01 Aug The Art of Confusion

Nine months ago I was unemployed. A day later I was a blogger and wrote my first blog post. And thanks to you all, I’ve started to believe in myself as a ‘Writer’ and that there may be some future for me as an ‘Author’. Random doubts still plague me. Is what I’ve written interesting and impactful? Does it make the reader laugh (or cry)? Is the grammar correct? Is the story well narrated?

So the questions are still very much there.
But now it’s not whether I can write. Or even if I write well. (Not to sound immodest but I’ve been told that I’m good. And yes, I do believe I can be better. I have come a long way since that first post. I have a long way to go yet.) But more like what all do I write?

You all know about my love for photography as well as my interest in travel writing. I’m also into writing humour and fiction, of course. You’ve been with me on that journey too.
So I’m now left wondering if I’m becoming a jack of all trades? Am I taking on too much?

The spate of my blogging has reduced drastically. From a whopping 37 posts in November, 200+ readers in January (within 3 months), to  450+ in July (took a loooong 7 months to reach that number), the visibility sure has gone down but there’s only me to blame for that because I haven’t been as active and social as I was earlier. Also, the number of posts have gone down too. I published a mere 7 posts in July. Admittedly, I was also busy with participating in Camp NaNo, which – I am thrilled to share with you – I have won a second time. (I’m happy about it even though I was working on the same novel as the one in April.)

From a target of 20k in April Camp to an output of 63k in July. And this when I thought, it won’t go beyond 30k. Woohooo!

When I had started this blog, I had simply wanted it to be a platform to showcase my writing to the world – similar to a photographer’s online portfolio. I have, of course, been successful in doing but much more than just that. I have made some amazing friends with bloggers from around the world and these relationships have now transferred to the real world.

And, while it’s true that I have blogging to thank for giving me such amazing and valued readers and transforming random bloggers-virtual friends into real-life friends, it is you who I am indebted to, for being with me on this journey.

When I had started out initially, I had meant this to be a travel blog with some random personal opinion articles (hence the name and tagline). Somewhere along the way, I discovered I could write other ‘stuff’ too and now I’m not just working on my novel but also about to get published in an anthology.

With that, my travel writing has fallen to the side. I have also been told that for a topic specific blog like travel, you need to have a dedicated one rather have a combination of topics. It didn’t seem feasible to handle two blogs. But I am confused and lost now. I obviously want to pursue my interest in travel writing too. But how do I go about it? The ‘two blogs are difficult to manage’ logic still hold true. Add to that my own writing and this novel.

Another reason for this question arising now is the cancelling of a travel writing workshop that I was to attend. I was really excited about it and had expected some great learnings and looked upon it as my initiation to travel writing.  While the workshop being cancelled is a disappointment, of course, I am also prompted to take a re-look at my choices ahead. This means either I leave my travel writing interests aside for now. Or, I dip my feet in on my own. Then it is either ‘swim or sink’. (More chances of sinking as I have no knowledge or background in travel writing despite the few articles I have penned before.) I have already sent in applications to various travel publications for editorial/writing internship programs and am yet to hear back from them. The delay in response from their side is further causing me to re-consider my decision to get into travel writing right now.

Hence, the attempt to seek your guidance. So do help me out here, dear friends. Should I take on only one thing at a time; meaning right now focus only on my novel and fiction writing? Or do I dare to dive into travel writing too? Do I start a new blog focussed only on travel?  Would you be interested in travel articles? What do I do about this blog? Do I buy a new domain for the new one? Or do I transform this to a paid one?

Or do I leave all of these questions aside completely and carry on as it is right now (meaning to keep things as they are, let the blog be as it is, focus on my fiction, and write travel only occasionally and randomly)?

Do give your valuable advice. I look forward to what you all think.