I follow about 50 - 60 blogs with some regularity. I follow them at least enough to scan them and see if I want to read further. And I am always adding more to my list.

In recent weeks, I have seen no fewer than four bloggers discontinue blogging or express concern over their blogs and the impact that they are having on those around them. Namely, sharing personal stuff via their blog is not always sitting well with those who know and love them.

That is unfortunate.

Writers always walk this fine line ... we strive for a clear, honest, authentic voice and that can offend others. If, on the other hand, we completely fictionalize something, then we can give people some really strange ideas about ourselves.

It is a difficult line.

One issue can happen when we turn our writing into "emotional" things. This warning first came to me several years ago when I was warned against turning e-mail into emotional-mail. Sometimes it is easy to hide behind the keyboard, not realizing the impact we have on others. If we are to live out our lives with kindness, we need to keep that in mind, and be very careful what we write.

But, just the same, those who know people who blog and read their blogs need to give the blogger some room for artistic expression. Cut them some slack. Take things with a grain of salt.

As for my blogging, I am nearing 900 posts and I hope I have not torqued anyone off too badly during that time. Really, I try to remind myself that I am not writing for anyone to read it ... I am writing for myself ... a blog is a great way to keep track of things and hope that someone else's server is always backed up and doesn't crash ... rather than just worry about my own.