Back to basics

It feels good writing again. Getting behind the keyboard to do something other than game away into the wee hours of the morning or stare at the screen and wait for the latest gear deal on Steep and Cheap (hey man, that site kicks ass- thanks Nick!). I like to think of myself as a pretty good writer. I started back in grade school, as many of us did, making up stories and writing book reports. When I was ~13 or so, I began to write poetry; an area I seemed to have a good handle on, as it allowed me to express my feelings in a format that made sense to me at the time. I've kept up with the poetry for the better part of my adult years, sans a year or two when I wasn't as focused as I wish I was. I've noticed though, that as I get older, my writing style and purpose has changed somewhat. If you look at the poetry I write (see the blog for that here), they all have a certain tone that seems to stay consistent, no matter what the subject. Sure, there is the occasional abstract piece here and there, but overall- it's the same. Kind of like Will Ferrell: different movie title, same character. So, with that, I have decided to take a different approach and get back to basics as it were. Write what feels natural. I have strayed from posting my poetry on the blog, as I now write it for Lila and give them to her directly. It's not that I mind sharing the poems, but for them to be just for her seems much more fitting I suppose.

I've written a few stories before now, mostly about my experiences in the Marine Corps. I enjoyed writing them, as it allowed me to go back in my mind and relive those moments. I'll be sure and post those on here later on (I also plan on expanding them and writing a few more). I've always wanted to write a book. No idea what I'd ever write about, but it just sounds cool doesn't it? I've tried to do so in the past, only to get as far as the first 3 pages and go "Fuck. Now what?". Enter the blogosphere. You can write anything you want, all day and night and hell, someone might even read it and enjoy it. You might say that I did that with the poetry, but that wasn't really for anyone else per se- they never were. Up until a few months ago poetry was, in my opinion, a personal endeavor, aimed at the poet themselves to realize things or feelings that they feel they may have for someone/thing, etc. I openly admit that I never really enjoyed any other poets. It wasn't until Lila and I began to discuss her favorites (Percy Bysshe Shelley and Oscar Wilde), that I allowed myself to stop being so self-absorbed in my own work to look into what else might be out there and seek out what it had to offer me. I wish I had done this years ago.

The basic idea of writing, putting ones thoughts and ideas to paper (or a computer screen), has always captivated me. I struggled with the concept of my own writing because I felt, at the time, it wasn't good enough for anything and that simply wouldn't do. Now I am writing just for the shear pleasure of the act itself. Getting myself out there. If people read it and enjoy it, that's great. If not, that works too (and you can go fuck yourself by the way :p). For far too long has my mind sat idle while a conscious stream of words worthy of writing down have flown by.

In closing, there is no offer of exceptional works that have lied dormant in my mind for years. For those of you who are following this and the email arrives, I dare not say that any of you will race to the link with exhilaration at what words formed into sentence might await you. What you will find here is me, in my purest form. Pouring out that which is in my head at the time (or in the shower half an hour ago). I guarantee I will ramble at times. Some of the stories here will bring a laugh or two. There are sure to be tragedies. In the end, this is my point of view. This is how I am getting back to basics.