What I definitely don’t like is when people cultivate an online ‘persona’. I’m always a bit suspicious of bloggers who hide behind a nom-de-plume. Who are these people really? Why don’t they give their real name?

I love how Liz says “sit down by yourself and be real”. Because that’s exactly what she does. When she speaks to folk on her blog, she just seems real and genuine – not hiding behind a persona like a lot of bloggers do. Not that there’s anything wrong with a persona, if that’s what they want. But it’s nice to feel that you’re having a conversation with a real person.

In general, I read books on blogging because I want to be informed. But Liz’ book did much more: it enchanted and inspired me as well. That has given me a new slant on how I can be a better non-fiction writer.

As to writing about fathers – I think that’s very difficult because emotion gets in the way. I tried to turn my father’s fantastic life-story into a novel. What a disaster that was! Luckily I realised it after the first three chapters.

Within the first paragraph, the first two sentences, the writing is overdone and effusive. The descriptions (eg barrel chest) are trite and used too many times for such a short piece. The grammar gets in the way of the message in many, many places.

This is a beautiful story, probably written off the cuff, and therefore not meant to be literature, but should not be considered “outstanding writing.” I think the point of Liz’s blog there is “wandering” writing (think Virginia Woolf stream of conciousness, but without three ditors and a publisher cleaning it up, lol) and so, again, not the best of examples for the title of this post.

I actively read blogs daily, maybe hourly, and this is the first I’ve encountered Liz’s site, and I’m already hooked. Looks like I have yet more reading to do.

Thanks, Mary, for turning the light on.