Now that I’m retired and am supposed to have time to focus on art exclusively, I’m encountering the necessity of blogging for the purpose of marketing. This idea is anathema to me as an artist. I just want to create! Oh, I don’t mind the idea of blogging – in fact, it’s fun as long as I’m talking about art, the process of art, or posting my short stories and essays and travel journals.
Me blogging
But did you notice how many times I had to use the words “I” or “My or “Me” in that first small paragraph? Those first person personal pronouns mean it’s all about me. For someone who’s been married for 40 years (me),
Married for 40 years
raised three children (me),
Three children
and now has nine grandchildren (me),
Nine grandchildren
it’s hard to suddenly make it all about me. For someone who has aging parents nearby (me),
Aging parents
sisters and nieces and nephews in the same town (me),
Just the sisters and brother
and who spent the last nine years of her career focusing on students (me),
Students on Talk Like a Pirate Day
switching the focus to ME
Me on Talk Like a Pirate Day
causes all kinds of inner conflict.
AND for someone who was raised by parents who were artists (me), whose father is a famous artist (me), I have the unique perspective of trying to connect an artist’s life with the life of a family. Connect is not an operative word here because it’s far more of a disconnect. How did my dad do it without being ripped apart?
To get a much better idea of who my dad is, read this wonderful blog post. This blogger, John Foster gets it!
So I have entered the mysterious blogosphere and have discovered these things.
I can’t be an artist without setting out uninterrupted time for myself.
I can’t be a writer without setting out uninterrupted time for myself.
I can’t produce a useful and interesting blog without setting out uninterrupted time for myself.
I can’t produce anything unless I view it as a job with a schedule that is as inviolable as a “real” job that I am being paid for.
BECAUSE that is the ultimate goal! As a retired person, especially a retired person who has suffered setbacks in the recession, I can’t afford an art hobby. I have to pay for materials at least.
That brings me full circle – all I really want to do is create,
not market – and I have to find a way to think of this in some other way than me just being selfish. I guess I have to find a balance and that is something I am decidedly NOT good at! I jump into things full steam ahead.
I’m not sure this entry accomplished anything -but it did put the problem into words, which makes it clearer, and is a start toward a solution. I’ll let you know if I ever find a solution!
