Comments on: Discussion Question: How do you determine where your private writing ends and your public writing begins?

By: Donella

Donella — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:19:19 +0000

For me, I stop where it would hurt my friends or family if they ever came across my blog and found out that it was me writing it. I’ve not told any of them about it, though. If there’s something I need to get off my chest that is too personal or identifying, I just put it in my journal, vent to friends, etc. However, if I really think something will make a good topic for any of my blogs, I may still use a personal experience but change the names of people and the exact scenario so that no one is recognizable but the gist of the story remains the same.

By: Jaime @ Fast Times

Jaime @ Fast Times — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:00:18 +0000

Hm. That’s a good question. If I’m writing about friends I make sure I know where they draw the line on what is and what is not to be shared. If I’m writing about myself and my feelings it just depends on what I’m comfortable sharing with the world. I do keep a journal and write in it every few days, so anything I don’t want to share with people will go in my journal.

By: Megan

Megan — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:58:58 +0000

I know family knows about my blog, so I try not to write anything they would find offensive. I really don’t think about it much. I write whatever I feel I need to write, unless I know it could hurt someone close to me.

By: Ellie

Ellie — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:23:06 +0000

I’m fairly open about what I write. However, I don’t display the deeper family issues for the public. Some of those issues aren’t mine to discuss. I write what I feel like is mine to write and nothing more. I definitely agree that saying “would my family be ok reading this” is a good line have in the sand.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:11:03 +0000

I honestly don’t think about this much. I write whatever I want to, and I’m pretty comfortable sharing my own thoughts. But, occasionally I’ll be somewhere away from my computer and I’ll get hit with this panic about all the stuff on my blog that I wouldn’t want people I know to read.

But, my general openness has been really surprising to me, and something I’ve become really comfortable with through blogging.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:41:13 +0000

My current blog’s purpose is to chronicle my move overseas and subsequent journey to develop myself, personally and professionally. Because I am NOT an anonymous blogger, I do keep in mind the type of content that I post.

I am a private person by nature, and unlike past ventures where my identity was unknown, I know (for a fact) that I have family members and friends reading my blog. I leave the personal struggles to my journal, but draw inspiration for “lessons learned” type posts for my blog.

I like to be open, but not too open.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:23:17 +0000

I recently decided that I need to write down some of the things I was going through, I thought that it would help me understand what I was feeling and how to control some of my emotions. My first thought was to put it on my blog, but my friend and friends read my blog and I didn’t want them to see this side of me. Since my blog mainly hosts short stories that I’m writing, I decided to write it in a pseudo fictional story form.

I’m writing it from the first person and I am encountering a person who has the problems that I am currently going through. Hopefully I can pass it off as fiction but in doing so I’m writing down my thoughts and figuring things out and it provides the therapy that I was seeking.

By: Tristan | the almost right word

Tristan | the almost right word — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:20:53 +0000

Courtney, you are definitely not alone and I am thrilled to hear from someone who shares my…hesitation.

I guess I’ve been having a bit of a blog-identity crisis. I’ve even put it on hold for the time being. I tend to ask myself the same questions over and over again. Why am I writing this? What do I want to do with this blog? Am I publishing this post for the right reasons? Etc. Etc. It’s rather confusing and, since I don’t have the answers at the moment, I’ve decided to take a break and gather my thoughts. I don’t want to look back and think, “Man. What was I thinking!?”

By: Tristan | the almost right word

Tristan | the almost right word — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:18:39 +0000

What a great measuring point! And one that I should definitely keep in mind for the future. I’ve actually given my mom the link to my blog, and I know she has read it from time to time. It certainly is limiting — my relationship with my mother is one that would be great writing fodder. But it’s a great way to gauge what to publish and what not to publish.

By: Amber

Amber — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:50:10 +0000

This is actually something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I’ve started supplying my blog link to possible employers to show my creative writing side, and it actually just landed me a writing job. Also, my parents and entire family read it because I live so far away from them, it’s a way for them to keep up with my life.

On the other hand, there are so many things I CAN’T write about because of this. I don’t write about my sex life or family problems or anything like that, even though sometimes I’d like too! I turn to my blog readers for advice ALOT and there are some things that I would like advice on but just don’t feel comfortable posting them on my blog because family and potential employers could see it! Instead, I write my most private problems/thoughts in a private journal or talk to my closest girlfriends about it.