Going Forward

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve spent much of this year reviewing what I might do with this blog. The first incarnation of Gasp! began in 2002, at a different URL and server. I thought I could become more comfortable writing prose if I started a blog. I remember being somewhat shocked when I saw people visiting my site. It sounds silly, in hindsight.

Through that incarnation, I met many cool people throughout the country. They were from all walks of life: soldiers, teachers, law students, and teens. My visitors were conservative and liberal, evangelicals and atheists. Oftentimes back then, I found New York City to be stifling. I only knew people who thought like I did. Blogging widened my horizons. For me, it was creatively stimulating.

I miss that.

Over the weekend, I caught bits of an online conversation. People were talking about when to quit a blog and start a new one. I’d rather not quit this site right now. I definitely thought about doing it, especially since it’s going to undergo a complete overhaul. The topics will change. But I think theater has informed my writing. So there’s no point in starting again with a completely clean slate.

A few notes about going forward:

• As I’ve said earlier, I’m blogging about theater at the Clyde Fitch Report. It’s a bimonthly column.
• I will be including more book notes. These little memos will feature new books that have caught my interest. Book notes will not be full reviews.
• I’m also going to talk more about my own writing process. That’s something I’ve kept off the net. I’m a more private person than I used to be. So it sort of pains me a bit to write about my work on the blog. I’m forcing myself as a personal growth exercise. Plus, it will be good for people to know that I’m actually writing. For real.