Thinking Out Loud

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This post is another collection of random thoughts, thrown together in no particular order. All of which is gathered under the functional title “Thinking Out Loud”, which is a recurring blog post that tends to be published on Mondays.

Tweaking Your Blog

With Blaugust: Festival of Blogging fast approaching, I have decided to close several side projects I started last November (which rapidly ran out of momentum) and focus all my writing endeavours back on Contains Moderate Peril. I have taken a 9 month break which has served its purpose. I have decided to make some minor changes to the base template I am currently using for the blog, as it has remained essentially unchanged since summer 2015. I did toy with the idea of involving a third party developer to improve the site but employing such a company with specific Squarespace experience meant spending between £2000 and £3000, which is far more than my initial budget.

I appreciate that such rates are the market standard at present but I simply don’t want to spend such sums of money on a hobby that in principle should not have excessive operating costs. If I was pursuing a business related blog, then it would be a different matter. My advice to new bloggers is to avail themselves of free services or 30 day trials of established products, before committing to any major costs. It is best to determine whether blogging is for you before spending a dime. If you decide that you wish to maintain an online presence and develop your own brand, then the costs have the potential to increase exponentially, the more you do. I wrote a post about the cost of keeping a blog back in 2019. Naturally the prices referenced have gone up but the basic ideas remain the same.

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Total Hours Played

Setting aside the MMO genre which is predicated upon its continuous playability based upon the release of regular new content, I usually don’t keep track of the total amount of time I have invested into a video game. I will have a broad approximate notion but if I need specifics, I will go and check the numbers on Steam or whatever platform is pertinent. It can be quite surprising sometimes and often my assumptions are wrong. For example, it felt like I had spent a lot of time playing Starfield upon its release last Autumn. In total it was 136 hours, which may sound a lot but is far short of other RPGs, such as Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (186 hours) or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (286 hours). Perhaps that was due to the rather ponderous nature of Starfield, which despite its superficial modernity, ultimately was structured and played like a much older RPG.

I recently returned to Sniper Elite 5 which I have been playing on and off over the last two years plus. Having played through the main campaign, DLC, co-op and multiplayer modes, what brought me back was a renewed interest among the wider gaming community in the so-called “invasion” mode. This interesting variation of PVP, allows another player to enter your ongoing campaign and try to hunt you down while you are battling the various NPC in the game’s story missions. It is purely optional but certainly adds a fascinating and absorbing spin on the proceedings. As the invading Sniper Jäger you have the advantage of being on the same side as the enemy NPC and can tag them. If they subsequently encounter the enemy, their change in status on the mini-map alerts you. However, playing the campaign and having your game invaded can be immense fun as well. There is scope to clear areas of the map and set traps or an ambush for invaders. I find this especially satisfying. It certainly has given the game a new lease of life which is why I discovered last week that I had played 317 hours in total. Seldom does a modern game provide such value.

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Alexa Doesn’t Swear

I’ve had some form of Amazon Echo smart speaker since 2016. I have always found these devices useful for timers, general questions such as weather, traffic and train times and for reminders. Its main use in our house is playing music. I probably don’t use a third of its total functionality but I still consider it an asset. However, despite 8 years of ownership, I only recently discovered one of Alexa’s curious foibles. She seems incapable of swearing. Upon reflection, I see the merit in this design choice. Especially if you have young children using the device. I certainly don’t see it as an infringement of free speech. I found out about Alexa’s puritanical streak when I requested specific songs to be played. Usually I request various playlists that I’ve curated but on this occasion I asked for a few songs by name. To my surprise and amusement, the profanities in their titles were “bleeped out” when Alexa confirmed the selection. The songs in question were “Too Drunk to Fuck” by Dead Kennedys and “Pussy” by Rammstein.

Diet Update

When I stood on the scales this morning, I appear to have lost another 2.2 lbs, which is steady progress. At present I weigh 196.4 lbs. I had to cut down a great deal last Wednesday to compensate for the fact that I was going for a meal at a French brasserie on Thursday and I felt obliged to try and ensure that my metaphorical food intake ledger was balanced accordingly. Mrs P and I have decided to not eschew wine completely so it has been incorporated into our weekend “indulgences”. Whether this has a detrimental effect on the overall program, I will find out next Monday.

Blaugust 2024

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Every year, Blaugust: Festival of Blogging comes around and I happily participate. I also try to encourage others to do so by giving reasons why writing and being creative in general are worthwhile pastimes. At times it does feel that I’m repeating myself, so this time round I shall keep it very simple. Writing is fun, regardless of how you do it. The benefits of being part of a friendly and supportive community are so obvious, do I really need to list them? Blaugust is always one of the high points of my year and I’ve never regretted the time I’ve spent participating. The “rules” are simple. You do as little or as much as you see fit. You share your content and if you wish to, can interact with others over on the community Discord. There’s no pressure from anyone and if you approach the event with the right mindset, you don’t need to put any pressure on yourself. So follow the link above, read Belghast’s post and consider signing up? To quote Alexei Sayle, “you’ve nothing to lose but your wafers”. No, I have no idea what it means, either.

A perennial statement that is often trotted out with regard to Blaugust is “do people still read blogs”? To which the resounding answer is “yes”. A cursory Google search will show that blogs still enjoy a healthy readership and to suggest otherwise is at the least spurious and at worst disingenuous. Here are a few basic points about the relevance of blogging:

• 77% of internet users report regularly reading blog posts.

• 80% of bloggers say that blogging drives results.

• 50% of bloggers publish weekly or several times per month.

• Bloggers who publish the most are most likely to report “strong results”.

• Food, lifestyle, and travel niches have the highest percentage of blogs and more than 50,000 blog visits per month.

So, there’s definitely life in the old dog. If you’re writing just for pleasure, then the stats and SEO side of things aren’t that important. However, if you’re writing to build a site or a brand, then Blaugust offers scope to grow, if you put in the effort.

Something that has changed in recent years, that is worth noting, is the advent of Artificial Intelligence. It is now relatively easy to input a few ideas into a site such as ChatGPT or Chat Genie and generate a passable blog post. However, such content is usually easy to spot as it all too often reeks of homogeneity and lacks character. It’s missing all the foibles and quirks that human writers bring to their work. It’s one of the reasons why so much of the content on YouTube is bland and generic. Personally speaking, I would not like to see a world in which real writing becomes a small island in an ocean of AI generated content. It is important that people think and do things for themselves. However, that is another blog post in itself. 

Finally, one of the most positive things that has come out of my 17 years of blogging, are the people that I have met along the way. Many of whom I’m still in contact with today. I have always enjoyed reading their blogs and learning about their lives, likings and activities. The thing about writing is that it offers a window into the author’s mindseye. Even if you write under a “nom de plume” and keep your personal life out of your prose, aspects of your personality still bleed through into your content. It is this human quality, be it abundantly clear or subtly woven into your words, that attracts many readers and keeps them returning. This is why I continue to take part in Blaugust. It is an opportunity to make new friends and experience new things. Such as different hobbies or pastimes, life in a country far from your own, or to gain insight into points of view contrary to your own. 

And if none of that appeals to you, there’s always pictures of cats. See you around.

Thinking Out Loud

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This post is a collection of random thoughts, expressed as a stream of consciousness. Put less pretentiously, a few words about the various things that are occurring in my life. Alternatively, they may also be ephemeral talking points from the never-ending news cycle, or even those obscure thoughts you experience while laying awake in your bed. Either way, they are not the sort of material that requires a full blog post. A paragraph or two is sufficient to express a thought or make a point. All of which is collectively gathered under the title “Thinking Out Loud”, which will no doubt become a recurring blog post.

