So I started writing and, before I knew it, I had a bloody essay on my hands! And I’d only covered my babyhood! OK, I guess we’re writing my LIFE STORY rather than an ABOUT ME blurb. I managed to stop myself before the essay became a book, uploaded a few photos and hit PUBLISH.
I know, you’re now expecting an overnight success story – a huge blip in readership, lots of comments and a book deal!
No, not at all. But my head would not stop. I already had a title for the next instalment and the general outline of the content. This morning, er, afternoon, I sat down and wrote an outline of the whole story – MY LIFE. It neatly split itself up into post-sized chunks with very catchy titles. Well, at least I think they’re catchy! And then I had a realisation that this was something that’s been sitting at the back of my mind for years. Writing down everything. My whole life.
My English teacher from Year 9 through to Year 11, continously encouraged my writing. Even when we exchanged letters while she was teaching English in Botswana she would always comment on the quality of my writing. How it put her right in the moment. How she loved my dry humour. She and others have often commented that my life story would make great reading. Julie Moffat – you created a moster!
So, from time to time I’ve toyed with the idea of writing it all down. I have journals, I have photos. I have this blog. But when it came to actually doing it, I could never bring myself to do it. It seemed too hard, too big, too precocious. Who did I think I was, writing about my life? Why would anyone want to read it?
Well, it seems that my subconscious slunk past my ego by simply taking over my fingers as I began typing ABOUT ME. Now the worst part is behind me – beginning.
What about you? Has a post ever decided to take over and become something other than what you meant it to be?
I found writing an about me page really hard. I found it hard to keep it short. I started getting really distracted with many memories that keep coming flooding back to me and I wanted to write about them all! I think it would be easier to get someone else you know well to write the about me page – we have too many emotions and experiences attached to ourselves. Naomi x
Absolutely. Practically all the posts I write take on a life of their own. Especially the ones where I find myself in tears at the end of them. I guess it's all a part of the healing process. A step toward letting go and moving forward.
My About Me was exactly like this. I honestly was discovering what I wanted to say as I wrote it. Well, no, I wrote it and then I saw what I wanted to say. And I started to understand my story…where I am now in relation to where I came and then where I want to go. I sat there for hours writing that, and days after returning to edit it. It was the craziest process, but ever so illuminating.
My 'About Me' page is very much just about me right now. It doesn't even begin to cover the life I have had, and the experiences that have shaped me over the last 15 years. One day when I'm confident enough I hope to share a little more of the 'before' life against my present life. I am lucky though, I have found my happy ending.
I’ve changed my recently again, too. Just focusing on who I am right now. And maybe a tiny bit of the past….
I know what you mean about posts getting out of hand. A LOT of my early posts were waaaaay too long. I think you get better with time and practise. A timely reminder to check my About Me page. Thanks for Rewinding x
I usually begin with no idea whatsoever of what I'm going to write and then hope the post takes over!
Visiting from the Rewind.
Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever done that…. I usually start with some idea in mind, but where it takes me is often quite surprising…
My About Me page is such a mix of me and what I wanted the blog to be in the early days. But I'd really love to make it more about me and the family now. I think it's time for a rewrite!
Hello, that's the thing about writing, it just gets away from you sometimes. But that's the beauty of it too. And writing can take us to the most unexpected places. Glad to hear your own story is being told.
I hate writing 'about me' section so I think mine is about 3 sentences! I oten have a rough idea of what i”m going to write about it, but it doesn't always go the way I expected!
Visiting from the Rewind
I managed to have a second go at it after I got all that other stuff out of my head. I will probably keep fiddling with it for a while. Thanks for visiting and commenting!