Writing Process Blog Hop

To be honest, I am just a tad concerned that I’m quite a non-social blogger and almost never participate in these communal activities – especially those which require you to nominate others for blog awards, answer personal questions then tag fellow bloggers. This however stands out because it made me sit down and think. Thanks to fellow Singaporean blogger Evelyn who asked if I wanted in on this!

I met Evelyn about 10 years ago when we were working together to form the Music For Good Society. She was then a post-graduate student (I think) while I was a school teacher. 10 years on, she has 2 kids and is blogging about motherhood, whereas I’m pining for motherhood while blogging about… juvenile stuff (?).

I love Evelyn’s blog – especially when she posts about learning opportunities and the activities she creates for her children. I would love to be that kind of mother someday…

1. What am I working on?

I work on my trusty 6-year old unibody MacBook or hammer out entire posts on my pink iPhone 5c. What?

*koffkoff* In a more general sense, I am working on creating a lifestyle blog that is integral to my personality yet separate from my identity. Clichéd as it might sound, I want to be frivolous and irreverent whenever appropriate because I have multiple opportunities to be level-headed and responsible (hello real life). The title of my blog should have clued you in, no? Trivial pursuits are harder than some make it out to be…

I am constantly trying not to overthink or make too many plans for what to put on the blog so as not to take away the joy of fatuous spontaneity. Outside of the few sponsored posts I publish, I post something when I actually do have something I want to share.

At this moment, there are 3 key components to the lifestyle elements – mostly fatshion; increasingly more about vegetarianism; and in smaller doses, domesticity.

2. How does my work differ from others in the genre?

Fatshion is essentially Fat + Fashion. I don’t want to be a fat activist or join the body positive movement to talk about shaming the thinspo camp or lament about all the things I’ve been deprived of because I was obese growing up. I’m not proud that I’m fat, I know I’m fat because I’m 15kg overweight and that’s just it – but that doesn’t deter me from frolicking in bright, flashy clothes. My message is here are the clothes I wore despite my excess flab and you can buy them from there. (There are also other non-average women like me who lead pretty colourful lives too – check them out HERE)

As a non-PETA supporting vegetarian, I will not show you heart-wrenching videos of a cow defecating all over itself while being decapitated in non-humane circumstances (Morrissey I’m looking at you) then yell at you to “GO ENJOY THAT BLOODY STEAK OF YOURS NOW!”. I would much rather show you all the delicious things I eat, where to get them or how easy it is to make them. And oh, by the way, they are all meat free too.

People are just too caught up with all that hate, angst and tragedy. I don’t want any part of it when I can choose to.

3. Why do I write what I do?

What wastedfashion is, is essentially the highlight reel of one small part of my personal life. I am privy to the self-indulgence factor and I encourage whoever wants to to partake while knowing full well that they will do so with discerning discretion. I’m not being dishonest. Surely nobody thinks that I’m that one-dimensional – that all I do is fuss over what to wear all day long and where to shop next. Do I wish that was all I did? Here’s a clear resounding NO! I treasure the experiences my multi-faceted life presents even if I do find myself drowning in overwhelming realities sometimes.

People get too caught up in the humdrum that is daily life and forget the little silly things that can make up the best parts of their day. My blogging rationale is that most people have their own deadlines to meet and mortgage payments to contend with – why would anybody be interested in mine?

People at the office were constantly asking me what I was wearing and I knew for a fact that not everyone who asked where I got my clothes from were genuinely interested in where to buy them. Many were obviously judging me. As long as I know I haven’t violated any decency laws or breached official dress codes, I’m free to wear what I want and I’ll tell you, no holds barred. Self-sanctioned fashion police have no jurisdiction here.

When this blog started it was a frivolous outlet for my friends and I. It was just fun to steal a couple of minutes from the mundane routine of the cubicles to just do something inane. The outfit posts usually takes me all of 10 minutes at the start of the work day to take photos, put together a description and upload. Then it was back to budgets, approval papers, schedules, meetings… ho hum diddly dum…

Also, in the beginning, I was just the face of the blog, there were other co-conspirators and content contributors – those were fun times…

4. How does my writing process work?

My writing process is less complicated than… breathing (which is actually a very complex affair if you think about it). I picture my target audience – who is it for? Is it for me? Yes, cool. Let’s do it! 

It’s a blog, people!! Why so serious?

In all seriousness, I do actually just cobble something together on the spur of the moment instead of spending time making notes then composing a convoluted piece of literary whatever. It’s very stream of consciousness even if I do however re-read after publishing something and am known to edit 1,000 times if I’m not satisfied. Sometimes. In reality, I consciously choose frivolity over verbosity. Anytime.

If you’re someone trying to start a blog, I’d say write what you know and keep going. You have to find joy in what you do before it will trickle down to your audience. If you’re trying to monetize your blog, get freebies or be popular, then I have nothing of value to offer you because wastedfashion isn’t it. Like many who do as I do, this is a great place to start if you want to exchange ideas with likeminded individuals. I find inspiration in how others live their lives and I want to share the best slices of mine.

And please, refrain from apologies when having been absent from your personal blog unless you’re contractually obligated to produce content. Nobody dies when you have writer’s block or are too busy living life to record your experiences.

Did I study writing? Yes. Can I teach writing? Yes and I have. Am I a writer? No. There, I said it. I don’t take my blogging very seriously and neither should you. If you like the ditzy nature of it, I’d like to invite you to please continue enjoying my exercises in trivial pursuits.

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In continuing with the blog hop, please hop onto these next 3 blogs I’d like to recommend. They will be publishing their writing process post on the 28th of July (next Monday).

1. JuanitaTortilla

Juanita and I have known each other for almost 30 years. We were primary school classmates at the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (Toa Payoh) but we were never really close friends then and even though we attended the National University of Singapore at the same time, we basically had no contact with each other till after we found each other on Facebook. The strange thing was, we became closer friends when we stopped living in the same country. She blogs about her adventures living in various countries as a trailing spouse, her cat loving and her innovative upcycling craft business.

2. Curves Become Her

I’ve never met Aarti in person even though I lived in Singapore till a year ago. She’s super ultra friendly, actively engages other bloggers and often commented on my posts (and that’s how I knew her) – whereas I hardly visit other blogs and I almost never leave comments. She’s vocal and she’s out there constantly blogging about the various challenges in life, openly encouraging people to embrace their own flaws etc.

3. Adventures of a girl from Naki

I can’t actually remember how I got connected with Trees at the start, but a few years ago, she left a comment on my blog and mentioned that she was visiting Singapore. I got her to email me so I could recommend her some things to do and places to go. In the end, I took some time off work to hang out with her and showed her around the island! Trees lives in New Zealand with her partner Rich and blogs about their adventures – they travel A LOT, also she showcases her awesome dress-making skills with her outfit posts (which makes me totally envious because she has limitless new clothes all the time).