Tinkering With Your PC

First of all let’s begin with an activity that I have a love hate relationship with. Namely, tinkering with your PC. I’ve been looking at the specs of my computer and it would appear that its performance Achilles heel is the graphic card. In a perfect world, I would just buy the latest top of the range model and be done with it. However, I am not sufficiently wealthy to do such things. Hence, I have to set a budget and then search for what is considered the best option within it. This is a tedious, contradictory and wearisome task. It involves trawling through reviews written by people who often do not understand the concept of a budget and figurative lines in the sand. They are infuriating, but that’s people for you.

To cut a long story short, I have ordered the following AMD graphics card. Powercolor AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT Fighter 8GB GDDR6. The reviews are acceptable, my current PC is based around an AMD Ryzen 7 5700X 8-Core Processor so there should be some synergy there, and I got offered a very good price. If this is not to the liking of the selfappointed “Graphics Card Police”, then they can fuck off into the sea. It’s the best I can do for £204 plus postage. Hopefully it will arrive on Tuesday and then I can have the usual fun and games trying to fit it. I can also “defluff” the interior of my PC case. The fun is endless.

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Games Should be Fun

I stopped playing Call of Duty in June because it was becoming too much of a treadmill. Playing both Warzone and Multiplayer essentially boiled down to the following. Buy the 2 month Season Pass, grind out the weapons and aftermarket parts, adapt your existing weapons builds to the latest meta, endure the endless succession of unbalanced multiplayer games and swarms of cheaters. Rinse and repeat while being bombarded with endless new novelty skins and weapon blueprints. It all became a dull chore, lacking in fun. So I’ve moved on.

It seems that the notion that a game should at some fundamental level be fun, is no longer a primary consideration. In fact it seems pretty low on the list of requirements, at least with mainstream, triple A titles. Obviously there are still entertaining and enjoyable titles out there but I feel that you just have to look a lot harder to find them, these days. Too many games feel generic, soulless and obvious products rather than interactive mediums for entertainment and enjoyment.

I recently bought a few new games, because why would I want to play any that I had in my library for years? Insane isn’t it? I bought The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe version which is most amusing and incredibly intelligent in its satire of so many video game tropes and idiosyncrasies. It lends itself to binge gameplay until you’ve achieved several of the alternate endings. I also bought the submarine game Cold Waters mainly because I recently watched the 1958 classic movies, Run Silent, Run Deep with Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. It’s not a full blown submarine simulator but still offers complex gameplay. I also purchased Dragon’s Dogma 2, as I had a hankering for an RPG. Sadly, I’m struggling to find the fun in this game as it is proving confusing both narratively and with its gameplay. I’m also struggling with the keyboard and mouse controls for the PC. I suspect this title plays better on consoles. 

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Diet (Who Ate All the Pies?)

My diet is far from healthy and has contributed to my gaining a lot of weight. I drink too often as well, which makes matters worse. I have managed to lose weight in the past but this year I have not been so successful mainly because my heart hasn’t been in it. But it is for the sake of my heart that I need to resolve this matter. So Mrs P and I are both embarking on a diet, based on three meals a day, reduced portion sizes and the elimination of a few specific items, including alcohol. I’m not looking forward to it as I derive a great deal of pleasure from eating and drinking. I shall try and gamify the process and work towards goals and rewards. I shall also post details each Monday as to whether I’ve been successful. As of today, my starting weight is 201 lbs. I am looking to shed 28 lbs (2 stone). It’s on, like Donkey Kong, as they say.

Blaugust 2023: Lessons Learned

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This is the last week of Blaugust 2023: Festival of Blogging and it is customary at this point to reflect on the event and one’s own contribution to it. For me, the stand out aspect of this year is the number of people participating and the diversity of blogs. I find it most reassuring that so many people have chosen to express themselves online and share their thoughts and insights. It has also been most gratifying to see so many people join the Discord server. There have been a lot of interesting and enjoyable discussions over the last few weeks. I hope that the support and resources available have proven useful for new and returning bloggers and that the event has been beneficial for them. I always find that Blaugust is good for bolstering my enthusiasm for writing and getting me back in the proverbial saddle.

September is now on the horizon and in many ways it offers the hardest challenge of all for new bloggers or those that have recently returned. That being to keep blogging and to find some sort of routine or schedule that is appropriate. Sadly, some bloggerss will become increasingly intermittent in their output and a few will go into a hiatus. Such is the nature of blogging. Not everyone has a work/life balance that can sustain it and it is also fair to say that some will discover that as a hobby, blogging simply isn’t for them. But that is part of what Blaugust is about. It is an opportunity to work out and explore one’s own relationship with writing. What approach works for you and what motivates you to write or produce the material that you do. It is about being realistic and honest with yourself.

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I have found, once again, that Blaugust has provided the impetus to encourage me to write every day. I think this just comes down to being in the company of like minded individuals, who are all trying to do the same. The event also provides a tremendous sense of satisfaction in seeing a series of posts build up over the course of the month. And it is nice to engage with those who leave comments. What I would like to do in the months ahead is see if I can increase the readership, which has naturally declined during the period I have not been writing. I am hoping that regularly blogging about Starfield will prove an enjoyable experience and of potential interest to readers. In the meantime I need to revisit the Blaugust Achievement list and determine which ones I can claim. To everyone else who participated, well done. I hope you’ve had a successful Blaugust.

Blaugust 2023: Staying Motivated

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“Gonna fly now, flying high now” and other motivational stuff

I have participated in Blaugust numerous times over the years and also in several other similar events. I have therefore written about the subject of “staying motivated” quite a few times already and as a result it is quite hard to come up with a new angle on the problem and not to sound like a scratched record. I also appreciate that my rather hardline and fundamentalist message of “stop complaining and just write, no excuses” may not necessarily resonate or inspire everyone. We all have to tackle this problem in our own unique way. So today, I’ve decided to adopt a more conciliatory stance and offer five straight forward and practical points that may help the aspiring blogger to keep on writing in the weeks ahead. 

Focus on your own blog and not what others are doing. It is natural to look to other blogs for ideas and inspiration. Ideas for both templates and posts are shared and this is how popular formats and styles become established. However, other people’s blogs can also be a distraction. Especially if you feel that they are gaining a degree of success and yours isn’t quite getting the same sort of traction. Just like obsessing over website traffic and stats, worrying too much about what others are doing is problematic. It can sow the seeds of discontent and undermine your output. Which is why it is important to stay focused upon your own writing. There comes a point where you must draw a line under tweaking your blog’s design and apply your energies to writing. A fancy looking blog without any regular content is redundant.

Brainstorm ideas. Keep notes somewhere practical. Be it in a physical notebook or electronically. Write down ideas, as and when they come to you. Better still, brainstorm potential writing prompts and talking points. Write them down, put them in some semblance of order and start banking ideas for the future. Write draft posts if that is your style and get the basics down first. Ideas become bullet points, bullet points become paragraphs and paragraphs can be built into a full blog post. If you have a good idea, don’t squander the opportunity. You may have an angle on a particular subject that others haven’t covered yet.

Hannibal Smith likes a plan

Plan posts. Brainstorming ideas and collating draft posts allows you to plan content in advance. Some bloggers like to write spontaneously or react to what is happening around them. But not everyone favours such an ad hoc and impromptu style. Hence planning posts in advance may well increase your chances of them completed and out the proverbial door. If fate provides you with both the time and inclination to write two posts in a day, then seize the opportunity. Some subjects may well need to be tackled in more than one post. Therefore planning an appropriate arc to accommodate a weighty subject may be the best approach. Committing to a series of posts may also provide a degree of stability that you need. It means not having to think of new material for a while which can take the pressure off.

