When a personal blog gets personal -- or becomes the subject of an essay in the LA Times

Wow. When I wrote that last post, I had no idea my essay would be published so soon! Like, um, today!

Here it is, in the Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times:

The first time I blogged about a boyfriend, he broke up with me a week later. David didn't know about the blog, so it wasn't something he'd read; rather, I had jinxed my relationship status by announcing it. Or so I told myself, and the few readers who received my sheepish, embarrassed explanation. Perhaps, had I considered why it took five months to write about him, I might have realized that the relationship, not my acknowledgment of it, was the problem.

Click to keep reading.

Some things you should know:

1. All names have been changed. Regular readers of this blog maybe have figured that out or might be a bit confused.

2. Word requirements for this section are 600-650 words. My first draft came in close to 900, and I managed to edit it down to 649 before submitting. I cut out a lot of fun, frivolous fodder, toned down my allegiance to alliteration, and generally, I realized that the old saying is true: when it doubt, cut it out. Makes for a tighter read. They cut another 30 words or so, but otherwise, it's nearly identical to the essay I sent in, and I am very happy with it.

Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments and support and for being such fabulous readers. Many of you are fabulous writers yourselves, and you inspire me every day. I hope to submit a few more column ideas over the coming weeks and months, and, while I have no desire to quit my day job, I'm more than a little bit hooked on this feeling.