The end of the year is always a time for reflection, isn’t it? At least, it feels that way to me. This year feels like one more in need of that than ever before. It was definitely a year of transition for me. I left a career of over two decades to start over (sort of) in a completely but (sort of) related field. Likewise, this blog has experienced a big change as well as Rhonda has decided that it is best that she exits. All of this has led me to think quite a bit about what I would like this blog to be, how I would like it to fit into my life and more.
When Rhonda decided to leave and I blogged about the future of the blog, I was overwhelmed with the support. I tend to be pretty quiet and reserved until people really know me. My time on social media is sporadic and rarely focused on Duran or the fan community. In the last few years, I have needed it differently. Therefore, I didn’t know if people would even feel like they know me at all and, more importantly, I didn’t know if they would care if I continued or not. Yet, for the most part, people really would love to see this blog continue in some way, shape or form. At the same time, people were SO understanding that I would not be able to do everything on my own. So many people suggested that I blog when and if I wanted to, that I should not feel the pressure of maintaining that “Daily” label. I appreciate the concern and understanding, recognizing that my job (organizing for a pro-democracy organization) will take up time as will caring for my aging parents. Additionally, many, many fans offered to help, whether that was with social media, writing or planning fan events. (If you want to help, just let me know! The more the merrier!)
After much thinking, I think I have a plan moving forward that I’m pretty excited about. When Rhonda and I started the blog, the idea was for it to be a place for Duranies to discuss the state of Duranie-dom. We wanted to bring fans together. Heck, that was the big reason that we chose to plan events. After all, we had met at a Duranie event so if we could do something to help other fans connect, then we would be happy. We knew what it was like to feel isolated in our fandom, to feel like we could not talk about it and we wanted to end that, not only for ourselves but for others.
I don’t know that our mission has changed now that it is my mission. I would still love to see this place and everything connected with it to be a place where fans can connect, where fans can express themselves, where fans can show what it is like to be Duranies. I would love the site to be less “mine” and more “ours”. I would love to see it as a place for all Duranies.
Now, this shift will take time. There will be a period of transition and, maybe, it won’t work. Maybe fans won’t want to participate as I hope but I would like to try. So, in terms of blog posts, I welcome anyone and everyone who wants to write. Each month, I’ll throw out some topics and would love to have people write about those topics. For instance, I would love to see people share what they think about Duran songs in more of a review format. Wouldn’t it be cool to see ten, fifteen, twenty reviews on the same song? Do we, the fans, all love some aspect of a song or is there discord amongst us? I, for one, would like to know. I know that a lot of people like the reviews that Rhonda and I did. While I don’t mind sharing (obviously) what I think, my opinion does not matter more than anyone else’s so I welcome everyone’s opinion! I figured it might be best to start with the most recent. So, during January, I would love to post reviews for Invisible and All of You. If you have an opinion about those songs (and I know you do), please send a review my way. Email it to dailyduranie@gmail.com. If you are looking for format, easy. Rhonda and I basically included some thoughts on instrumentation, vocals, lyrics and production but do not feel obligated to follow that format. The other big topic for January is to write about your favorite Duran concert. It might be the time that they performed the best or had the most amazing lights and videos supporting them. Perhaps, it was the most fun concert because of who you were with or where you were. Now, I recognize that not everyone has been able to see the band perform live. If that is you, write about what would make for the best Duran show. What is the ideal show? Again, how cool would it be to have ten, twenty, thirty blog posts about the best Duran show?! In addition, I would welcome blog posts about any other idea floating in your mind about Duran or the Duran fan community. It doesn’t have to be topic related.
While I would love to get enough blog posts thrown my way to post something each and every day, I have to be realistic as well. I know that I cannot write something everyday but I do want to honor what we started with this blog. Therefore, I will try to have some things to tweet/post about on social media. Again, I am super appreciative of those offering to help me with that to make sure that I have good content. I don’t want to tweet/post just to do it. I want it to be something that honors this blog and our collective fandom as well as the band and their work that inspired us to start this to begin with. That being said, I know that there might be times that I will miss a day or two or ten. I would ask for your understanding but I know that I already have it.
Okay. I think that’s it for now! Let me know if you want to help. Let me know if you want to submit some writing on the January topics or something else Duran/fandom related.
I look forward to this place being a place for all fans to “get connected”.