Set achievable goals. Blogging becomes a lot easier if you are entirely honest with yourself. We all know what we can and cannot achieve with regard to writing and balancing the requirements of the rest of our life. Therefore, don’t commit publicly to writing material everyday and then fail to achieve it. You will disappoint yourself and your readers. If you can realistically post one post a week then embrace that reality and ensure that you do your best. Placing unnecessary pressure upon yourself is counterproductive, so don’t do it. Be candid about what you can produce, with the time and resources you have and then focus upon getting it done. Something is usually better than nothing when it comes to blogging.

Reward yourself. Finally, reward yourself after writing. If you have set yourself a target of three posts in a week and you achieve it, then claim whatever prize you have set for yourself. A carrot on the end of a stick is better at motivating than just a stick on its own. Gamification is often a good tool to increase productivity. So find a way to reward yourself that will actively encourage you to write. Obviously, if you fail to hit your target and still reward yourself, you’re an unconscionable hypocrite and calumniator, who will burn in perdition’s flames. But that’s blogging for you and the universally accepted code of writing. No blog post. No cakes. Or meth. Or whatever your personal indulgence is.

16 Years of Blogging

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Today is my blogging anniversary. I have been inflicting my thoughts upon the world for 16 years. I started writing online regularly in March 2007, although my early blogging projects were somewhat scattershot as I struggled to find an appropriate niche. August 16th standouts because it was the date I registered my first domain name, in a fit of enthusiasm. In the previous seven months, I created and abandoned three sites before I finally found a subject that I could focus upon and that would sustain my writing. Hence for practical reasons I consider August 16th my starting date as I spent money on my hobby, which I believe shows some kind of commitment. I won’t bore readers yet again with my origin story as I’ve covered that before. To keep things short and sweet, I’ve kept writing this long because I enjoy it. Maybe in a different life, I would have liked to have made it my career.

I like long-form writing that utilises the English language well. It can be informative, galvanising and even revolutionary. Well chosen words give weight to ideas and concepts. They can inspire and call people to action. They can also empathise, amuse and educate. The right words can echo through time or make you spit out your coffee. Hence I like the acerbic wit of Charlie Brooker and the emotional depth of Al McIntosh. Then there is the wisdom and reverence of Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan. I also enjoy Agatha Christie, Jacob Bronowski, M.R. James and Roger Hargreaves. All great writers in their respective fields. I could list names indefinitely. My point is that when you encounter good writing, it doesn’t just make its point. It elicits an emotional response and resonates with you in a meaningful way. It can be four panels of Calvin and Hobbes, Shakespeare’s St. Crispin's Day speech from Henry V, or Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream.

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As a blogger, although I cannot reach the standards of the writings I have referenced, I believe I can learn and improve overtime. It doesn’t matter what you’re writing about or what your style is. If you keep writing, thinking and trying to hone your skills, you will. Hopefully your blogging journey will be enjoyable, rewarding and even therapeutic. I know mine has over the years. I’ve met (online) many talented, interesting people and learned a lot simply by reading other people’s experience of daily life. It becomes apparent very quickly that we have more in common, than we do differences. I also believe that we are actively encouraged to be docile and to lose ourselves in memes and ephemeral online content. We willingly embrace an infantilised and lazy use of language. In doing so we restrict our own freedom of expression. Blogging flies in the face of this. It is about exercising your right to free speech, free thought and rejecting the status quo.

I hope that I’m still writing in another 16 years time, as it is such an integral part of my daily life. However, I suspect my liver and arteries have other plans. Plus the growing corporate stranglehold over the internet may well mean that blogging becomes more and more like pissing in the wind. I don’t think that any company would be crass enough to block content directly that isn’t under their auspices, but it isn’t too far fetched to envisage an algorithm that bypasses anything that isn’t “affiliated”. But enough of this existential navel gazing. We haven’t quite reached an Orwellian dystopia yet. Therefore, in the meantime remember that words are good. They are your friend and ally. They will serve you well if you approach them with an open mind. Don’t forget the old maxim, you must say what you mean, if you wish to mean what you say. Keep writing.

Creator Appreciation Week: Cool Dudes Walking Club

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It's Creator Appreciation Week (August 13th – August 19th) for those participating in Blaugust: Festival of Blogging 2023. What does that mean in plain English? It means I am going to write a post specifically about someone or a group of people who create content that I enjoy. Now that is not a short list. I subscribe to dozens of YouTube channels and even more blogs via Feedly. However, it is not practical to try and write about all of these. So I have had to think long and hard about selecting one creator to highlight. It’s quite a difficult choice because I enjoy a multitude of content for different reasons. However, I have chosen one which regularly keeps me entertained, has a good community associated and also offers an element of interaction which is quite unique. It is this last factor which has tipped the balance.

One of my hobbies is walking for pleasure. The UK has a culture of walking and it is often a very practical means of getting about. Then there are the obvious physical and mental health benefits. The former are obvious, the latter not immediately so. Some people do not like being alone with their thoughts or find silence or at least the absence of speech, comforting. I do. Walking affords me a time to think and reflect upon anything I choose. It also allows me to switch off if I wish to. And then there are walks in the countryside. There’s the enjoyment of planning a route and challenging yourself with the distance you walk. Walking can be a fluid situation if a route through a field is untenable, or the weather turns against you. But it is always worth it for the potential views and the opportunity to pursue other interests when out, like photography, painting or wildlife spotting.

Which segues nicely into the Cool Dudes Walking Club. I would like to point out that “dude” is used in a non-gender specific way and that the club is open to all. About seven years ago I was perusing YouTube and found a channel belonging to comedian, actor and writer Marek Larwood. I was aware of his work and subscribed to his channel as it featured (among other things) a series of videos involving excursions to major tourist attractions in London. Let it suffice to say that Marek’s outlook on travel, tourists and generally navigating daily life resonated with me. As he has a keen interest in walking and started producing more related content, he eventually set up a separate YouTube channel. Thus the Cool Dudes Walking Club was born. I subsequently joined, subscribed to the new YouTube channel and became a monthly supporter.

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There is a tendency these days for videos to follow a “process”. I don’t mind well made YouTube content but I don’t want the process to crowd out the passion. One of the key things about Marek Larwood’s walking videos is that they are made in an informal fashion but that doesn’t mean that they lack enthusiasm. Marek talks about his gear, gives hints and tips about walking and what he’s hoping to achieve. But it never feels like a hard sell. He also provides anecdotes and information relating to where he is walking and the sights and sounds along the way. Yet it is far from didactic or stilted. In fact the overall tone of most of his videos is the same as if you were walking with your mates. In between the clear love and excitement, there are miscellaneous grumblings about tourists or public footpaths that farmers have purposely blocked. And don’t get Marek started on pigeons. Therefore, the Cool Dudes Walking Club is not only entertaining but very relatable. That is important.

Another aspect of the Cool Dudes Walking Club that I like is the associated community. The comments on YouTube are always pleasant and informative. Often Marek will ask a question in the video such as “do you like “wild” camping? If so, what is wrong with you?” and the responses are honest and again relatable. I think the channel attracts walkers with a laid back mindset who enjoy walking in the moment, rather than those who see this outdoor pursuit as an ironman style challenge. And then there’s the photos. There are a range of Marek keyrings available as club merchandise and an open invitation to take pictures of your “mini Marek” while out walking. Pictures that are sent in feature at the end of videos and they are for me a highlight. People are very creative with their pictures and they often feature very interesting locations.

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So these are a few of the reasons why I enjoy being a member of the Cool Dudes Walking Club. It is nice to be part of a community that enjoys a shared hobby, has a welcoming and genuine outlook and is fun to spend time with online. Plus it would be remiss of me not to say that I appreciate Marek’s sense of humour and broader perspective. He is also very good when it comes to extolling the virtues of his walks and their respective locations. I visited both Avebury and the Bembridge Windmill because of his videos. I also empathise with his aspiration to try and make the Cool Dudes Walking Club his primary job. I used to harbour similar hopes regarding writing and this site. Therefore it is nice to see the club membership grow and someone making progress through their own hard work.

