What to do, what to do ....
To a large extent, this blog is driven by the old dictum that "Writers write." The best way to get better is to just keep doing it. I love writing at my internet home of Operation Sports, but there I am part of a staff and am always cognizant that I am representing a site, not just myself. Also, I don't find myself with that much to say about sports gaming these days. Focused Totality presents the entirely different challenge of a blank slate.
- A weekly round up of capsule reviews? Lots of people do it, but A Finer World is my favorite.
- Boundless enthusiasm and energy? Zilla's yer man.
- Laugh-out-loud funny? Dave's Long Box does it better than I can.
- Whatever you'd use to describe DIAL B FOR BLOG! is done as well as it can be by Robby Reed.
- A woman's view of comics? Johanna and Peiratikos write wonderfully on the subject. (And, of course, I'm not a woman.)
- Rounding up the Comics Blogosphere is the Rampage Way, and there's no need for two.
- All the inside dish? Besides the fact I'm not privy, who can beat THE BEAT?
I could go on - there are many, many blogs that are incredibly interesting and provide unique voices.
So where does this blog fit in? Now that I can do what I want ... what do I want to do?
I've been thinking about where I should be focusing my energies, and where I should go with Focused Totality. My plan, as of now, is to continue commenting on things of interest ... but to lock down my reviewing to two types: One "Book Of The Week" which will be a longish (500-750) word essay on the single issue I found most interesting out of that weeks' books, and longer pieces dealing with complete storylines like the "Catching Up" pieces I've been doing, but without the cop-out of the bullet points. That's just sloppy writing, and I can do better.
P.S. - I know this isn't vital knowledge to anyone, but publishing this plan means I might do a better job of sticking to it. Also, I get to pimp some of my favorite blogs. Expect the first "Book Of The Week" later today ... I'll be discussing Desolation Jones #2.
P.P.S. - I also know that the sort of long-form criticism I'm looking at is handled well by many, most notably Ian Brill, Jog and The Fourth Rail.
2 comments:
Nah - I'll stick around. I like having this outlet.
I think a little focus is just what was needed. I've been writing seriously for a couple of years now ... and my piece on Jones is I think the first thing I've really ever been pretty happy with.
I struggle with this sometimes as well but in the end I write because I enjoy it and if mixing in a bunch of different 'types' of posts means I appear unfocused at times, so be it. You're doing a great job so far - write about whatever strikes you, at least you know Zilla and I will be reading.
Heck, if we ever get too worn out or lazy (in my case) to sustain our own blogs we can always start posting at Zilla's - the home for wayward comic readers. :)
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