven cranked up to 500 degrees and from which the baked goods all but take wing and fly out) and the way it (the red silicone spatula scraper, that is ... stay with me) just stands so tall, so proud, so head-and-shoulders-above the lame-o white rubber one that can't seem to remain on its black plastic handle (actually TG pitched that one in the trash the other day, thereby saving me the trouble).

Aren't you glad you were spared that one? I mean, come on. Spatulas?

Mercy.

However.

In reading about blogging the other day I came across some excellent comments by celebrity blogger Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, whoever they are. His advice was to blog only about that which you are passionate. To write about not what you think your audience wants, but what you are simply dying to write about.

Now, lest you doubt, I'm fully aware that no one is ever going to read my blog in the numbers that they read Mr. Cuban's blog, or Mr. Cuban's dog's blog, or even Mr. Cuban's dog's flea's blog. I'll likely never be Google-ranked or singled out by Technorati or win any contests sponsored by BlogCatalog or Digg or del.icio.us for being an up-and-coming blogging star. Last time I checked, no major Internet advertisers were begging me to return their emails. I don't need an agent quite yet and probably won't before time to file for Social Security benefits, if then.

But I promise: When I blog, I will say what is in my heart and every attempt will be made for it to be at least marginally interesting ... even if it's only about rating the gravitas of my personal cooking tools. If you read, I sincerely hope it is enjoyable for you but I know it is for me. And I humbly thank you, as do my spatulae.

Comments

[Keli]

I think you've been pretty creative in your blog topics since I've been reading; Mr Cuban forgot to mention that a good writer can even make a Tale of Two Spatulas passionate and interesting as you just demonstrated!

[Jennifer]

Yer one to talk, girl! I never saw anyone get so much funny stuff out of stupidity as you do ... must be on account of there's a glut of it afoot in the world!