Blaugust 2023: A Personal Introduction

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Faith No More were a “popular beat combo” from the 80s and 90s

The first thing that springs to mind with such a post is the song “Introduce Yourself” by Faith No More, from their 1987 album of the same name. Ah, the power of word association. I was twenty back in 1987. Young, optimistic, trying to figure out what I wanted to do in life. I finally joined the UK civil service the following year as it was a practical solution to an unresolved question. But I digress. My personal employment history is not the point of this post as I don’t think I am personally defined by my line of work. So what actually does define a person? Their actions? The company they keep? John Saxon’s character, Roper, in the film Enter the Dragon.said “a man's strength can be measured by his appetites. Indeed, a man's strength flows from his appetites”. But he was wearing flared trousers so I remain sceptical of such a philosophy. As for me, I like to write. Always have done.

I have written several posts in the past extolling the virtues of blogging. It serves a different purpose to other forms of content creation, affording a very personal means of communicating and expressing yourself. It is also invaluable for collating your thoughts and processing the world around you. It has a very cathartic quality and certainly will provide a form of self therapy if that is what you’re seeking. I also think there is a political dimension to writing. Too often these days we are encouraged to immerse ourselves in the trivial or get angry about bogus problems and false narratives. Writing is a means to see beyond such spurious things. To escape the confines of the boundaries set by others. It also challenges the status quo by sharing your own thoughts and opinions with others. And if that all sounds a little too pretentious or highfalutin for you, it’s also good fun.

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Carl Sagan was a clever fellow

That’s the pitch out of the way, let’s talk about other things I like doing. I am a man of a certain age (55) and I enjoy traditional comforts, such as good food and wine. I don’t obsess over food and its associated cultural baggage, as in the modern idiom. I just like a “spot of lunch” and welcome meals from both ends of the culinary spectrum. I like reading and learning stuff. By that I mean proper stuff, not crazy bullshit posted on YouTube by some whack job. I recently finished The Dragons of Eden by Carl Sagan which was most illuminating. I try to read at least one book a month and nowadays tend to favour non-fiction over fiction, although I’m partial to some William Hope Hodgson. I am a big fan of cinema and watch films from all countries and all periods of time. It is an artform I take seriously and I cannot survive on a diet of superhero movies. I also like to walk for pleasure and regularly blog about my various day trips and holidays. I’m also a very political animal but am not affiliated to any specific party or ideology.

I have retired early, after a traumatic six years caring for my sick parents. I have plenty to keep myself occupied and seldom find myself at a loose end. It is my ambition now to ride out the remaining years of my life with the minimum amount of hassle and bullshit. I keep my expectations low and as a result I enjoy the simple pleasures in life, such as an unexpected sandwich and a chance encounter with a friendly cat at a bus stop. I laugh a lot as it is free and makes me feel slightly better about all the terrible things I see, that I’m powerless to change. All of the worst people I’ve encountered in life have lacked a sense of humour. I try hard not to hate things and people as such feeling tend to have a detrimental effect on everything. However, I agree with what Doctor M’Benga said recently in an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. “There are some things in this world that don’t deserve forgiveness”. I also think that there’s only one correct way to put the toilet paper on the holder. The Spanish Inquisition burned people for less.

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Doctor M’Benga is possibly the most interesting character in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

So that’s me. Well some of me at least. I don’t consider myself a complicated individual. But I like to think I have some depth to me. I hope you are enjoying Blaugust, especially if you’re one of the new people who signed up at the start of the month. I sincerely hope you find support, inspiration and camaraderie within the Blaugust community and that you also find your niche. There’s a lot of experience out there to draw upon and hopefully a lot of positive affirmation coming your way. If I can offer just one piece of advice to anyone who is grappling with blogging at the present, it is that if you keep doing something, learn from your mistakes and just persevere then you will get better at it. Unless you are the UK government but that’s another story.

Welcome to Blaugust 2023

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This will make sense if you read the post

Blaugust Festival of Blogging is finally here. A month long celebration of blogging and bloggers that is open to all. The idea is to encourage those who are just starting out with writing online or those who are returning to the scene after a break. It is also about those who already write online content and who might be feeling a little burned out, renewing their enthusiasm. Blaugust is a community driven event that encourages people to express themselves in the way that is best for them. It doesn’t advocate a “one size fits all” approach and is very much about horses for courses. There is advice, support and activities available and participants are at liberty to do as much or as little as they wish. Blaugust has been running for a decade now and I’ve participated in all previous events as I find it an invaluable experience, each time.

So far over 30 people have signed up for this year’s event and are actively participating. The Blaugust Discord Server has been busy with lots of new faces and the conversation has got off to a flying start. As someone who has been writing online for 16 years, I find the excitement and enthusiasm of all the new participants very invigorating. Blaugust always provides a welcome shot in the arm and reinvigorates my writing mojo, so to speak. It’s also very uplifting to spend time with those who are taking their first steps online. I get the same pleasure from this as I do when I watch a classic movie that I’m very familiar with with someone who’s seeing it for the first time. Seeing new bloggers gain confidence, improve their style and increase their output is most gratifying. The written word is a powerful tool and it is important to make sure it is available to all.

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The Magnificent Seven reference coming up

Now it is customary during the beginning of Blaugust to write a post or two offering advice based upon your own experience. I have done that many times over the years on a wealth of topics. Blog rolls, drafting posts, your writing voice, whether to allow comments, website traffic and statistics, motivation, writing schedules and much more. All of which are valid points to consider when blogging. However, today I am going to give just one very straightforward piece of advice. One that is somewhat obvious but is paradoxically the hardest to do. And that is, once you’ve set up your blog with a fancy theme, loads of plug-ins and a quirky domain name, sooner or later you have got to sit down and actually write something. “No shit”, I hear you say. But let’s be honest, wasting time and putting writing off is something we all do to a greater or lesser degree. Procrastination is the thief of time and an international pastime.

How often have you found yourself with lots of ideas buzzing around your brain that you think would make a “crackerjack” blog post. That’s a niche market pop culture reference for fans of The Magnificent Seven but I digress. So there you are filled with creativity and enthusiasm with time on your hands. So naturally you head to your desk, cracking your knuckles in anticipation of the literary masterpiece you are about to bestow upon humanity. And then you sit down to write the damn post and suddenly your keyboard might as well be kryptonite or a two day old fox turd. Immediately that bird on Mrs Coltart’s roof that you can see through the window, has just become the most fascinating thing in the entire universe. You realise that you may have a library book to take back, or you’ve run out of oregano, so you have to go to the store, or else you’ll be condemned to eat bland meals for all eternity.

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Prepare for some wisdom comparable to Dear Drooper

Congratulations you’ve just done what 100% of all other bloggers have done. Fear not the solution is easy. You just have to fucking write, you long-eared galoot (other kinds of galoots are available). Yep, that’s the answer. Put your ass in a chair, write some lines, expand upon them and voila, you’ve written a blog post. It doesn’t have to be Shakespeare, it doesn’t have to change the course of history and it doesn’t even have to be of interest to anyone but you if you want. But to be a blogger you do have to write. It’s essential to the concept. Now let us not get into an argument about writer’s block. I do recognise that it is a thing. But it never has been and never will be about not being able to think about what to write. There are endless subjects to inspire you and explore. Writer’s block is about being motivated to write and not wanting to write. There will be times when your heart’s not in it. But you can’t allow something quite so capricious to undermine your writing intentions all the time.

