Sunday, June 24, 2007

Repost Sunday: In Search Of The Perfect Post

Since I am too lazy to create something new on Sundays, I repost past posts (that was fun to say). It occurred to me yesterday that Thursday will mark my one year anniversary, or blogaversary. Almost a year later, I find myself still trying to create the 'Perfect Post' so what better Repost than this one...


For whatever reason, I rarely strive to undertake something to the best of my ability. I realize I should but it helps me manage people’s expectations. The lower I keep them, the less will hopefully be asked of me. I have made the mistake in the past of setting very high expectations, which only proves to be a pain to live up to. However, when it comes to this blogging stuff, I find myself striving for perfection at least three days a week.

Daily I read posts that are excellent and inspire me to create the ultimate post - one that should be marked as a classic in the dictionary or encyclopedia. Well, ok, I’d settle for an entry in Wikipedia.com. I came across a few of them again while surfing blogs this morning and it really got me thinking about what would make the perfect post, the post that when I realized it could not be topped would send me into blogging retirement, and maybe a book deal. Though I’d settle for getting a pamphlet published.

Of course by describing it to you, it kind of takes away the need to actually write the perfect post since I’ll essentially be doing that here, but maybe that’s just my way of talking about doing the work instead of actually doing it. While the perfect post means different things to different writers, for me it would have to be witty, laugh out loud funny and at the same time make the reader think long after reading it, though not in a college philosophy class type of way. The penultimate post also needs to force readers to contemplate such deep thoughts as their own mortality, their particular brand of spirituality, how we coexist as a global people and why the Dave Clark 5 could be the most underappreciated band of the entire British Invasion. OK, you got me. I ran out of ideas when I wrote that last item. Perfection is hard.

As difficult as it will be to accomplish, my ‘classic’ post should also leave people in awe of my brilliant intelligence, or my ‘brilligence,’ if you will. Oh yeah, getting people to cry would be cool too. So would having people quote it for years after or see it put into an email and forwarded dozens of times. And having it stolen for use as an advertising slogan. And having the post spark an entire new movement, but that’s it. OK, and it could lead to my own TV comedy development deal. Really though, if I had to choose just one effect of composing the perfect post, I’d just settle for the crying part. Or the quoting part. Although the TV thing would be pretty neat.

Now for the actual nitty gritty elements of my perfect post. I realize that by getting into these items that I am providing you with the elements and blue print to compose the perfect post, thereby making it possible for my perfect post to be stolen. However, I am trusting, or naïve or maybe just not that smart, so I don’t mind providing these secret ingredients for the perfect post. After all, the perfection lies in how the elements are presented, which by the way I will also provide for a nominal fee.

All right, now here is what the perfect post should contain. Oh, you know what; I’ve already exceeded my 500 words for the day. Now I won’t be able to share what is needed for the perfect post. I guess I spent too much time talking about it. Hopefully I didn’t get anyone too excited. Sorry about that. Well, as long as I’m around to see the sunrise and my computer boots up, there’s always tomorrow. Hey, that’s pretty good. I need to remember that.

26 comments:

Odat said...

Hey...I'm getting the party ready for your First Year Celebration!!!
And you have created the perfect post....every day!!!! Thanks for the laughs, (and the campaign slogan!! hehe)
Peace

Patti said...

Michael, all of your posts are darn near perfect, I'd say, and most are indeed laugh out loud funny

can I join the anniversary party? I'm kinda in need of some fun here.

I read this one before, but, hey, that's OK. It was worth reading again.

Michael C said...

Odat: Thanks for being there from the beginning. I guess I should do something special for the blogiversary, huh?
;-)

Patti: Thanks! Of course you can join the party. Now I just need to figure out what I'm gonna do ;-)

notfearingchange said...

Happy 1st...
oh btw I have FINALLY linked you - yeah...i know - i am amazingly slow.

Michael C said...

Not Fearing: Thanks for the link. You're not as slow as me. I'll be adding yours ;-)

notfearingchange said...

michael - tag you're it...come on over to see with what!

Michael C said...

Not fearing: Uh-oh, a tag. I'm on my way...

Dizzie said...

Happy blogaversary!

I had my one year blogaversary last August (this year, I'll turn two!) and had a cake. People said it looked like a penis. It was the number 1. People have dirty minds... :D

Michael C said...

Heart: Thanks! I'll probably just go ahead and serve ice cream for my big blog party now. If I get to two years of blogging, people will kill me (or want to), I'm sure of it...

Dizzie said...

Hey, nobody's gotten to me yet, so you're pretty much safe - not to blow my own horn here, but I'm sure I'm at the top of their hit list, while you're... well, not... :D

Michael C said...

Heart: That will help me sleep better now. ;-)

Dizzie said...

A better pillow might help, too... air out the bedroom... flip the mattress over... get some warm milk... put in earplugs...



... and if nothing helps, slam your head against the wall until you pass out. Works for me! And - it shortens my sentences by half! :D

Michael C said...

Heart: That's a trick I usually save for work. It's a lot harder trying to pass by striking padded walls though!

Dizzie said...

No padded walls here... but they will help you out if they find you bledding on the floor... damn those caring coworkers! *sigh*

Michael C said...

Heart: Yeah, I'm not so sure I would get helped. It would probably take everyone 3 hours to stop what they're doing and realize I was out and on the floor!

Dizzie said...

You need the TLC, I try to avoid it... how about we switch jobs? :D

Michael C said...

Heart: And you give up your fancy office? Deal!!

Dizzie said...

It's yours! Including the crappy pay...

So, when will you come over, so I can get the hand-over ready...?

Michael C said...

Heart: As soon as I can afford the flight and I update you and the personnel profile of each of my coworkers! Just remember to treat all the toys on my desk with care while I'm gone...

captain corky said...

Looking forward to the one year post.

Oh and the perfect post should always mention Captain Corky at least three times.

Michael C said...

Corky: Consider that part done (X3, of course)!

Dizzie said...

Um... toys?

Michael C said...

Heart: Just a few. I'm still a big kid.

Anonymous said...

Okay, this isn't me trying to 'out comment you' and get the last comment, because I actually DO have a comment and I didn't read a lot yesterday. You are not alone in wanting a perfect post. I want one too. Like, more than I want a cure for world diseases, or for all orphans to get adopted. I want one THAT bad. If you figure out the plan, tell me.

Michael C said...

Brandy: Don't worry about the last comment, I'll just write this one ;-)

Seriously, creating the perfect post keeps me up at night! After I write mine, I'll help you write yours!
;-)

Patti said...

I decided I don't have time to try to be perfect.
I just post.