I feel like we need to talk a little about authenticity and the fact that almost nobody has any, ever.
Every blogger/writer/musician/graphic designer/artist of any kind knows you’re not supposed to be creative and create things with the goal of becoming famous and making millions of dollars through a living doing what you love. Except nowadays, it’s nearly impossible to find a 100% authentic artist who said “screw what everyone else wants, I’m doing to do what I want and if they like it, they’ll come to me.” Need proof? Justin Beiber, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Katy Perry and basically any blogger who worries about their site statistics and how many people retweet their blog posts. The statistics will come if you do something that MATTERS, and you’ll feel way better about it. The celebrities I’m referring to set ridiculous standards in regards to music, and others try to be like them which is actually pretty easy considering they’re talentless and anyone can make some shit about cupcakes set to autotune. Standards are being set by talentless people and that’s the problem. Justin Beiber might be stupid successful, but that doesn’t mean he’s providing us with something we’ve never seen. We’ve heard the lyrics, we’ve heard the message and we’ve seen the same shitty haircut on every member of Green Day and Fall Out Boy. It’s the same thing in a new package and it’s constructed simply out of what people will pay money for without thinking twice. I mean, is he really even a human when it all comes down to it? Yes, this is the post where I reveal that Justin Beiber is a zombie. A zombie with bad hair.
I’ve know a lot of people that have started a blog or website because they have something to say. They’re usually anonymous or semi-anonymous and write whatever they want. They say the F-word, they talk about horse vaginas and the time a guy used butter as lube and people eat it up because they’re raw and uncensored and are not trying to please anyone, they’re just having fun and saying what they want to say. Even those who aren’t anonymous and censor themselves a little can be respectable if they do it in an original way that shows off their personality and isn’t a carbon copy of the crap being written about on the next domain over.
Some of these people look up to those who are are blogging for a living and making plenty of money off advertisements on their site. And they realize how awesome it would be to do that so they decide to work hard and give it a go. Except they realize they’ll have to be less anonymous because they want it to be THEM, they’re BRAND, and everything they represent. When they speak at conferences about how they created their own BRAND this is the website they’ll refer to, so it has to be different. If they’re less anonymous, they have to change the things they write about. And their tone. And they have to pay for an expensive layout because otherwise nobody will take them seriously. Because all bloggers are wicked good web designers and they never say the word “shitballs” or “slutty horse vagina” and they all go by the same uniformed set of rules. So that’s what they have to do.
And they change. They create a new website that they’re going to make money with and they’ll quit their full-time job and get cute business cards with their blog logo and it’s going to be SO AWESOME! They start crafting and writing posts that will appeal to the masses that read similar blogs to theirs, they create specific categories and themes that will tie into their strategic weekly posts, people will keep coming back each week for the Wonder Wednesday and Funny Friday posts to see what the person has come up with and people will be eating out of their hand and they’ll be totally famous. And then they’ll write a book titled “How to Become a Famous and Awesome Blogger Like Me” and it’ll be on the New York Times Bestseller list and they’ll be on Oprah talking about how blogging will change the world, and they’ll reveal a few secrets about their success that involve “stay true to yourself” and “don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do,” except for the fact that they’re a total hypocrite because the very thing they did was change everything that made them awesome in order to make money and do what people wanted so they could quit their job and “insert fabricated talent here” for a living.
Does anyone even get what I’m saying? There are a million blogs out there and 98 percent of them are the same carbon copy as the next except from another person’s eyes. Nobody wants to hear what you had for breakfast and nobody wants to hear you make fun of the same politicians for the 48th time.
And then, AND THEN, all these people get cocky and start thinking they’re writers. I mean, anyone can write, right? They have a blog and they love doing it and they’re totally passionate about it so why can’t they write for a living? Anyone can. Right, right, RIGHT?!
Wrong, wrong, wrong! This is one of the biggest reasons writing and the journalism field sucks and is so diluted with garbage. While blogging is definitely an excellent platform to start a career, the loads of “I have a blog so I can write and I should make money doing it” is excessive and also diluted. Now these people feel entitled to recognition because they’re decent at something that virtually anyone can do and they enjoy it. This is when the changes start coming in and the work is no longer even theirs because they’re trying to figure out what everyone wants on a blog like theirs and that’s what they’re creating. So they’re not even making anything authentic even though that’s everything they’ve wanted to do; become famous off their creativity and talent that no longer exists.
