The Power of Deadlines

I’ve resolved to create an every-week deadline to post something here, rain or shine. I’m hoping this won’t end up on the same trash heap as my resolution to lose ten pounds. The fact that I’ve committed publicly, however, may be the spark I need.

Another reason for blogging: While lots of folks do it, not many of them are my age. We sexagenarians need greater representation in the blogosphere! Perhaps if I write about my life, it will inspire you to write about yours. It may give you ideas of things to write about and ways to write about them. (Or maybe my writing will be so bad you’ll learn how not to do it. You be the judge.)

Dawn, who is a marvelous writing instructor, is going to have a blog about writing at her site, Memoir Mentor. It isn’t up and running just yet, but it should be within the next couple of weeks. If you’re interested in concrete writing tips, be sure to check in with her regularly. And, by all means, check out our podcasts, posted on both our sites.

In contrast to Dawn’s blog, I see mine as more of a personal story than an overt writing lesson—source material for the memoirs I plan to write someday.

Of course, personal blogs are also great for keeping in touch with friends—old and new. My niece, Sarah Ostler Hill has a blog called Raising Redheads full of wonderful stories and photos of her young children, Ainsleigh and Donovan. Visit it and you’ll be guaranteed a smile when you see Ainsleigh going off to her first day of kindergarten.

My nephew’s wife (does that also make her my niece?), Sariah Ong Reeder, has a blog called Simply Sariah which provides much-appreciated information about her daughter Gwynneth and her new son Erik (who was born two months earlier than expected). My cousin, LeeAnn Ashcroft Smith has a blog called Time for Joy with a scrapbook containing colorful bunches of family photos.

My son, Matt, takes a more intellectual approach. He is a regular blogger on the Sunstone Blog, which discusses Mormon issues of all kinds. His latest is called On Violence and Richard Dutcher’s “Falling”, an interesting post with lively comments concerning Richard Dutcher’s as yet unreleased film.

Blogs can serve as fantastic communicative devices. Our dear friend, Liz Christensen, recently discovered a brain tumor while serving a mission with her husband, Herb, in Armenia. She was rushed home to have surgery and is currently undergoing radiation treatments. Her many friends and family all over the world keep in touch with her latest developments through a blog called Elizabeth Ann Cook Christensen, set up by her son Brad. What a wonderful way to communicate widely—something that could not have been possible when I was younger.

So there it is. This blog exists because I need a deadline to write, because people my age don’t often blog, and because others have inspired me. I hope you’ll find what I say interesting. Be sure to leave a comment now and then, since I’d like to know if anyone is reading—but, of course, that isn’t the main thing.