Bloggers, Truth or Dare?
Do I have your attention? Do you want to play? How about Truth and Dare? Will you take my challenge? I dare you!
I’ve got this raw post that I crafted the other day from my main character Victoria’s (from my novel Angst) point of view. It’s serious, it’s full of angst and it’s a dare. It’s a challenge to read my book, to step into her shoes and live her life. My book (which is fiction, although roughly based upon my own experience) is challenging, it’s dark at times but it’s true, the feelings, the emotions are all 100% true. I know this kind of writing makes some people uncomfortable and it might make you uncomfortable to post something like this to your blog. But that’s what I’m asking here, in all seriousness, will you take my challenge?
Will you post something that is raw humanity, that is human suffering, that is truthful and blatantly honest to your blog? Will you take her challenge and read her story and thereby learn what it’s like to suffer from a mental illness day in and day out? Are you willing to make yourself uncomfortable so you can understand your fellow human beings? Are you a proponent of change in our society? Do you think everyone has a valid opinion and valid emotions? Can you help me stop the stigma of mental illness? Are you a blogger who cares or a book blogger who wants to spread the news about serious books that aim to help the human condition and entertain at the same time? Honestly, who out there has the guts to take this challenge? To post something this raw, uncomfortable and honest to their blog? If you want to accept my challenge, I can send you my character manifesto and you can decide from there (and if you prefer I can remove most of the swearing too).
Here is part of the post, the end, the challenge from a girl who always thought she was crazy:
So…will you let me take you down that road? Will you dance with me, drink with me, party with me, panic with me, die with me? I’ve hidden this for so long, I’ve been afraid, scared as shit, and I’m tired of it. It’s bullshit! I want you to experience it with me. I challenge you, I dare you to live life with me. Ask yourself, do you feel like shit? Do you feel embarrassed, uncomfortable, depressed and anxious? Do you feel like I’m messing up? Do you see my goddamned mistakes? My stupidity? Do you see me trying to get through the day without losing it? Do you feel the stigma, the way I do? Do you feel the cold metal of that gun? And through it all, do you still root for me, care for me, hurt for me?
Good, now you’re living on my level. And I’m not sorry, fuck I am not sorry, because guess what? I’m not crazy, I’m honest and I’m human and being human has never been easy.
Your book is next on my ‘to read’ list… Just have to get through the 2 I am working on now. Will try for an extra raw post re: it when I finish. (Challenge … accepted!)
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Funny because I just read your post and commented and our two posts have a connection in them don’t they. College. haha. Excellent! Thanks for the read! And the support. 🙂 When are you writing that college novel? There’s not enough of them out there!
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You’re in my head. Again. How does this keep happening?! 🙂 Not sure when I’ll get to writing that one, but you’re right, the world does need more of ’em.
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It’s scary right?! haha. You should be commenting on my blog… “GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!” 😉
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Started reading it today, on page 28 currently, Loving it so far =] I shall keep you updated on my progress!
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Hey Shane, thanks! I love updates! haha. 🙂 Can’t wait to hear what you think…
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Victoria, can we be BFF’s? I love your book, but you know this! I need more!!! 🙂 You rock!
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Of course we can be BFF’s! Definitely! Just send me an email any old time and I’ll write back, like a novel, cause that’s what I do! Then you can get your fill! haha. Also, if you want…I could use Beta Readers the next time I’m ready to publish? I’m writing new stuff all the time, but it’s nothing that’s ready to publish quite yet. Except blog stuff of course. You flatter me girl, truly. Can’t say I mind though. 🙂
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Ok I am so emailing you daily! (no lie, expect one from me in like 20 mins) So…I am touching up my review right now! I am a tweaker, and feel that it isn’t what it should be. I feel like I am not doing the book any justice. Seriously ANGST is one of my fave books of 2013! I need more. Oh this AT&T commercial is so me about Angst,- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48-tcRiBNj4 . Beta reader you say? I am here raising my hand if you need me! Me.me.me.! 😉 Ok I sounded totally desperate….maybe I am. Desperate times call for desperate measures, lol! But I shall be here if you ever need someone. You have my email addy 😀 Oh and you say flatter away??!?!?!!? Well Victoria Sawyer you totally rocked my world, and I loved every minute of it! Keep doing that and I will have more awesome things to say about you! 😉
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Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh……….!!!!!!!!!!!
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