Now if you don’t want to write, then fine, don’t. That’s your prerogative as Bobby Brown said originally before everyone else copied him. Just don’t whine about it later, that you haven’t written anything if you didn’t actually sit down and write something. This is the most practical and sage-like advice I can give to anyone who wants to blog or create any content online. You have to knuckle down and just get on with it, sooner or later. How many other tasks accommodate such a nebulous excuse? I didn’t take out that festering pile of recycling because I am swathed in melancholic pathos. Bullshit. Nope you have to apply yourself to write. Or else you’ll just be forever on the sidelines trying to convince others (and yourself) exactly how good at writing you could be, if it wasn’t for the metropolitan elites, global warming and other “reasons”. The Farage Defense as I call it but that’s a separate blog post.

Blaugust 2023

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It is a fact of life, like death and taxes, that our passion for our hobbies will wax and wane overtime. All too often, the realities of daily life just get in the way. The enthusiasm you have in the morning for a great idea, may vanish by the evening when we finally have time to do it. Furthermore, if you do something often enough, sooner or later you’ll either want to (or need to) take a break. Regardless of how much you may love that particular pastime. Hobbies take time, energy and discipline. Sadly, not only can these factors take a toll upon your ongoing participation but they can also potentially stop you from even starting. I suspect that I am preaching to the proverbial choir and that many of those reading this will have experienced both scenarios. You’ve either struggled to sustain a “passion project” and have burned out, or you’ve fallen at the very first hurdle and not progressed beyond your initial excitement to try something new. 

I fall into the former category. I’ve been blogging for over two decades and I slowly ground to a halt last September. I tried to jump start my “writing mojo” in April this year but it was short lived. Rather than playing amateur psychologist, let it suffice to say that motivation is a factor. Fortunately, Blaugust 2023: Festival of Blogging is fast approaching (it starts in August). This yearly, community driven, online event is an invaluable wellspring of support, advice, camaraderie and enjoyment. Organised and overseen by Belghast from the Tales of the Aggronaut blog, Blaugust “is a month-long event that takes place in August each year that focuses on blogging and other serialised content. The goal is to stoke the fires of creativity and allow bloggers and other content creators to mingle in a shared community while pushing each other to post more regularly. The idea is that this festival of blogging can help reignite dwindling fires for the next year and give folks a sense of kinship as a result”.

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“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, actually it was quite shit”.

Hence, I have signed up for Blaugust 2023: Festival of Blogging as I find that the event is excellent for motivating me and focusing my energy. I would urge anyone who has blogged previously and wishes to resume their writing to read Bel’s post and come and join us on Discord. The same goes for anyone who is new to blogging or any other type of online content creation. You’ll find help and advice for all kinds of activities be it streaming, podcasting, blogging or vlogging. Being part of a community where you know that friends and colleagues will view your content and give you positive, constructive feedback can be a major boost when you are learning the ropes. As for me, I just need a proverbial kick up the arse to get blogging again. I enjoy writing for a multitude of reasons but the most fundamental one is that it makes me happy. Time to get back in the saddle.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 18

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As a blogger we are often told by our peers not to obsess over website traffic and statistics in general. There is a degree of sense in this. We should be primarily focused on writing, maintaining an equitable schedule and staying motivated. Stats can have a negative effect on the latter. However, one cannot ignore the subject either. As a writer, at some point you do want people to actually read your material, or else what is the point? I have therefore always kept an eye on traffic and have attempted to grow my readership overtime. The results have been varied. In my experience, you do slowly build up an audience by being persistent with your writing. But you also have to promote your work, which is a job in itself. It’s also something that not everyone is comfortable with. “Therein lies the rub” as the expression goes. How do you attract readers without compromising your own standards?

No doubt the following anecdote will not come as a surprise to others, but it caught me unaware. I have been on a writing hiatus since last September and only post content about two times a month on my blog. However, I recently decided to write a humorous piece about Call of Duty Warzone 2.0 DMZ, as I’ve been playing the game a lot lately. Due to the niche nature of the post, I chose to publish it on the DMZ subreddit, rather than my own blog. But in every other respect I treated it as I would a regular post. To cut a long story short, when you post on reddit you can find statistics at the footer showing how well it has performed. Only the author and the moderators can see this data. This particular post was viewed 32,500 times in approximately 36 hours. To put that into perspective that’s the equivalent of a quarter of my yearly traffic for my entire blog in just one and half days. A single post on Contains Moderate Peril never garners such traffic.

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Now it is important to maintain a degree of perspective with regard to this. The DMZ subreddit has over 44,000 subscribers which is a substantial audience to begin with. Any post that touches on a popular talking point about the game will gain as much traction with the subreddits readership. But what this subreddit or any other potentially offers to writers, is an opportunity to raise their profile. A chance to build brand recognition. Yes I know that’s an appalling term that may make some of you shudder but that’s ultimately a big part of blogging. Often your readers not only visit your blog for your work but because they relate to you on some level. Hence a presence across multiple platforms, using a universal brand or handle, is a great way to build an online identity and increase awareness, directly or indirectly, of your writing.

Like many suggestions associated with blogging, this one means essentially more work. But that is the nature of the beast. Answering comments on your blog, so readers feel involved and want to come back is more work (something I always fail to do). Streaming, producing videos or a podcast as well as writing regularly is more work. Leaving comments on a popular website, forum or discord is more work. Posting material on a subreddit is exactly the same. However, if your motivation to write is wavering because you feel that you are spitting in the wind, then it can be very uplifting to get some traction elsewhere. It also serves as a timely reminder that if you want to succeed as a writer and build an audience, then you have to step outside of your comfort zone and “sell yourself”. And if you’re not writing at all, as I am at present, then you’ll get nowhere.

A Year in Blogging

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So far I have written 135 blog posts in 2022. Not much compared to previous years, but frankly I’ve become a little despondent with writing in recent months (I shall expand more upon that in a moment). Hence, since October I have been enjoying a break from regular blogging. I have written sparingly and pursued other leisure activities. Given that my post output has gone down, it would be logical to assume that there has been a commensurate drop in web traffic to Contains Moderate Peril, but this is not the case. Overall, my monthly statistics have remained the same, proving once again that most of my readership find my written content via Google searches, rather than reading new material on a daily basis. This has given me much food for thought and added to my ongoing reflection upon my writing activities.

Bloggers write for different reasons and their motivations are equally diverse. I write primarily for myself but I see no shame in wanting others to read it too. Afterall, the medium is a form of communication and that process is a much more enjoyable experience if it is multilateral. It’s the same with podcasting. It all seems a waste of time if you script, record and edit a show and no one listens to it. So it may be unfashionable to say so but one of the reasons I have become fed up with blogging after 15 years is because I do feel at times that I’m just spitting in the wind. Am I talking about internet fame and fortune? No. As a wise man once said “Fame, it’s an empty purse. Count it, go broke. Eat it, go hungry. Seek it, go mad”. What I am referring to is building a healthy audience and contributing to a community. I used to feel that was the case about a decade ago. It just doesn’t quite feel that way anymore.

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However, it is not all doom and gloom. I happily wrote continuously for a month during this year’s Blaugust event. Which sheds some insight into my personal psychology. I will happily fail to meet my own targets and goals, but when I make a commitment to a third party I cannot break it. It’s funny how I’m socially conditioned this way but that is another blog post entirely. Back to the matter in hand, I am currently considering a staged return to writing. This time of year makes it a lot easier because I can write a lot of pieces that are all variations of “a year in (insert subject matter here)”. I am also ruminating upon a new project. Something I can channel my energies into. Perhaps it is time to step outside of my normal comfort zone of writing and podcasting and do something different. We shall see. The New Year is fast approaching.