Regardless of what anyone thinks, the moment your work starts being created to please others is the exact point when it begins to lose authenticity. I understand that life and careers aren’t just free range and we shouldn’t go around saying “fuck what you want, I’m gonna do what I want,” but when you’re doing something you enjoy and then decide to give it a go professionally, you’re going to enjoy it far less once you realize the amount of load that drops from your shoulders as soon as you start doing something that is guaranteed to bring in the masses and attention you want. Even then, you feel you’re taking far less of a risk but the masses still are not even coming in. That’s because someone else is already doing what you are trying to do and probably doing it better because it was their idea. I feel like this paragraph needs a math equation but just thinking of that makes me want to set myself on fire.
If you want to be successful with your creativity, you literally have to ignore everyone else that is already doing what you want to do. Nowadays there is no other way to do it. Because then you won’t be influenced by those who are already successful and you won’t want to do what they’re doing. Not that looking up to people is a bad thing, but there is a gigantic difference between finding idols and mentors and using others hard work as examples of what you want to do and create. If you’re following others, you will wind up making something totally different that isn’t even what you originally set out to do and in the end, you will be far less proud and satisfied.
This blog post was written on a whim because I’ve noticed the number of people trying to make money through blogging, tweeting, whatever and it just isn’t working because you can literally SEE in everything they do that it’s just not THEM, and that they’re struggling to make things just right so people will like it. It’s kind of sad, really because so many people really ARE trying to be what they’re not.
And maybe I am too by writing a post about authenticity. Everyone’s already said all this, haven’t they? What makes me think I can say it in a way that no one else has said it before? Well, I don’t think that, I know this has already been said. However, I feel it’s something that still needs to hit home for people and because of that, I’m going to write it out anyway. So here you go and whatever you do, don’t become a Justin Beiber zombie.
I read today that the Oakland Press is looking to add more weblogs to their list of links on their website, and bloggers writing about a wide range of subjects are urged to submit their blog if they want it linked.
I’m not entering mine because, well, I don’t write anything of substance on here and it’s not worth going on the site of a county newspaper. Keep the space open for people who write about renovating the city of Detroit, local politics and why Kwame should go to jail.
Or not, because apparently that’s not what anyone thinks of when they think of a blogger. They don’t look at bloggers who write about current events, local organizations, or community living. They think of everyone else that writes about something THEY don’t particularly consider news. If only people realized what a ginormous impact a blogger can have, regardless of their topic. Look at Love Harder. Bloggers don’t mess around when it comes to getting things done. Want your business or site promoted? Contact a blogger. This isn’t the day of Live Journal and MySpace anymore. We’re not fucking around like this commenter on the Oakland Press site seems to think:
” Attention All Bloggers!!!
Get into your IMPORT, drive to the nearest Starbucks in your skinny jeans, buy a double non-fat frap, blog about amnesty international, and really tell this country how worthless you really are. “
FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
I would not be caught DEAD driving an import. I like Detroit. I work mainly at Panera Bread, they have more booths than Starbucks so my laptop and I can take up a table for 4 instead of a tiny table created for one person. If I do go to Starbucks, I get a plain soy latte (I’m willing to pay an extra 50 cents to avoid stomach shits). I don’t even own a pair of skinny jeans because I’M NOT SKINNY. I live in yoga pants. Right now I have partially blue hair because I let my sister talk me into it. I have a really big mouth so if I concern myself enough with anything regarding Amnesty International, you bet your trailer trash ass it’s going to get heard. Also, I am currently writing 30,000 words on squirting for a sex and relationships book, so I’d hardly consider myself “worthless.” “Wicked awesome” is more like it. If I want to write about garbage on my blog and someone wants to read it, you can gargle my taint sweat.
See? We don’t all fit the stereotype. I win.
But please, click on my ads. I am still waiting to get paid for my self-entitled compensation.
I was going to write a post about how I’m incredibly busy with a few new jobs and that’s why my blogging has slacked and been total crap lately, but then I realized as I’m writing this defense, I am sitting in bed in my underwear, eating buffalo chicken dip and watching Ellen. Also, KeepingYouAwake is IM’ing me telling me to take a shower.
Irony aside, I am really busy lately. I just got 2 big projects to work on throughout the next month so my writing schedule is really packed.
I swear I’m busy. I’ll be back with something witty/snarky/creative soon, I promise. If the research and writing I’m doing on “squirting” for a sex book doesn’t suck me dry, that is. (TWSS. I know there’s one in there.)
Anyone who knows me in person is well aware that I don’t know smack about fashion.
