Kylyssa on Squidoo

Squidoo has had a big impact on my life, both as a writer and as a human being.  I've written on a bunch of other websites but the Squidoo experience is not the same.

I discovered Squidoo back in February of 2008.  I found Squidoo in a list of social bookmarking sites so I assumed it was something like Reddit or Digg.  I registered with Squidoo to start bookmarking but I was quickly confused.

You see, Squidoo isn't really a social bookmarking site at all.  It is a writing site, a place for people to show off their words, their art, and their ideas.  It's a way to get what's deepest inside you out where it can be shared.  I didn't figure that out for about a year.

I am a high-functioning autistic.  I can communicate verbally enough to get by in most situations but getting by just isn't good enough.  It's no way to live, keeping everything inside and only saying what it takes to make other people think I'm normal.   Squidoo is a place I can share what's inside me.  While I write to survive, Squidoo is not like my work.  There are no deadlines, no target demographics, and no limits on subject.  I suppose that makes me a bit like a professional chef who likes to relax by cooking dinner at home. 

On Squidoo I can talk about the time I spent homeless or have a conversation about atheism.  I can share my favorite recipes and brag about the latest cakes I've made.  I can talk about my pets and share my ideas about how to care for them.  I can have conversations just like other people do.  Only for me, they take place on Squidoo.  Writing for a living gave me a professional voice but Squidoo has given me a personal voice.