Writing and listening and noticing

While there is a natural inclination when something like an old year ends to look back and review, my memory is so poor I usually make a schmozzle of it. I recall imperfectly and forget largely. So I tend to refrain from reviewing.  (Aside … see my update mention below re: Seth’s blog.)

Still, I do remember a few writing related things from 2004. For example, a study was released showing fewer people are reading now. And another study showed increasing numbers of people wanting to write. (Sorry, I’ve no idea where those links are now.)

Phrased differently, it would seem buckets of people have something to say. But there aren’t many of us who want to listen. Perhaps this would make for a good resolution for all of us as we go into the new year: less talking, more listening.

2004 also continued with the wild proliferation of blogs. People are blogging all over the place, part of which is business people with something to say. Some of us want to do blog even though we don’t have anything to say — it’s  just fun to chatter. Though when you think about it, this isn’t really true. People who chatter but seem to be saying nothing are usually saying, in a roundabout way, “Hey! I’m here! Could someone please notice me? This world is a lonely place, you know.”

Again, in 2005 maybe we could all notice and listen a bit more than we normally do.

As far as my own writing goes, I think the most interesting and significant part of the year we’re leaving behind is this blog, Writelife.

Despite falling off in the last part of the year, I’ve managed to be fairly consistent with posting and I’ve also managed to be focused — well, relative to how focused I normally am, which is all over the map. For the most part, I’ve managed to keep this to writing, marketing, blogs and business. However, I am considering expanding that a bit in 2005. We’ll see.

And that’s pretty much that for my blogging in 2004. My blogging will whisk into 2005 sometime tomorrow, lingering effects of festive celebrations permitting.

Having made a poor job of passing along Christmas greetings, let me make amends by wishing everyone a great and giggly 2005. May we all lighten up a bit and move on. There’s too much fun and joy to be had to waste time on anger and resentment.

The jokes work better too.

UPDATE:

I had to mention News from Australia on Seth Godin’s blog. This directly relates to my closing comment and New Year greeting. And it relates to what I hope will be my next post. Be sure to read this, particularly the part about the Australian dentist. This is how we should conduct our lives and careers.