Writing your own fishing diary online is a funny business. I set out with the best intentions, kindly encouraged by a pal. For the most part I’m pleased I’ve taken the time. But it’s not all good.
One of the great/terrible things about people writing on the internet, and certainly people writing diarys/blogs like this, is that there is no editorial control beyond your mirror. This means you are free to write as much great, freespirited prose as you like. It also means the possibilities for stacking up the bullshit are endless.
I use this blog for my own benefit. I write stuff down that comes into my head about fishing trips and a few other bits and bobs. Occasionally I’ve found myself going off on one, but what the hell not many people read this crap so who gives.. But I do find myself slightly disturbed at times when reading back through posts I’ve made and realising that what I was trying to say, or the tone of it, has come across all wrong. Too many times I’ve found a post, or something in a post, that screams “bullshit bullshit” or “get a friggin life pal”. And worst of all are the posts where you get to the end and wonder how you actually managed to click the mouse button on the word ‘Publish’ when your head was somewhere between your large and small bowel.
This is not good.
I suppose the obvious question is ‘why care about this?’ Well I guess I care because in some small way I want to use my fishing diary as a tool for becoming a better writer. I love reading, and now I’m sufficiently far away from the vagaries of school English lessons I feel ready to actually write for the sake of it. So, perhaps what I’m saying is that it’s worth remembering, if you in any way care, that what you read on a blog like this is very much a work in progress. I’m working hard to get the bullshitometer to swing somewhere slightly lower down the scale than it has at times, so bear with me.
I think it’s also worth mentioning the fact that the blog by which all other fly fishing blogs are judged, my own pal Alistair’s, has stood the test of time rather well and provides a pretty nice example of what makes a good fishing blog. There are lots of posts about fishing as well as other (often comical) oddities and it’s written in a nicely chilled out style that makes you want to come back. I have actually heard that the owners of most other fly fishing blogs on the internet regard Alistair as a bit of a spiritual father, and have been known to gather at each equinox to sacrifice small mammals in his honour and dance round large bonfires chanting “Kelvin…Kelvin…”
I feel this nicely highlights my point about the dodgy posts I will now be attempting to refrain from publishing. See? It all makes sense…
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“A load of bullshit”
You know Mike, that this is as much true to other fly fishing blogs as yours and that it is a general trend in life. And, if I recall correctly what my mentor at the university said, that is also true for 95 % of science.
This doesn’t bother me as much than it bothered me a decade ago.
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I guess you’re right opax. There’s certainly plenty of bullshit in life..! In the end I think you just have to do a fishing diary/blog for yourself and if anyone else enjoys it then that’s a bonus.
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“…and have been known to gather at each equinox to sacrifice small mammals in his honour and dance round large bonfires chanting “Kelvin…Kelvin…”
I think they call this the Kelvin AGM.
Don’t worry about the bullshit. It’s your shit and you can put as much of it on your blog as you like! I for one enjoy reading your ramblings and will continue to do so for as long as you keep it coming!!!Alex
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Well Alex, that’s very kind of you. My crisis of confidence is nearly over I think..
Normal service will shortly be resumed, with more bullshit that you could ever throw at a fan. -
“In the end I think you just have to do a fishing diary/blog for yourself.” Lets be honest, if this were true you would not keep it on the internet. Savage.
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Well that’s actually a fair point. But the good thing about putting this on the internet is that you can share it with the few pals you do know. Perhaps it’s actually somewhere in between. You write for yourself but edit it for others or something…
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… and actually since you mention it I think that’s actually an interesting point about the whole blogging thing. Suddenly the masses have a voice and can write as much crap as they like and expect people to think they’re Shakespeare. As long as you *know* you’re full of shit that’s fine
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There’s a pen in the draw in your desk…
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Mike,
If that’s the term you want to use, then I say keep bullshitting: your blog is helping us all get through the close season! -
“There’s a pen in the draw in your desk…”
The benefits of keeping my diary on the internet have been:
1. made a heap of new friends (here and abroad) that otherwise I would never have met.
2. I know my diary is never going to end up in a box somewhere when I am dead and gone- what you post stays on the net in one shape or form.
3. The added fun of being on television in the papers and all that jazz.“if this were true you would not keep it on the internet. Savage.”
Saying all that though, when I started it was primarily for me, I could not be bothered keeping a scrap book and sticking photos in it. I would have probably stopped after a season. It certainly would not have kept me focused to actually try and make me think about what new thing I had learned that day.
Mike, you said
“I want to use my fishing diary as a tool for becoming a better writer. I love reading, and now I’m sufficiently far away from the vagaries of school English lessons I feel ready to actually write for the sake of itâ€I cannot think of a better reason to have a blog than that statement
ps. regarding the bonfire chanting,you failed to say they were in fact burning my effigy !
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Well thanks for all the comments folks. I appreciate the kind sentiment
I think you’ve pretty much got it Alistair. It starts out for your own sake but gradually you start to write slightly a little differently. But the great thing is that it’s easy to do and you end up thinking a lot more about your fishing and, I think, learn a lot that you otherwise wouldn’t.
And for anyone who doesn’t know, Alistair is a famous b@stard who gets invited to celebtity events and has hoards of attractive female fans. So you’re damn right it’s worth is mate
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