I’m not even afraid to admit that I wear yoga pants on a daily basis, haven’t wore a regular bra since Christmas, and feel that all I need to trick the public into thinking I’m even remotely fashionable is something involving plaid.
I mean, shoot. I’m sitting here in bed wearing a blue mens tank top and pink hot-pants looking shorts with cherries on the ass. If this doesn’t say “slave to fashion” I don’t know what does.
Anygross, Lulu’s, one of the most fashion-forward, plaid-infested, filled-with-cozy-lazy-yet-ungodly-attractive-clothing-items-for-sad-sacks-like-me clothing stores, is hosting a contest. Not just any contest. Ohhhhh, no. The blogger who writes about this contest and receives the most comments (1 per commenter) will win a $100 gift card to the store. And then, as if you weren’t pissing glitter already, they are going to give a $50 gift card to a random commenter! Are you squealing yet? YOU SHOULD BE!
All that being said, if you want to give me a chance to add something somewhat decent and fashionable to my wardrobe that doesn’t hold my ass in via spandex or zip over a bra top just for the sake of legal purposes, you better comment on this post. You won’t just attempt to make a fellow blogger you love so dearly pretty, but you’ll have a chance to win a $50 gift card if I receive the most comments. Also, if I win this gift card, I will purchase something from the site to giveaway on here. It’ll be a surprise. DID YOU HEAR THAT? I thought so.
Comment whatever you’d like, my pleasant little pop tarts. Tell me what you think I should purchase from Lulu’s to improve my joke of a wardrobe, tell me what you’d purchase if you win the gift card, or even tell me why in the hell there are winter Olympic sports that involve a combination of skiing and shooting. Are they skiing down 8 mile? I don’t think so. Well, if you can explain why this event came to be, let me know. And don’t forget to comment so I can add some pretties to my closet. Smooches.
I desperately need to update my wardrobe. I’m a broke ass writer, it’s part of the territory. Help me win this. If I don’t, it’s going to be a real turd in the punch bowl.
The other day I posted my first ever blog post in an act of narcissism showing how much my blogging may or may not have changed since I created my corner of the interwebs.
It’s sort of weird how things work. One day you’re sitting on your couch with your boyfriend and say “I’m going to scrap this site I have where I rant about politics and celebrities and make one where I write about my life.” And he’s like “why do you wanna do that? What are you going to write about?” and I’m all “hell if I know, but damnit I’m going to do it because I like talking about myself and you’re sick of hearing it.” And then you create this blog and join a blog network and before you know it there are like 5 people reading you despite the fact that all you’re doing is writing about how you just moved in with your boyfriend and you guys are disgusting slobs and you’re broke and fat and life is hard and he won’t get a puppy.
Gradually more people start reading you, and before you know it you’re like “oh my Jesus, I’m starting to get famous.” And you start worrying about looking gnarly if people see you on the street and recognize you in public, then you remember you’re anonymous and no one from Detroit reads you anyway.
You kids have read through my breakup with said boyfriend, my admittance as to why I’m a horrible girlfriend to some men (and why I have no desire to change those qualities), my adventures during work travels, my short-lived obsessions with men just out of my reach, my theories on why mayonnaise will make you claustrophobic, and my transition into quite possibly the biggest career change of my life.
I can say with confidence that if it weren’t for this blog, I never would have took the plunge into a freelance writing career. I don’t know how to explain the logic behind that, but I can assure you that if you’re a fellow blogger you probably understand this. So thanks, guys. Now where’s my book deal? Oh, right. I need to write a book first. Sigh.
Blogging gave me the chance to meet Just A Girl, and if you read me you came to realize she’s become one of my best friends in the whole world. Blogging caused me to spontaneously buy a plane ticket and fly to DC to party with fellow bloggers I’d never met before, but “trust me Mom it’s totally fine. They’re just like my real-life friends, except, ya know, from the Internet.”
All that being said, if you’re still not convinced that blogging will change your life and allow you to meet some wicked amazing people and you still think it’s for failure writers and kids who abuse commas and run-on sentences, I’ll give you a list of all the bloggers I’ve had the chance of meeting in person at least once in this past year and that I really like.
Just A Girl, JP, Shine, LiLu, Maxie, Lexa, RachelSmiles, Cavy, Griffin, Dysfunction Junction, 12Minds, Alexa, Rachel, Suburban Sweetheart, francoBeans, Snay, Flipflops in the Rain, Mary, Patrick, and probably many others. If I forgot you, call me out.