"I Feel I Need a Holiday"

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According to Spock “change is the essential process of all existence”. I have certainly faced my share this year. The death of my mother in August after decades of declining health didn’t come as a shock, but was no less upsetting. In the immediate aftermath, I had to deal with the practicalities of arranging a funeral, engaging a solicitor to settle my mother’s estate and then determine whether I should return to full time employment or retire. After much deliberation, I chose the latter. Now that the most pressing needs have been addressed, I find myself coming to terms with my own grief, while considering my future. I am very tired, both physically and mentally. I am still waiting for the cardiologist that I saw recently to make their pronouncement on my health. However, I do feel somewhat refreshed after my recent 3 day break on the Isle of Wight. I am also thinking about moving, as well as returning to education and pursuing a qualification. I will be 55 in December and feel that I am at a major crossroads in my life. 

However, I am not especially enthusiastic about writing at present. At least not about the normal things I blog about. I still take pleasure in video games and films, but I now view them from a different perspective and their importance has changed. Furthermore, after 15 years of blogging and a dozen spent podcasting, I feel somewhat spent creatively. It takes quite a lot of focus, energy and brio to consistently produce content on any platform and then there’s the actual work that has to be done. At present I don’t have the stamina required nor the time. The latter is a finite commodity in everyone’s life and I am currently using my allowance to do other things. And so to quote Bilbo Baggins, “I feel I need a holiday” and am taking one. This is the first post I’ve written for a fortnight and it is mainly due to the fact that I feel obliged to let the few hundred daily readers that I haven’t totally abandoned Contains Moderate Peril.

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Abandon Blog?

I’ve learned from past mistakes and changes in my relationship with writing, so I am not going to close the website or do anything rash. I did that once before in 2015 when I was suffering from burnout and I ended up bitterly regretting the decision when I had a change of heart. Having to start from scratch again, a few months later, was hard work. So in the meantime, I will continue to pay the operating costs and effectively just leave Contains Moderate Peril to lie fallow, so to speak. I may well publish the occasional post, when the fancy takes me but I certainly won’t be maintaining any sort of regular schedule. As and when I do write something, they may well be very niche market posts, mainly about the things that are bugging me at present. Beyond that, all bets are off. It very much is a question of wait and see. Perhaps this is just a hiatus. Perhaps it’s time to call it a day.

Time For a Change?

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Someone is not good at Scrabble

The Blaugust 2022 blogging event is entering its final week and the writing theme for this climatic period is “lessons learned”. According to the event schedule “this week is a reminder that the goal of Blaugust is to refresh the content creators out there for the coming year, and not to burn them out in the process. Some folks are going to cross the finish line and immediately go dormant and others will want to process their thoughts about the proceedings. This space is reserved as a bit of a cooldown lap so that you can share your own experiences”. For me Blaugust has not only reinvigorated my enthusiasm for blogging it has also improved my writing schedule. Furthermore it has given me an opportunity to consider some potential changes to Contains Moderate Peril. Changes that I now need to decide whether to implement or not.

Within a few years of starting blogging, I found writing about one subject extremely limiting. So I opted for a so-called “variety” blog to allow me to pursue a broader range of subjects. This has served me well for many years but I am now finding as I get older that I am not quite so enthusiastic about certain subjects. My interest in gaming is not as strong as it used to be and I find it difficult to wax lyrical about many aspects of the industry. I prefer writing social commentary, discussing the major social and political talking points of the day. I also still have a passion for films and can happily write film reviews or longform articles about aspects of filmmaking, till the cows come home. It is this change of focus that has got me thinking whether I should run two separate blogs? Or alternatively put all my energy into one online project and focus solely upon that.

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Change can be very tempting at times. As can planning for change. As someone who considers themselves organised I love to draw up a plan and prepare everything required for it. Implementing it is another matter altogether (insert Airplane gag here). Preparation can be fun. Actually “doing” is not so enjoyable. So setting up another separate blog sounds initially like a good idea. I get to choose a new blog template and tinker with the look and feel of the site. I can also hire someone from Fiverr to design new logos and branding. But upon mature reflection, the realities of maintaining two different websites also means twice as much work and possibly producing half as much output. It also means incurring further expense which is something I am cautious about in the current economic climate.

As ever in life the most pragmatic solution is to compromise. Rather than relocate specific blog posts to an alternative site, perhaps simply segregating them on the existing blog is a better alternative. I shall investigate to see if it is possible to have a submenu under the blog button on the top toolbar of Contains Moderate Peril, so those who want to read only movie related content can do so. Vice versa with games and any other relevant category. I’m sure the template can be structured in such a fashion to make this possible. Maybe then, someone who is visiting the site to read a film review may investigate further if only shown material of a similar nature? And somewhere in the back of my mind there’s another voice reminding me of a very old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. These changes I’m pondering have not been requested by any readers. Perhaps I should just leave well alone and move on.

Motivation and Being Realistic About What You Can Achieve

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Does this include arson, genocide and making another Air Bud movie?

I’ve written posts in the past that take quite a “scorched earth” approach to the subject of motivation and maintaining a regular writing schedule. You can come at this subject from numerous angles, offering advice couched in psychology, gentle encouragement or cold hard logic. However, I find that blogging comes down to one thing and one thing only. If you want to do it, you’ll find a way. And believe me, I don’t say this out of some misguided sense of superiority or smugness. I have skipped numerous days of blogging because I chose not to. I wasn’t too busy or strapped for ideas. I just couldn’t be bothered or wanted to spend my time on something else. That’s not to say that the encouragement of others and events such a Blaugust don’t have any impact upon people’s writing output. I believe they do. But the biggest factor determining when you do and do not write is you.

However, there are some things we can do to make writing on the days when we’re not that motivated a lot easier. I find that there are certain types of blog posts that are easier to write than others and that sitting down and producing one of these doesn’t present as much of a struggle as more complicated think pieces. Film reviews are one example. I have a longstanding and abiding passion for films and the wider industry and feel I have some knowledge of the subject. As writers we’re always told “write about what you know” and there is wisdom in these words. Hence, a film review is something I feel comfortable writing. It also helps that such posts usually have a standard structure to them, affording them a very procedural quality when it comes to sitting down and writing. If you’re at all interested, here’s a link to how I write reviews.

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I said Magnum Opus not magnificent Octopus

Something that regularly comes up in blogging circles is that it is often the spur of the moment posts that can sometimes get the most traction. Conversely, the post that one labours over, conducting research and continuously revising, is usually the one that goes unnoticed. All of which reinforces the argument that it is best to write with no expectations about the wider outcome. Hence, if you’re running low on enthusiasm, don’t make matters worse by seeking to write your magnum opus, instead just focus on writing something that you find enjoyable. IE Whatever is your equivalent of writing a film review. This is why stream of consciousness and personal blogs have an advantage, insofar as even if you’ve had an uneventful day, it can at least be catalogued and explored as to why it was so.

An event such as Blaugust treats blogging as a hobby and not a job. It’s an important distinction. If you choose the option to make it a more formal undertaking, then adopting a more business-like mindset will inevitably make you more productive. However, the trade off is replacing casual spontaneity with structure and discipline and that can sometimes kill the joy. Ultimately with a hobby and pastime such as blogging, you find the level that suits you. If you are honest with yourself, you can usually determine that quite early on. You know exactly how much leisure time you have and what you can reasonably expect with regard to written output. Blaugust may well boost that to a degree but I think it does a better job of just focusing bloggers and keeping them engaged. Trying to sustain something that you know you cannot necessarily do is counterproductive. Which is why there’s sense in the phrase “you do you”.

You Are Your Own Brand

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A joke about brands

I’m sure I’ve written directly or indirectly about this subject in the past but some things bear repeating, so here goes. You are your own brand when it comes to blogging, streaming or podcasting (other forms of content creation are available). It doesn’t matter if you write exclusively about some niche market subject or produce videos solely about a single aspect of fandom, your personality will inevitably bleed through into the content you post and your audience will sooner or later pick up upon it. Humans are social creatures and we are naturally curious about each other. I certainly am. I follow numerous blogs and a substantial part of their appeal is their individual and unique styles and personalities. I will happily read blog posts or watch videos about subjects I’m not especially interested in because I like the content creator and the way they express themselves.

