One Year On

"You should start a blog".

140 postings later, Kim Morgan's advice has taken on a life of its own. I don't know if I want to kiss her or blame her for ruining my life. Maybe I'll do both.

Back in the 'zine days of the early 90's I had a little fanzine called Thrill Me in a movie APA (amateur press association) and I was rather devoted to it, enjoying it because it provided me with an outlet for my non-stop movie thoughts. It lasted for about 9 years, at which point I got burned out and couldn't stand some of the fellow APA members anymore, so I jumped ship, leaving me without my outlet. I didn't really miss it, but every once in a while I'd think about it, though nothing really came into being. I'd done a few things over at MySpace, but outside of my writing gigs at Fangoria (which weren't all that personal) there wasn't much opportunity. I seriously didn't think about blogging until it was suggested by the lovely Ms. Morgan, and once I started I had to ask myself why I waited so long in the first place.

The blogosphere is filled with movie nuts, some of whom can write and some of whom can't, and even if their talent is in question their enthusiasm most certainly is not. Movies are the preeminent art form of our time and while they're not as important as things like friends and family, they take on this feeling of importance because they're so larger than life, even the small and intimate ones, so it isn't surprising that so many people want to offer their opinion. One thing that's so great about blogging is getting to read so many different points of view from voices that you would never expect; it's great that pros like Matt Zoller Seitz and Kim have a place to post their unfiltered opinions, but then you have folk who aren't connected to film or traditional journalism, like Dennis Cozzalio, Stacie Ponder, and Kimberly Lindbergs, and the work they do is better than the Peter Travers of the world that you wonder why they're not writing for Rolling Stone instead. New ones pop up all the time, so much so that it's impossible to keep track of them all, but reading some quality film writing, especially if it helps you see a movie in a new light, and that's what I love about blogs and blogging. I hope that I've been able to contribute to this scene in my little way, writing about what interest me, talking about films and film-related things (and music) that I think need to be written about. If you like what you read, you're always free to leave comments (and seriously, please leave comments. I get so few of them!).

But what's been unexpectedly wonderful about this whole experience (while also a beast of burden) is that blogging has helped me fall in love with writing all over again. It's something that I'd like to keep doing more and more of, and it wasn't long after I started HQ10 that I was able to help parlay this into an actual paying writing gig over at AMC's Monsterfest blog that, however frustrating it can be, is also an occasional source of pride (and cashola). Getting back into the writing groove is so much easier now that it's ever been (doesn't make me any faster a typist, sadly) and I love how I can pretty much write what I want and, occasionally, someone will respond to it in a positive light, like I actually gave them something to think about. That's what writing's supposed to be about, on top of the occasional fun, name dropping, bragging rights and snarkiness (can't have HQ10 without a little snarkiness), and that's why I want to keep doing it. If I could make a living at it I certainly would, although that's not quite such an easy thing (if anyone wants to offer me a job, however...), but even if I did I know I could keep coming back here because this is my space to be me. That is enormously appealing.

So one year on Headquarters 10 is still going strong, still writing about the forgotten movies or film festival faves, and I have no doubt that I'll be at it for quite a while (unless I get bored at it overnight or something). I encourage you to keep checking in and check out the archives for fascinating older pieces that will rock your world just as well as the new ones will. There are more movies out there than I can ever see, but the ones worth writing about will always find a place here. Enjoy!

Oh, and thanks, Kim.