Expand your horizons - finding unique voices
Kent Newsome tipped me off to what I’ve been striving for in the past month. Unique and interesting voices.
I’d rather read about someone’s day than yet another post raving about the latest social network or Facebook application. Nobody’s life is as boring as that. Like TDavid, I tend to choose interesting voices over interesting subject matter.
While I do enjoy reading about the latest social this & that, I also have been striving to find quality in the blogs that I read on a daily basis. I honestly have been trying to read the blogs and feeds that I follow - and of course there isn’t enough time in the day to get through it all.
So I’m still on my quest to find the my top bloggers in a wide range of topics that I’m interested in learning more about. One of them is Joanna Young over at Confident Writing. Her blog is interesting to me because thinking about writing itself is something that I haven’t done much of (and it probably shows 
). This is one example of how a fresh voice helps you expand your horizons and grow as an individual & a writer.
On the flip side, I just added Jim Long’s Verge New Media blog. Yes, it talks about new media, but it comes from someone that has experience in “old media” and has jumped into the new media arena with both feet. I’ve had the opportunity to interact with newmediajim often on Twitter and always enjoyed the viewpoints and the exchange.
Anyway, as I continue to read feeds, I discover that I still am looking for more than news. Every time I run across a an interesting post, I make sure to go back to the original site, and sure enough - I’m missing something in the reader that is there on the blog.
I really like the beginning of one of Joanna’s posts that also follows my line of thinking on this.
Words are powerful things. Just think for a moment about the impact other people’s words have had on you, for good or ill - or what you might read into the words that someone else has written, however quickly and casually they might have been penned.
It’s these kinds of voices that I want to continue to find. One’s that continue to push my thinking and writing skills. My thanks to everyone out there contributing to the conversation (as Shel and Robert put it).
By the way - any suggestions for new voices? I’d be interested in hearing who you think I should check out.
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Comments
Comment by Rick Mahn Hi Jim! Thanks for checking in. Wish I hadn’t missed that discussion last night, it would’ve been interesting as you point out. Anyway, off to find more stuff to read.
Comment by Joanna Young Hi Rick, thanks so much for the mention. I really appreciate it, and the feedback on my blog.
I enjoyed reading the cliches post you linked back to - some powerful reminders there about the traps we can fall into. I’m trying hard not to write too much about blogging… but it’s not always easy…
I’m doing my best to focus on what I think people come for - to learn and share ideas about writing (which when you think about it a zillion of us do, but don’t tend to think about too much as we don’t label ourselves ‘writers’)
Actually I’ve recently switched to the category cloud, not for effect, but as a visual reminder to myself about the topics I’m writing about, and to make sure I stay on topic. If topics like “authenticity” and “honesty” or “impact” get smaller and “blogpower” gets too big - I’ll know I need to go back and revisit my plans…
Oh and thanks again for the suggestion about reading good posts and favourite bloggers on their site rather than via the RSS. It’s really helped me be more proactive in my reading habits.
The joy is in the comment box, that’s where the best learning and conversations take place. We can’t dip into them all - but it makes the experience so much more enjoyable when we find places that we do want to stop and say “hi”
Joanna
Comment by Rick Mahn Joanna,
I like that category cloud idea - that might be something worth trying. I seem to have a similar problem and wander all over the map with topics. You’re right about the comment box, I’m starting to get “in the groove” and am more comfortable than I have been in the past to get involved with the conversation.
Thanks,
Rick
First an foremost, thank you for the nice mention! I enjoy our Twitter back and forths as well. ;-). Last night the Twitt-o-sphere was electric with discussion of just what you’re talking about here… unique voices. It was a very interesting discussion and really amounted to a live blog with comments. It’s amazing, the depth and richness of voices out there.