Globalisation and the internet tend to make us think that we’re all broadly living the same life and to a degree that is true. We all go to school or hold down a job, have family and friends and eat, drink and sleep. What I love about blogs is the way a simple post can inadvertently highlight regional, social and cultural differences. This can be innocuous as a brand or product that there is no direct equivalent where I live in the UK, to the complexities of local government, social etiquette and the tumultuous waters of national politics. These are the things that make you blog engaging and give it a distinct personality. It can lead to comments, conversation and friendships. You have to be an especially anodyne writer to remove all traces of nuance from your prose. Why would you want to do that anyway?

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A branding iron

On a less light-hearted note, often a blog can be an invaluable source of insight into the daily struggles that many face. It comes as no surprise to me that numerous bloggers have personal issues, difficult circumstances and family problems that they’re dealing with on a daily basis. Often a blog provides a platform for some self-therapy and catharsis. A means to clarify one’s thoughts, decompress and try and rationalise what is going on in life. Furthermore, sometimes a supportive comment left can make the difference between someone having a bad day or getting through it. I believe that it is important to be aware of each other’s life and that it’s not all one, happy and level playing field. What is normal and everyday for me is not the default for everyone else.

So despite what you may think, your blog is a window into you as a writer, even if you reveal very little about what you do, where you live and your own personal life. You end up with an online persona that may be a true reflection of you, or a stylised caricature. You can if you see fit, curate and control this to a degree. So do not underestimate the significance of this. You are your own brand and it can serve you well. A question that has been raised during many previous Blaugust Festival is “I want to write about something different but I’m not sure if readers will like it”. This usually stems from someone writing about a single subject or a specific aspect of fandom and then finding that they want to spread their wings and try something else. The good news is that you can. Not all but the majority of your readership will read posts that are different from your regular content. Again this comes down to the fact that they’re invested in you and your style of writing.

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A popular brand

Naturally, there is an element of caution associated with the notion that you are your own brand, as much as all the positive aspects. Some bloggers find themselves producing other online content as well and end up maintaining a sense of brand continuity. For example, there was a time when Contain Moderate Peril produced daily posts throughout the year, along with a weekly podcast. In such circumstances, always think about how you express and conduct yourself online. Especially if you are trying to generate revenue from your material. Be mindful of associations and affiliations because mud can stick. But these are just common sense considerations. Overall, there are more upsides to being your own brand than downsides. I certainly enjoy the more personal rapport I’ve built up with those who read my musings, over the last decade or so. Hopefully the fact that you’re not just perceived as a faceless blogger will help encourage you with your writing.

Draft Posts

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If you write in any sort of capacity, you will no doubt have a virtual folder somewhere that is filled with draft posts. Posts containing ideas that either ran out of steam or never quite coalesced to your satisfaction. Such posts may be just a few words long or a fully developed article. A list of bullet points, a lone paragraph devoid of context or an unedited stream of consciousness. Yet whatever the posts format it remains incomplete or unpublished. Sometimes the reason for abandonment is clear. The premise was wrong, the moment has passed and things have moved on. Perhaps the subject has been sufficiently elsewhere. Hence these posts languish in blogging purgatory. Undeveloped but conspicuously not deleted. Who knows, maybe you’ll return to one or two of them some day. Sadly, the reality is quite different. Once a post is consigned to the draft folder, it seldom escapes. Just like people from poverty.

Such is the unspoken law of draft posts. And like so many informal and nebulous “rules” it’s bullshit. Sure I have some posts in my drafts folder that match what I have just described but that is not the majority of them. The bulk are film reviews, think pieces about gaming and its associated culture, as well as one off articles that took my fancy at the time and may well do so again. Your draft post folder is not the same as the recycle bin on your PCs desktop. A draft post is not exclusively a failed post (although it can be). Often it is just work in progress that has been temporarily delayed because something more pressing came up. Some blog posts are time sensitive and need to be written and published while a talking point is still relevant. Gaming culture is very fast moving, hence you may give such posts priority. A review or a stand alone longform article has no such restrictions and can be set aside to be returned to at a later date.

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The reason so many bloggers effectively write off any post that has lingered in the draft folder too long is because we’re conditioned to do so by blogging culture. It’s all part of the ephemeral, disposable mindset and culture that runs through the internet like shit marbling in a rancid block of cheese. However, rather than seeing a draft post folder as the Phantom Zone for blog posts, why not consider it an ideas repository. A creativity bank in which potential material is stored, which can be accessed on those occasional days when you’re shit out of ideas. I currently have 138 draft posts waiting to be used. Not all will necessarily be published but many will eventually see the light of day. The film reviews have no expiry date. Some of the more specific pieces may be repurposed into content for other posts. Nothing goes to waste. 

The modern computer tools we use for writing make the process very easy. You can type or speak directly into your phone or tablet or sit for 10 minutes while you have a sandwich and quickly type your ideas into Google Docs. It’s a far cry from writing longhand on paper, or typing away on a manual typewriter. However, because we can revise, edit and start again so easily we have possibly lost sight of the fact that everything written down has potential use. Technology provides convenience and convenience is often synonymous with disposability. But that is not the case. As a writer the fundamental starting point is to get your ideas out of your head and onto the virtual page. Once you’ve done that, waste nothing. What doesn’t work today, may work tomorrow. Therefore, don’t squander ideas, first draft or your miscellaneous notes. Change the relationship you have with your draft posts folder. It is your ally.

Getting Your Writing Environment Right

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For my first post of Blaugust 2022 I am returning to the subject of your writing environment, as I believe it has a significant bearing upon one’s writing (or whatever other content that you create). This is the third time I’ve tackled the subject. I initially wrote about my new desk in 2016, when I first tried to set up the spare bedroom as my office. This plan was partially thwarted by the arrival of my twin granddaughters, who needed to use the bedroom when they stayed overnight, resulting in a logistical compromise. I published a second post four years later and by that time the children’s cots had been replaced by a single spare bed allowing me to use the room as a proper office. As of today, my desk is now pretty much how I want it and provides a suitable environment for me to write and conduct research. It also accommodates a lot of my leisure activities as I am a PC gamer.

However, not everyone has the luxury of a desk or spare room that doubles for a home office. Often we have to use the environment that is immediately available to us, rather than the one we would like to have. So for practical reasons, needs must when the devil drives as the expression goes. Therefore, if using a laptop on the kitchen table is the only practical work space you have access to, then it will have to suffice. Fortunately, there are still a lot of things that you can do to improve your immediate writing environment, allowing you to focus on the task in hand. You don’t even have to spend any money if you don’t want to. Here are a few simple and straightforward ideas and working practices that, if sensibly applied, can improve your working environment. 

Eliminate noise and other distractions. Find a place to write where you can control the environment, especially with regard to noise and other day to day distractions. Some people like to write with the TV on in the background or while listening to music. That’s fine but it is preferable to be able to manage such things, rather than have them inflicted upon you. The ability to be able to pull the curtain or blinds can be invaluable. Especially if like me, you find your attention wandering to events outside. Close the door if necessary so that others know that you’re busy. You may also wish to keep your pets out although this is often a losing battle.

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Lighting. I like writing in a well illuminated room and favour LED bulbs of about 1600 lumens (the equivalent of 100 Watts). My office window looks North so doesn’t directly face the sun. This does have some advantages regarding light reflecting onto my monitors. It helps if you take some time to consider where you place your laptop or computer screens in your writing environment, to ensure you have sufficient light and minimal shadows.

