When I started this blog in May 2013, I envisioned it as a word nerd’s lair. Book reviews and adjectival clauses and discussions on Roland Barthes galore! And then I actually started writing the blog regularly. I quickly found that there are not enough words in my vocabulary to talk about writing topics ad infinitum.
The subjects that filled my mind instead were much more interesting to me. I wrote about being a petite girl with belly bulge. I broke down my problem with using the terms Uncle Tom and Aunt Jemima too conveniently. And I even was asked to write about how feeling bullied at the birth of my daughter later gave me strength to stand up for myself.
Someone told me when I first started blogging that my voice would find me, but I first had to speak. And now, at the end of the year, I do believe I’ve found my writing voice. I am deeply invested in writing about how race and popular culture influence our lives; in offering a balanced perspective to issues many find polarizing; in letting my nerdy flag fly because my culture includes nerd culture; in describing the poignancy and anguish that we encounter just by living.
Confession: I have no idea what Reckless Acts of Punctuation really means. I made it up and it sounded like a good idea at the time.
Phew! That felt kind of good to get off my chest, because I means that I don’t have to attempt to focus the blog on what I think my own title might mean. So, I have been brainstorming for months about a new title. That deluge of thoughts led me to ponder a new look entirely, a free-standing domain name, and that brings me to this:
I’m excited to announce that on January 1, 2014, this blog will cease to exist under the title “Reckless Acts of Punctuation.”
Santa came early and fixed me up new digs at a completely different URL and with a cleaner design. I will continue posting here for the next 11 days, but this site will go dark on December 31 to get its own makeover for my freelancing business. I won’t reveal the name of the “new” blog until January 1.
If you like what I’ve been writing here for the past eight months, then I hope you’ll follow me to my new website. The content and the writer will be exactly the same. 🙂 If you are currently subscribed, then your subscription will transfer automatically. There’s so much to read out there; I am humbled and delighted that you stop by my little house of words. Gracias, my peoples.
Do you have any exciting things planned for 2014? A new haircut? A move? Spill the beans!
dara t. mathis 
Thank you for reading and for taking the time to holler at me 🙂 I enjoy our conversations. And you KNOW Q is weird like that, so it totally doesn’t surprise me that you saw an episode with him recently. (BTW, I remember that one! One of my mom’s faves).
I’ll be looking out for it 🙂
I almost cried a little…in my left eye….rip left eye. Yeah, I’m still currently thinking of what i want my blog to be in 2014, still got a few manifestos collecting dust in the draft…stay tuned and whatnot
Tell the truth. “The Man shut you down.” We both could say the previous line and mean two very different things, huh?:O) I just finished backing up all my data. It’s really too much for me to handle. That’s what she….oh wait, am I supposed to do that here? Anyway, I got a lot. My goal is to prepare my data in such a way that it can be downloaded into a cybernetic being. As Ra’s al Ghul says, “There are many forms of immortality.” Ideally, my very own consciousness should be used, but the technology will probably not be there for that. You got to be realistic about these things, Dara. Sheesh!!! :O) But yeah, I plan on being the basis for the greatest of heroes. All my knowledge will be passed on to a new host.They’ll probably make a movie about her<–That's right, the cybernetic being will be a female. You didn't see that coming, did you? See how the feminism has warped you? But yeah, they'll chronicle her adventures as she slays the few remaining feminist witches. I imagine my story will be told in a prequel.
Good luck with the new blog. Looking forward to it.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! I’m very excited for you! I’ve only started following you recently but you’ve inspired me sooo much! My favorite post of yours…. Your review on 12 years a slave. It was amazingly insightful and I loved how you were able to take my thoughts and turn them into an eloquent blog post. Plus it has always been fun to talk about music and yes, those nerdy moments that I share as well. Which reminds me, I meant to tell you that after our conversation about Q from Star Trek, that night an episode came on where he lost his powers. Just a little coinky-dink. But anyways; thank you for all the wonderful stories! I can’t wait to see what is to come in the new year. Congrats!
I’m honored to hear you say that. I hope you like it! Hint: there’s not a stitch of pink on it. I chose blue. 🙂
I hope you like it! I definitely tried to make it pretty but not prissy lol.
Thanks, Princess! I picked this current template out of a hat because it was the only one I didn’t hate. They make you pay for anything outside of what you see…and the all-purple was getting on my nerves!
But I was just getting used to the feel! 🙂 It’s all good. I’m happy for you! I’m glad that you are expanding and growing and doing more with your writing. You inspire me. And for a random title with no real meaning, Reckless Acts of Punctuation is pretty good. 😉
I’m excited to see your new site!
You had me scared! I often feel you are the voice of home I often need to hear. Topics I feel I can’t fully engage because distance. Weird, I know. I look forward to checking out the new digs. 🙂