VANITY PROJECT, OR INSANITY GOALS

“Vanity project.”

That was my answer to the question of, “Why do you write online?”

Some answers included, ‘to be remembered, to share, to enlighten.’

It’s all vanity project with different goals.

But, unlike other vanity writers, I don’t complain.

Bloggers can’t complain due to uncertainty, daily uncertainty.

One day we pull a thousand hits, the next day ten.

With money out of the equation, it’s a matter of time, since time = money.

Time brings up writing goals, since vanity writers never submit to the querying process.

And don’t we all know too many losers who say money is not the object?

Sure you do.

Money is always an object. But, when it becomes the only thing you value as evidence of effort, you might go crazy.

We have enough crazy writers on the books.

Why Not Complain About A Vanity Project

This is my online writing vanity project. Right here.

Not this.

Other platforms like twitter are full of voices crying out, “No one reads me, I feel like I’m posting to the void.”

As if we’re not all posting to the void?

We are.

But not everyone is comfortable in the cold and dark.

Writing a blog bring light and heat. Some links find people at their most vulnerable and bring comfort.

The problem is never knowing.

A subscription site would show progress in the bank.

So would affiliate marketing.

However, you can’t put a price on filling a heart with hope.

I’ve heard it’s happened here, and I’m glad.

I don’t have any insanity goals to share, like the one that goes, “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.”

Vanity projects rise above such nonsense.

I expect the same results: change the world for the better one post at a time.

Vanity Project With Credits

Off the top of my head I’d say I’ve published enough to know better.

From the Oregonian, to Tigard Times, Portland Tribune, and on and on, I’ve had little engagement here.

And that’s the key, the goal: engagement and community building.

If I spent more time doing that I’d build my brand and probably make $10K a week in a few months.

Sounds promising.

All I need to do is subscribe to a newsletter, listen to a podcast, take an online course.

Instead, I’ve written three screenplays, a cancer memoir, and this blog. All as vanity projects.

Am I So Vain?

Probably.

After all, don’t I think this post is about me? Don’t I, don’t I?

Why did I return to college over and over until I graduated? Vanity project. To show I was a finisher.

Why stay married for life? Vanity, to show I made the right decision the first time at the altar.

I’m full of enough vanity to think two people in Worcester, MA spent a half hour navigating boomerpdx to think they’re considering offering me a lucrative contract to keep doing what I’m doing, keep rights to my material, and giving them rights to first refusal on their platform.

In fact, I’m going to check my email.

So Vain

I’m vain enough to think I’m rising up, spreading my wings, and free flying, not falling.

But only between the morning hours of 5 and 11.

During those six hours I’m the master of the universe, the shit, the answer.

I’m the GOAT, the champ, the all-American.

My work is widely read in a respected audience.

Then?

Then the worlds wakes up and I find my place in it with another blog post on the wind.

Walk the dog, clean house, work on non-vanity projects like a cracked fountain, raw oak fireplace mantle, and my he-man weight lifting routine which fits right in since I’m not a he-man.

Except when I lift.

And I don’t lift heavy. Feels heavy, though.

What else feels heavy? People without projects, vanity or not; people without hobbies.

THE TAKEAWAY:

Find something you enjoy doing before you have kids, then you’ll feel a double joy doing it while raising kids.

Still with me?

Then, when your kids grow up and accuse you of being a selfish old coot caught up in vanity project after project, you can reflect on how much they mean to you, and share your hobbies.

This is what it sounds like:

“Why do you waste your time on a vanity blog?”

“If you had any sense you’d be a contributor to boomerpdx, instead running it down with Millennial shame.”

“I’m giving you enough material, boomer.”

“And I’m doing all the work.”

“Come on, it’s a vanity project. Work? Really?”

Checking for that Worcester email. Again.

Come on, Worcester.