To Blog or Not to Blog...

Well, that is obviously no longer the question. Here I am doing my first blog. The decision to do this was not entered lightly. After all, I know myself pretty well. I'm opinionated; I'm not always tactful; (though I've come a very long way); I'm candid--no bs here. Moreover, I'm not swollen-headed enough to think that people are waiting with bated breath to hear what I have to say.
On the other side, as the publisher of Affaire de Coeur, I've been around this business for quite some time. I've met a lot of people. I've seen a number of changes over the years. I've watched trends and controversies come and go. I have seen and heard things people would find amazing for either the audacity or stupidity of it. So maybe I do have something to share and discuss.
Given that, I approached blogging the same way I approach most issues. I became analytical. I looked at a number of blogs...newspaper blogs, author blogs, TV show blogs, "read my blog" blogs, government agency blogs, poltical blogs.
Some are written with Authority! What they say in their blog is the absolute gospel (according to them). Some are written as entertainment; they're funny or they tell an entertaining story. Many write their blots to spark controversy. Others use blogging for information dissemination. Some blogs reek with opinion only. Some are like essays with documentation of facts. Some are short with one or two thoughts discussed. Some are so long they put me to sleep. Some people do weekly blogs; others do daily blogs. Then there are the once in a while bloggers.
I've come away from reading blogs with a potpourri of reactions. "Huh?" I've wondered. "I didn't know that. I've learned something." "Who asked him/her?" "Who do they think they are?" "That's bull."
I also came away with the notion that I could probably write a blog since it seems the thing to do these days. Lord Beckett's haunting line from Pirates of the Caribbean--World's End became a mantra from co-workers and family members. "It's just good business." This line was often accompanied by, "Why don't you join the 21st century?"
The gauntlet has been thrown. I'm going to blog my butt off. (That would really be something to blog about.) My goals are to make my blogs relevant, informative and entertaining in some blogs and to address some of the blogs I've read in my research. I welcome you to join me. I want to hear what you have to say. I invite you to guest blog, as I've been asked to do. I'll be the first to admit I will accept all the feedback I can get. I also invite to take me on when you think I'm either way off base or just wrong. Agree with me or disagree with me. Let's all take the challenge together.

Louise Snead
Editor & Publisher
Affaire de Coeur Magazine