Blommy Mogger

You may already know that I hate being referred to as a Mommy Blogger. I started out with All Adither, almost four years ago, thinking the mommy blogger label was fine, that I'd own it and write a lot of parenting stuff. But over time, I realized I wanted to write about other things, too.

Having kids was/is so all-consuming, gobbling up most of my waking hours. Did it really need to be all I mused about on the internet, as well?

No, I decided. No, it did not. But, since I have kids and do mention them a fair amount here, I'm a 'mommy blogger'. My boss at my part-time job introduces me as a mommy blogger. Friends often tell other friends, "She's a mommy blogger". I'm on a frillion PR lists who reach out to "mommy bloggers".

If I had to choose a niche, I'd rather be a writing blogger. There's a whole community of them, most of whom I'm discovering through Betsy's site. I would love to sit and type away about my projects and my frustrations with story arcs and unhelpful agent feedback.

The trouble with being a writing blogger is that you actually have to write about writing. And I'm having a hard time doing that. I can't open myself up that way right now. I was pretty honest about my revisions and submissions of my manuscript The Mating Habits of Fireflies, which came so damn close to getting representation I could feel the pen in my hand as I signed the contract and smell the champagne I was about to sip.

But it fell through. I set the manuscript aside and started writing a YA novel. I want to fill you in on how that's going, on what I've heard from agents and how I'm tweaking the characters, but I just can't. My hands cramp at the thought. I don't know if it's some childish fear of jinxing myself or terror of looking like a loser if this one doesn't work out.

I do know that I can't stand it lately when someone asks about my writing. I wince. I kind of shake my head and offer a vague, "Oh, it's fine. Still scribbling away." People mean well. The ones who really know me understand what a huge part of my life writing is, and therefore want to express an interest.

For now, though, I need to not divulge. I need to silently do my thing and persevere and hope for the best.

Comments

[Mrs. G.]

Anne Tyler said:

“It makes me uncomfortable for them [writers who talk about their story ideas]. If they’re talking about a plot idea, I feel the idea is probably going to evaporate. I want to almost physically reach over and cover their mouths and say, ‘You’ll lose it if you’re not careful.’”

[Leslie]

Funny, when I think of you, and your blogs and your writing etc....I do not think of you as a "mommy blogger". Perhaps it is because I know you as mommy and I have been an avid reader since day 1....I love how what you write reflects how I think. Since I am not a writer, I appreciate it that much more.

[m]

I agree with Leslie! When I think of you I just think of someone with a passion for writing..a true passion. I know you want to get published, so that you will feel that you have accomplished something. Just don't forget all the little things that you have accomplished along the way.

[Bev]

I'm way past the point of need parenting stuff and because I view you purely as a writer, I continue to be excited when I see a new post of your blog pop up on the list of blogs I follow.

Good luck and all that jazz on whatever project you are developing!!!

[Vanessa McGrady Spiller]

I think it's hard to be an any-one-thing blogger unless you have a stable of people writing for you. I do a lot of adoption related posts but there are months that go by where absolutely nothing is happening. Really, we just want to hear about what's going on in your head, Angie. You're keeping it interesting, and that's what counts.

[Cactus Petunia]

You are a WRITER! I'm pretty sure that anyone who reads your blog more than once will realize that "mommy blogger" does not accurately describe the scope of your talents.

Keep writing!

[Chris]

I completely understand this post. I'm silently chipping away at *things* over here... sometimes wanting to share progress -- three requests for the full!; one publisher still mulling it over!; feature article for sure!; oh, ef it. Let's just self-publish and get it over with -- Bored with what's finished and working on other *things*... quietly. Kind of. Keep writing, girl.

[Averil Dean]

I know what you mean. I struggled with this labeling dilemma for quite a while, but realized over the course of time that I don't want to write about one thing or another. I have no writing advice to offer, no sage parenting truisms to impart, no business knowledge that anyone might find helpful. My blog is whatever I want it to be on any given day. Yours feels the same way.

I do think that some of the very tightly focused blogs can get tedious, unless that writer is truly a bottomless well of information. I would have run out of things to talk about after a month of chasing a single subject. And I'd be bored.

Thank you for the link. I'm a fan, you know – whatever you want to write, I want to read.

[kcinnova]

I think of you as a writer. Period.
And I know you will share with us when the time is right. I can be patient. :)