Memes. Many. Invading. Assaulting. Surrounding. Puzzling. Stimulating.
To tag or not to tag?
Ideas to share. Secrets to reveal. Conversations to follow. Comments to moderate. Thinking. Questioning. Searching. Researching.
And the sun shines. It’s warm in Germany. My neighbor works in the garden. She’s got this amazing magnolia tree and all I can think about is to kiss Arthur goodbye and go out, embrace the sun and capture that stunning magnolia tree on canvas.
But I have to stay in, write for you – because I want to share a ray of sunlight, the color of magnolia and a song… again.
This is how I create content for my blog, dear Steli. I take some time to behold the wonders around; I fill up my spirit with their essence and try to put down the words.
Yet this is a business blog. Wonders have to blend harmoniously with serious topics. My purpose is both to entertain and to educate. I guess that’s the answer you were looking for. Thank you for the tag.
And because we speak about original content, I’d like to lead you steps, like every weekend already, to some blogs of note I found this week. Remember, the order is random.
Two very talented writers Diana Burrel and Linda Formichelli share their thoughts at The Renegade Writer. This is an excellent blog and although I recommend it as a weekend read, it certainly deserves a place in your daily bookmarks. I encourage you to buy The Renegade Writer guide to freelance success and Query Letters that Rock authored by the same two amazing bloggers.
Let’s remain in the writers’ universe for a while and visit the Tennessee Text Wrestling where Thomma Lyn promotes, among wonderfully written entries, her book The Eternal Summer.
Then go read Lola Nation’s poetry: thought provoking, mystifying and enthralling.
Now let me give you something to stimulate both your visual senses and your mind: KiaNah blogs about everything you could think off but designs stunning websites. She is a very good designer. If you are one of my clients and read this entry, do consider hiring her!
A promise is a promise, sweet Dunn! It’s time to give you the recognition you deserve for the wonderful files you share on your blog. I’ve never seen such a good collection. I urge you all to take your time and browse Dunn’s interesting files.
Last, but not least… if you want to taste some Web Fruits… enjoy (content in Italian – links lead to English tutorials though)! This one is for you, Maria!
Now back to you, Steli: creating original content is a hard task. Ideas are rarely often special but never unique. And original means: “not derived or copied or translated from something else”. Honestly, I have never seen something not derived from something else.
Artists get their inspiration in nature. Bloggers… read other blogs or books, or whatever you want, gather knowledge and recreate the same universe. I’d say we share common thoughts and common ideas. And there’s nothing wrong with that. As Liz says: “together we can change the world.”
I’m not going to tag anyone this time. But I’d love to learn what do you feel about this: is our content really original? Pay attention: in the definition of the word we have a tricky clause: “not derived”. I give you my answer to start with: I know only One Creator of original “content”. God.
Hmm…in my personal definition original has nothing to do with “not derived”. Sometimes a individual takes two known things to combine them in a very personal way and “create” something new. I believe that “creation” is a power that lies within everyone of us and in using this power we can create original thoughts, ideas, music, art etc.
It doesn´t matter if it is “derived” or “copied” from something else as long as you put something from yourself in it ( which would´t satisfy your definition either because there is nothing on earth that isn´t influenced by everything else).
So – YES! I believe we can create originality and we do it all the time
Well, the moment you derive your work from something else, it ceases to be original. Your “personal” definition has no “universal” value in this case. It’s interesting how we redefine terms when we fail to find a concept that comprises deep meanings.
I really don’t know how to define what we do when we take a piece of information and then start working around it, “improving” it or simply adding our own thoughts.
But I would never use “originality” to define it. What the individual who takes one or two things to create “something new” does, it’s not “original”. I’d say enhancement, enrichment but I’d never consider this an original contribution.
Maybe “synthesis”? That’s it: synthesis. When you mix ideas into “something else” (nope, it’s not new as the ideas are already there) you make a synthesis.
Thanks for introducing to us so many interesting people…and thanks for the Italian one;)
I believe every single person on this earth is unique and has something to say…and that become original, because unique…
Sometimes we fall into a pattern, we follow the crowd…that’s the mistake that we make…we have to learn to stay true to ourself…and spread love…always positive…;)
Big kiss to you…here we have a big nasty rainy storm…enjoy your warm weather for me as well:)
Maria
You´re right – my personal definition has “just” personal value and maybe I am not enough interested in “universal truths” because I do not believe in them. As we do know that we don´t know anything for sure I do not see any value in finding out what is true or not. I am interested in what works or not and if people need to redefine terms when they fail to find a concept that comprises deep meanings that´s absolutely ok if it brings deep and powerful results. I ask you – who cares about the term original and how everybody should define it?
See I peronally don´t like the term “synthesis” because it doesn´t say anything about value. But if you mix ideas into something else you either ad value or subtract it. That´s why I like to define such activities as original
Jimi Hendrix had a synthetic sound ( maybe intellectually right)
Jimi Hendrix had a original and unique sound.
Albert Einstein had synthetic ideas. ( maybe intellectually right)
Albert Einstein had original and unique ideas.
I can´t help myself but the power that comes with the “wrong” use of the word “original” gives it meaning and truth for me. But probably that´s just because I do not know any better…in the end – it´s just the way I feel
Much power!
P.S. I love this discussion and the way you reframe the meme to focus on the power of the word. That´s original…eh synthetic as only you can be ( if you like it or not…hehehe)
I have to agree on something: there is really no original content. maybe a seemingly original approach. As some have said before, all that could be written has already been written. So I guess targeting interesting things would be more realistic.
I really like the fact that you present new blogs each weekend. I used to be quite keen on finding new blogs of interest. Now, due to lack of time alloted to this task, I mostly rely on recommendation such as yours. So thank you
@ Maria – the weather is still great. We have 28°C… It’s heaven! Yesterday I spent the whole day painting. It was wonderful. Today I am free, but I have some “homework” to do. I’m enjoying everything and I am thinking of you.
@Steli – I love starting with “hm”. So: hm. Music comes from within. It’s a manifestation of God. So it is original.
Einstein had no original or unique ideas. He researched facts. He was inspired by other scientists before. He created nothing new.
When it comes to human behavior originality means “ability to think and act independently” – I guess this is accurate, although, if I start thinking about it, I am sure I’ll find something. Lol. My philosophic background makes me analyze particular words in detail.
I see Alina agrees with me. It must be a Romanian thing…
Thank you for the knid mention, I had no idea!
Lola
Probably
Actually, I’ve always been a writer of some sort. Be it a wannabe novelist, a Journalism student or a blogger, I’ve always been writing. So I know all I write can seem original, interesting, a different view, but it’s all based on prior books, experiences and stories. And it is hard to find something, in any field, that has no influences of previous works.
Maybe the author of the first paintings on cave walls, those who discovered music, but if you consider it all to be divine inspiration, there is no originality left.
Thanks so much for the shout-out and your kind words! I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
oh wow! Pamil i was shocked heheh thank you so much
*hugs*
Why were you shocked? You know I love your designs!