Ergonomics. If you’re writing, streaming or working on your laptop or PC, you're going to spend a fair amount of time sitting down. Ensuring that the desk, table or worksurface you’re sitting at is an appropriate height is important to avoid back and neck strain. The chair that you're sitting on needs to be suitable for the job. Office chairs are best. Avoid stools and anything that doesn’t offer upper body support. The addition of a humble cushion can make a world of difference, as can wrist rests. Remember to take a break every hour and ensure that you have a drink to hand. If you have the budget for a computer chair then invest in something suitable. If you’re budget conscious, charity shops seem to have a lot of home office furniture these days.

Temperature and ventilation. Everyone has a preferred temperature. One where you feel relaxed and comfortable. A writing environment that is excessively hot or cold is just another excuse not to write. However a fan, open window or a closed door can make a lot of difference. It is also worth remembering that a PC and other electrical equipment produce a lot of heat which can raise the temperature in a room. Do what you can to manage these.

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The right tool for the job. This is a mantra that I feel is pertinent to most situations. Often the key to a successful outcome is using the right tool for the job. Cheap screws will strip, cheap clothes fall apart and cheap PC peripherals and associated equipment will fail or produce inferior results. Do what you can within your budget to get the right tools for what you’re doing. Sometimes the top of the range is not required and there are good mid-range alternatives. Also, don’t get by with jury-rigged solutions. If you can’t reach your laptop properly, don’t precariously balance it on a stack of books. Invest in a stand that can be adjusted. Writing regularly becomes a lot easier if the means to do so are efficient and accessible. A problematic mouse or a monitor that has a tricky HDMI cable can all potentially turn an agreeable experience into a chore.

With regard to my own writing environment, I have discovered that I feel the same way about my desk as I do about internet bandwidth. You always want more capacity. I recently replaced my ageing speaker set up with a convenient soundbar in an attempt to free up more deskspace and reduce excessive cabling. Yet even after removing a cup full of pens, an in tray and various other bric-a-brac I still have insufficient room to work. So I now find myself looking at office furniture online and daydreaming about expanding my office empire. However, despite some minor niggles, I do enjoy my home office and find that it meets my needs with regard to writing. Ultimately, this is what you need from your writing environment. A space where you feel comfortable and can concentrate on getting your thoughts written down. Get that right and you’re more likely to write regularly and confidently.

Get Ready For Blaugust 2022

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Yes, it's that time of year again. When our community of bloggers, streamers and podcasters come together for Blaugust 2022. The event is intended to celebrate independent content creators and their work, as well as encouraging those who are new or and returning to the field. Blaugust 2022 is all about offering a helping hand, sharing each other’s work and having fun. It is an event I participate in every year and one that I find personally very beneficial. It is a great way to meet and support new writers and make friends. I also find that Blaugust is key to revitalising my own enthusiasm for writing, which flags from time to time. I’ve been blogging in some shape or form for over 15 years and like any hobby, my relationship with it ebbs and flows. At present I’m not writing as much as usual and finding it harder to find subjects I wish to explore.

The last few years have been tough economically, politically and socially. The pandemic compounded these issues further hence many people currently feel that they’re struggling up a hill, rather than riding along on the crest of a wave. My enthusiasm for many of my hobbies and interests is somewhat low at present. I am far from impressed with mainstream filmmaking and frequently struggle to find anything that is more than adequate. TV offers a lot of choice but I prefer self contained stories that have endings, rather than shows that just run and run. Politics and social issues are partisan and acrimonious, as is the public discourse associated with them. Hence writing about such things is not particularly desirable at present. Constructive criticism can be valid but a continuous diet material that is essentially negative is exhausting. Hence, I need to broaden what I write about.

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Blaugust provides helpful advice

Fortunately, Blaugust 2022 provides a useful vehicle for such change. Firstly, the event offers some writing prompts which are always useful if you’re coming up short on ideas. Replying and engaging with other writer’s posts is also another useful source of inspiration. As I’ve stated in the past, I’m a sucker for internet questionnaires. I always enjoy the challenge of answering some thoughtful (or frivolous) questions. If you don’t want to answer any questions you can always set some instead. As someone who writes, streams or podcasts, you have far more freedom to explore a range of subjects than you imagine. Especially if you’re not exclusively wedded to one game or particular subject. Your audience follows you often because of your personality and they will give you a lot more leeway than you imagine. I read a lot of blogs that discuss subjects that I’m not that interested in but I like the way the author thinks and expresses themselves.

So with all this in mind, I’m hoping to get back into my writing groove and see if I can blog everyday for the entirety of August. I am looking forward to reading new blogs and possibly seeing some former bloggers return to the fold. If you’re interested in participating in Blaugust 2022 then please read Belghast’s post which tells you everything you need to know about the event. Bel is the Shaolin Master of the event and an integral part of the social glue that keeps it going. There’s a FAQ that explains the purpose of this yearly event, details of where to sign up, the month’s schedule and a lot of useful resources. There’s also a Discord server that is very friendly. And remember, Blaugust is about having fun and participating. There are no “rules” and the event schedule and writing prompts are for guidance only. If you want to take part you’re welcome to do so in any manner that makes you happy.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 17

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I am currently having a R.J. MacReady moment

I was sitting in my office over the weekend, half-heartedly typing up a blog post about table manners and dining etiquette, when I paused and lapsed into a state of self examination and introspection. 

“Isn’t Contains Moderate Peril supposed to be about gaming, movies and popular culture”? “Yes”, I replied to myself via my inner monologue. 

“So what the hell am I doing writing about table manners, then?” my inner contrarian retorted.  

“Well it is part of our culture, although I wouldn’t argue that it is a defining aspect of the zeitgeist at present” my conciliatory alter ego responded. 

“Frankly, I’m getting bored with all of this per se” a third voice stated. It was at this point, I stopped arguing with various facets of my id and went to the pub.

While consuming a chilled libation I reflected upon these matters and contemplated the wider issue underpinning them. Does collating my thoughts for a blog post help me understand a subject better. Does writing allow me to make sense of the world and the human condition? Does maintaining a blog make me happy and provide a sense of purpose? The fact that I am writing this blog post surely indicates that the answer to these three questions is not “no”. However, it wasn’t a resounding “yes” either. If there is a single word that summarises my current emotional, philosophical and political disposition at present it is “ambivalence”. I have mixed feelings about a lot of things. Video games, the industry that creates them, film and TV, popular culture, contemporary politics, the state of the world, the rest of my life.

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The pleasures of working working in retail

I have recently realised that I am at a crossroads in my life. After speaking to a financial advisor, I have decided that I won’t be returning to the job market. I am going to retire. Working part time may well improve my finances but I don’t believe it would improve the quality of my life. Work means directly or indirectly accepting a degree of bullshit into your life. This may be a problematic boss or problematic colleagues. Then there’s issues such as leave versus staffing schedules, potential stress (especially if dealing with the public) and lines of demarcation. I’m used to working within the parameters of a clearly defined contract. Yet working culture now seems to permeate one’s life outside of office hours. That is not for me. Plus, I’d be a square peg in a round hole in the modern work environment. A job is a quid pro quo; a means to make money. I have no interest in an employer's vision and how I can contribute to that.

Thus, as I am part of the “great resignation” and am not going back to work. I am focused upon what I intend to do with the years that I hopefully have left. Fortunately, I am never at a loose end and still have lots of interests. Mrs P and I also have numerous activities that we wish to do together. We also realise that we’re very fortunate to be in such a position. However, we have to temper our plans according to our finances, age and health. Hence, if something isn’t positively contributing to the quality of our lives, then it may well need to go. Which brings me back to my penchant for writing. It was once a career goal, then a form of therapy, now it is a hobby (possibly even an indulgence). And hobbies have an arc of their own. For the present, Contains Moderate Peril is going through a quiet patch because so am I. When I next become enthusiastic about something, the blog may well pick up.