Blogging - Learning to Let Go

A few more words on letting go with your blog, right?

The tech lot, the writers, the marketers – they’ll be squirming in their seats at some of what I’ve said. Fair enough.

But I’m still telling you: let go. Your blog’s like sinking a cool pint after a bastard of a day grafting. If pints aren’t your poison, swap it for a cuppa or whatever floats your boat.

Me, I’ve got two ways of going at it. Absurdist bollocks for laughs. And the gritty, real-life stuff that sticks in your throat. Worlds apart. I tried keeping to one track – might as well have tried hacking my own leg off with a rusty spoon. It’s how my head’s wired, see. I like the two lanes. In one? Bang, I write for that. Mood shifts? Over I go. Never know till the words start spilling. For blogging, though? Doesn’t matter a jot.

Thing is, ripping the arse out of it here loosens me up for the proper stuff. Two novels on the go, one per lane. Scribble something, and bam – I know which one’s getting the next bit.

So what?

I’ve learned to write loose. You can be pro without sounding like a sodding robot.

Even at work, I keep the “fuck it” lid on. Stops me drifting into that po-faced shite.

Sometimes I bash out a LinkedIn post like it’s one of my books. This voice right here. Me, unvarnished.

Take this one time – we needed a new dev. I put it out there: if you don’t rate Custard Creams, don’t bother. Bit of a laugh, dead light.

Went down a storm. QA folk messaging me: "Saw you’re after a dev, but can I jump ship anyway? You lot sound like a laugh.”

See that?

No need to write like you’ve got a poker shoved up your arse. Walk down the street with your left cheek flapping out your kecks, don’t even clock it. Then you do? Leave it hanging. Act like it’s the done thing. Ventilated trousers, mate.

—Oi, I can see your left arse cheek.

—Yeah? And?

—Nobody wants that view.

—Eyes elsewhere, then.

—Fair dos, but sort your trousers out, eh?

—These are sorted. Built for the breeze.

—Right you are…

Reframe the serious stuff like that. Ventilated strides optional.

What two lanes do you write in, or are you sticking to the one?