I both thoroughly enjoy and have significant anxiety about the act of writing. Part of the reason I started this blog was to give myself a consistent channel through which to express myself in awkward, rambling written words as opposed to my awkward, mumbling speech. However, as time has gone by, I’ve been less and less reliable with posting here, with 2018 being particularly barren of content. This failure spurred me into seeking out other places to scratch my writing itch, and in April, I was lucky enough to find Comic Book Resources.
Comic Book Resources (CBR for short, because if I have to write that one more time I will just resort to copy-and-paste until the end of time) is what I would call a nerd culture site. It keeps those interested in comic books, superhero films, and most off-centre television up-to-date with the latest happenings in each field. After months of frustration at my lack of drive to write, I applied to be a freelance writer there. They seemed to like my writing style, and after an initial trial period, I soon melded with the sea of other writers on the site.
Writing for CBR has given me a great deal of satisfaction. Although I started out writing about Marvel moustache contests and Mark Hamill’s views on Luke Skywalker’s sex life, I have gained confidence in myself on the site. I have started doing more substantial pieces, like announcements for new comics from my favourite creators.
It has also been humbling to see the scale of CBR. It is one of the largest sites of its kind, and the viewership of some of my more popular pieces have been more than this blog’s entire history. While it is not surprising that more people are interested in learning who’s playing President Robert Redford in the upcoming Watchmen series than hearing about my mundane life, it certainly puts things in stark perspective.
Arguably the biggest impact that CBR has had on my writing is showing me the power of a good, dedicated editor. The editorial staff have been able to elevate some of my more pedestrian writing into sharp, focused pieces. I have definitely grown as a writer there.
So, if you’re interested in checking out some of my attempts at journalism, you can find a full list of my articles here. I’ve enjoyed the experience immensely, and the more regular output has helped me hone my skills as a writer. I look forward to using the lessons I’ve learned there to keep you better informed and entertained here.