A reckoning or something

When I launched TLD last November, it was for one thing: A writing exercise.

A many, many-month writing exercise.

And it was working, in fact, for quite a while it worked well. Lately? Not so well.

It may seem like I waffle on standards or something sometimes, but it’s not that. It just gets hard to get creative when you're writing about the same old shit and repressing certain things you're wanting to get out.

This blog isn’t something I’m doing to appease “fans” or thrill readers everywhere. It often comes down to whether I like something. But lately, updating TLD has felt like a chore and I've been seriously cutting corners.

A couple times, I’ve enjoyed what I’ve done -- the stories on Al, the Darth Vader conversation -- and I know they’ve been good. I always know if something's been written well, and I have no illusions about the shit I've been churning out of late.

But the blog’s boring me, in more than one way.

SO.

No, I’m not killing it. I’m going to retool it. I’m going to get back to basics with it and reinvent it a bit, streamline things so it’s not so off-the-cuff, and it becomes a little more deliberate.

It will mean fewer postings. Better postings. It will mean retooling the look.

It’ll mean a lot of things.

This new blog I’ve got happening? I’m already over 150 hits a day. Seems to be working well. And it’s not that I’m sleazy, or posting hot porn, it’s that I’m finally excited to be writing again. (Again, if you need the address, email me.)

I love variety, I love pushing the envelope, and I love getting my footing in new genres. I have this little fantasy of one day being paid to write a sex column, and to be moving in that direction is as fun as hell.

Receiving harsh criticism last week was the best thing to happen in years. I’d love to know more about where I’m going wrong, rather than have fickle readers just drift in and out and never comment, never share.

When the blog becomes a place that just exists, rather than a thriving comment spot or something, it’s hard to give a shit about it. Honestly.

I know August is the slow month and blogging picks up in September, but tell that to my other blog, right?

Heh. So, anyhow. Some of you might be disappointed to find the postings here to continue to be sort of sub-Steff for a bit, but just deal. I’m coming up with a way I can change it, and when I do, I’ll care more.

Right now, I hate it. So. There you have it. Bear with me for a week or two, and we’ll see where this all goes. But for those wanting a hint?

I expect to focus on three things: Political commentary, News of the weird (with commentary), and those inspired stories that just hit me from time to time. Gone will be the journal-style entries and short entries that serve only to link to others. It will still be like this board, but focusing on the best of it, rather than allowing the filler back in.

Like I said, you'll get less. But hopefully the less will be more. Drop me a line if you have concerns or there's something you see as worth saving. I'll listen, at least.

(And obviously, I've just told you this sucks and all, but I really do plan to make this place bitching. I just need to scheme first. Fortunately for us both, I have this week off after tomorrow. But VOTE TOP BLOG anyhow. They've finally figured out that CERTAIN PEOPLE have been cheating. Me, never. It'd be fun to see where I get without cheaters around.)