This Is Dave Place...

"I enjoy writing about things that most people think about but don't usually talk about"...

That’s exactly what you will find when reading This is Dave Place, one of blogs I follow. 

As the lead singer of Phone Calls From Home, having spent a good amount of time on the road, he always has something to share.  Although unfamiliar with his music as it wasn't the genre I would normally find myself listening to, I was first introduced to Dave a few years back while working at a show where his band was walking around handing out cards for their site to people waiting in line to promote their music; since then I've been following his blog. 

Unlike many other blogs, rather than focusing on a single topic, Dave touches upon anything and everything that occurs in the day to day life of a twenty something.   From how terrible your twenties can be, to the loss of a loved one, to over analyzing things, to making the most out of life, to meeting a lady crying in an airport, he manages to include it all in a single blog, and surprisingly, it makes sense. 

Looking past the content, the frequency of his posts is rather unique as well. For the most part, there seems to be two extremes; at times there will be a new post every few days; yet, at other times as many as eight months may pass between posts.  While initially somewhat irritating, over 

time, I have have come to know that's simply how the blog is written; that’s Dave. 

 

In applying aspects of his blog to my own posts, there are a few characteristics of his writing style that I plan to focus on:

• Straight Forward: While still written respectfully, he’s straight forward, blunt, and to the point.  Rather than beating around the bush, he simply writes what he feels. This adds a sense of sincerity to the blog and makes it easier to relate to.  

• Writing How He Speaks:  Instead of using fancy jargon, Dave’s posts are written in the same manner as he speaks; while reading them it doesn't feel like you're reading an essay or formal writing, but rather feels as if he's talking directly to you.

• Writing with Purpose: Regardless of the post’s topic, Dave’s adamant about writing each post with a greater purpose in mind.  Case in point, in the blurb for his blog he has written, “ I hope you can find something in here to relate to or to take away with you. Or even better, something that can take you away. From your cares and worries, if even for the moment. Read. Enjoy. Find happiness, Find purpose. And then, maybe, you'll Find yourself".   

Even with his unpredictable blogging presence, I've come to look forward to getting a notification when there's a new post, and as someone that has never been much into following blogs until the past year or so, that's saying a lot.