That list doesn’t even include the beautiful Detroit ladies I recently had the chance of meeting. Rialeilani, Sillygrrl, Maeko, Laureality, JenRem, and SuperGirl, you chicks are badass and I can’t wait for us to have more meetups. Who knew there were so many girls in Detroit that are THIS FREAKING COOL? I can’t believe it either.
A lot has changed and happened in the past year, and I believe you kids are responsible for approximately 60-45% of it. You know, 85% of the time. If this next year isn’t bigger and better than the last one, I’m going to scrap this piece. Got it? Continue to impress me, or the blog gets it. Or just pay me to sit around and be a handsome billionaire and all will be well on the Ginger front.
Just kidding. I want to say thank you for helping me create an amazing year full of life changes and relationships I’ll undoubtedly never forget. Also, thank you for convincing me to take the plunge into this career technically called “writing” but consists more of “couching it out in the middle of the night in Hanes sweats and my ex boyfriends wifebeaters.”
Thank you. Thank you for your loyalty, your encouragement, your friendship, and the ability to snarf at my occasionally snarky sense of humor that my mother could never bring herself to love. For that, you’re all the cat’s pajamas in my eyes. I love you all.
I never read Brandy’s blog until recently when I found her plea through other bloggers asking for her thoughts and prayers as she found out her Hot Awesome Dude was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.
Words can’t even describe how amazing and powerful the blogging world can be in times like this. Bloggers from all around the country have come together to help Brandy and HAD with what they’re going through, and I can’t pass up the opportunity to promote the work of such an amazing group of people, because quite honestly, seeing work in action like this done by people I’ve gotten to know and become so close to makes me incredibly proud to be part of this blogging community. It brings an incredible amount of purpose to what we do, and shows that we are capable of doing more than whining about our real jobs and spouting off dirty jokes. Sometimes.
From Lilu’s blog:
We are raising money for the Multiple Myeloma Research Fund in his name. For the price of a cinnamon dolce latte, half-caf, hold the whip, you can be part of an effort to cure a disease that affects approximately 750,000 people worldwide.
Every dollar brings us a dollar closer to a cure. And every donation brings a sliver of hope to a girl who needs all the hope she can get.
Love Harder.
What You Can Do
-Give. Be part of a worldwide effort to cure a disease that affects approximately 750,000 people worldwide. Every dollar helps.
-Pass it on. Forward this story to five people. Share this blog post. Become our fan on Facebook.
-Love harder. Life is short, love is unbending, and no one knows what could happen next. Tell someone you love them today.
Where Your Money Goes
-The American Institute of Philanthropy recently named The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation one of the best organizations to give to in terms of their accountability and use of resources.
-By working closely with researchers, clinicians and partners in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry, the MMRF has helped bring multiple myeloma patients four new treatments that are extending lives around the globe.
-The MMRF has advanced twenty Phase I and Phase II clinical trials. They need your support to advance these clinical research programs and accelerate the development of better, more effective treatments.
-The MMRF’s Multiple Myeloma Genomics Initiative recently became the first to sequence the multiple myeloma whole genome in its entirety.
-A whopping 98% of your donation to the MMRF will be used immediately to support high-priority multiple myeloma research.
-With diminishing funding for early stage drug development and the next myeloma treatments not expected to be approved until 2011, the MMRF desperately needs your help.
Donate: http://www.loveharder.org
More info: http://www.themmrf.org
Hey kids! Welcome to my new home… now take off your shoes and don’t crap on the floor.
I decided it was time for me to become a big girl and get a real website for blogging, so here it is. The layout is absolutely nowhere near where it will be once my layout person (yea, I have a layout person, AREN’T I SPECIAL) is finished with it. Same goes with the sidebar. I haven’t figured out how to do widgets and all that just yet, or at least haven’t sat down to figure it all out, but soon I’ll have my blogroll and all the other important things up.
Basically I’m letting you into my home that’s nothing but drywall, it’s probably cold and damp in here and smells like wood. Hah. Wood.
Anylame, this post is about as pointless as trying to convince Snooki that the “friggin’ poof” has been around since the 1950’s, so I’ll end it here.
All I ask is that you update your readers and feeds so you can continue to indulge yourself in my charm, as I will most likely be posting from here from now on despite the fact that it’s not finished. It will be eventually and I have ZERO patience when it comes to things that excite me, so I’m just getting a head start… or something… and starting anyway.
Also, if you have any tips on what I can do to improve this dive (other than change the layout) of course they’d be appreciated. I’m pretty clueless.
Oh! One last thing. My blog email has changed… it’s now heygingermandy (at) gmail (dot) com… so take note, since, you know… so many people email me.
