Purpose

I almost began this blog with the notion that the world is filled with things that lack purpose. I then started to list these purposeless things, such as jelly bracelets or nipples on men. Then I realized that though these items serve a purpose I may deem ridiculous, they do have a purpose. Jelly bracelets are tragically hip fashion statements for pre-teen girls, while pierced nipples on men make their own tragic statement.

Thus, though I was going to delve into the lack of purpose this blog may have for its readers, it certainly holds a purpose for me. The problem was to identify its purpose. I am interjecting here that I am slightly horrified by the fact that my first blog entry is indeed a "welcome to my blog" post, but I require it in order to find my own direction. I hope to one day become an English professor for a university. The prestige of this university or my tenure do not matter to me. My career happiness does.

Thus, I am beginning this blog to practice my writing. I have several years of study ahead o me, and I hope to blog throughout all of these years. Perhaps I will shut this blog down once I receive my doctorate. Until then, I will practice. I will practice writing styles, or book reviews, or learning how to accurately air my thoughts. Perhaps in time my practice will get more technical. For now, I am merely putting words on paper - or in type.

What amazes me is that getting this blog started took a few seconds of thought. Where did I want to go with it, what kind of style did I want to use, what sort of things did I want to discuss here? (A brief thought about making this a World of Warcraft blog even entered my head.) But, now that I have begun, the possibilities are endless and I have so much that I want to discuss.

Ideas -

- I am pondering the pros and cons of the Amazon Kindle vs. Sony Reader. Ultimately the hope is that my prose will convince me to hold off on a purchase of either of these.

- I just read an interesting article on how amateur writers will convey their character is deep by making him/her a philosophy student at Harvard. I am intrigued with portraying a "deep" character who is a foreigner in my country with the inability of expressing many words yet still being portrayed as deep. Or, perhaps, making a character similar to Alicia Silverstone in Clueless - yet deep.

- I am pondering making it writing about my every day life. Making a journal of sorts. Therefore, I could come back and review my thoughts later in life. I could also come back and review my grammar and writing skills as the years progress. Well, I could do that part regardless.

- I could learn a new word and find ways to use that word in sentences.

- I could make this a blog with writing tips and techniques. Perhaps I can focus it on common spelling or grammatical errors. This concept makes me nervous because my own blog will undoubtedly be a minefield of mistakes. Then again, I can't pass up the chance to correct folks with the common misspelling of ridiculous. I think it is the most misspelled word EVER.

In the end, this blog will likely encompass all of these things and more. The content is, perhaps, purposeless in one sense, yet will hone my writing skills in the end. So, I may blog here for the next decade while I work toward my degree and not once earn a dedicated reader. My ego will be bruised, but I will still be better for it.

And with that, I am hungry. I'm going to lunch.