providing some background

I wrote my first blog post in July 2008. I started ishouldbenapping for two reasons. I wanted to pursue a career as a writer and so I thought I better start writing again. In fact, a book I was reading called Writer Mama - suggested I start a blog, so I did. The other reason was that I think I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the things going on in my life - there are so many things I am interested in and so many things I like to do. In May 2007 I became a mom and I was trying to find a way to readjust my world so that everything still fit. This blog was a way of capturing all of the things I do when I’m not mothering (when my daughter is sleeping).

Now that ishouldbenapping is 5 months old, I realize a third reason for the birth of my blog just slightly over a year after the birth of my daughter was a literal sort of self-preservation: a “see I am still the same me …pretty much”.

As time has passed I have formed a manifesto for my blog.

1) My Content. Almost every post is my original (well, that’s up for debate but I think you know what I mean) writing content or points to my original work elsewhere (writing, music, recipe, whatever).

2) Integrity. My links are actually things I’m interested in, not just trades with other people so that I can get a link on their site. If I review a product, it will be an honest review not a good review just because they sent me some free stuff. I’m going to be proud of income generated by this blog. I’m not going to suck up to the ‘big people’ in this world but I’m not going to hold it against them either.

3) Generosity. I am going to link to other sites if I refer to them in my post, whether I like the site or not. I am going to leave comments for people when I have something to say. I’m not going to let terms such as ‘comment trolling’ effect my writing, commenting, or linking. A lesson learned from motherhood: there will always be people out there who will make unkind judgments no matter what I do so I might as well follow my heart and do what I think is best.

There is also probably some etiquette of which I admit I may be unaware - but I can honestly say I am trying to not be a jackass so hopefully that’s working out for me.