Absolute Write Blog Chain July 2009
I’ve taken part in a July edition of the Absolute Write Blog Chain — ah, the good ol’ days! At the end of the entry, we need to ask the next blogger a question. Benjamin Solah was before me and he asked me this:
Does your online writing and presence help or hinder your other writing projects? How would like to better adjust your online work to cater to your offline writing or creating?
Firstly, it must be said that I am not doing much, if any, serious writing these days. This is quite obvious from the nature of my posts over the last couple of years. Fortunately, the little smidgen of writing that is going on in my life is just enough to keep me in touch, and to be able to honestly answer Benjamin’s question.
My web journal is the main writing that I am doing, and this helps me because it’s still writing nevertheless. It keeps my brain stimulated. This “work” is very different to what I would write (and have written) offline. There are a couple of ways that I could use the web presence as an advantage, which has worked for me in the past. One is posting snippets online of my offline work, and then using any feedback given constructively. Sometimes, the feedback gives me the warm and fuzzies, and serves as a nice personal validation for me.
I think the only adjustment that I could really make is to decrease the amount of time I spend writing online! And this is purely because I am trying to juggle a gazillion things at the moment: I’m also a mummy that has launched a new online business — need I say more? If I had to choose between a colourful web journal and a polished piece good enough for submission, then, er, give me the latter thanks! I love contributing to my web journal, it’s fun and it makes me feel connected, but developing my other writing is far more important.
(Excuse me while I laugh at myself. It’s easy for me to write that, ’cause for the time being, there’s no actual “other writing” going on over here.)
The other great thing about the web stuff is that it’s a brilliant procrastination. Well, depending on which way you look at it, as it may not be so great, but I (like most writers) have a deep fear of submitting my work. The web writing is a way for me to avoid the rigmarole of it all. I don’t quite know what I am waiting for. Really.
I guess I’ve made it sound like the online writing is coming off as a hindrance, and that may be true, but to be honest, I like the groove that I am in, and I like what the web offers me today. And although my writing bone may be brittle at the moment, the good news is that I am still creating! (Besides, I have promised myself that I will make a comeback some day. Complete with ‘68-comeback-special-style black leather suit and everything.)
Cheers to Benjamin for the question. Next up is Lady Cat of Random Thoughts and I would like to ask her:
If you had to publish a book for writers starting out (think King’s ‘On Writing’ or Bradbury’s ‘Zen In The Art…’), what kind of approach would YOU take?
In order, here are the very cool participants of the blog chain:
- DniC: Four-Lettered Words
- BigWords: The Graveyard
- Fokker Aeroplanbau: I’m Always Right, Far Right
- harri3tspy: spynotes
- Razibahmed: Blogging37
- Forbidden Snowflake: Delirious…
- bsolah: Benjamin Solah, Marxist Horror Writer
- jen.nifer: Live I Must
- Lady Cat: random thoughts
- Fame<Infamy: Ambiguous Vindication
- Rosemerry: Beyond Tourism: Florida’s Yesteryear
- aimeelaine: Aimee Laine
- Proach: Deanna’s Information Center
- Apelle: Ghost Words and Other Echoes
- lostwonderer5: Lost Wanderers Writing Blog
- upsidedowngirl: UpSideDownGrl’s Writing Blog
- JamieMT: The Variety Pages
July 21st, 2009 at 10:09 pm
I loved your answer. It was very honest. And I guess part of my reason for asking is that, myself included, writers can be distracted or impeded by their online writing as it’s procrastination but I believe the solution is to not just cut it out completely.
I guess there’s less pressure with blogs like this, as you don’t have to meet someone else’s standard in order for it to get read.
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:48 am
Great answer…and I think it’s good that even with just a “smidgen” of private writing getting done, you’re still content to be where you’re at – very important.
I think writing online really keeps me writing offline. And as you say, it’s writing *something*, at least. The more I write, the more I *want* to write, and since there’s an immediate audience online, it’s easier to stay motivated and keep writing, for me anyways.
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:35 am
I think writing online definitely gives me more of a sense of instant gratification. It’s pretty tempting since you can reach your audience a lot easier than say, going through the whole song and dance to publication.
It is a very honest answer. Just got to keep plug along? =]
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:24 am
Great answer. I can’t decide whether it’s a gift or a pain – I think a bit of both. There is a great amount of information to be found on the Internet, and not to mention that socialising with other writers is a wonderful thing too. On the other hand, I do sometimes end up spending too much time doing that.
As wise old people say…everything in moderation (A concept I still have to grasp :P)
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:04 am
Great answer and very honest and also very much similar to what I would have said. Except for I run no business and am no mother. But online writing keeps me writing and keeps me motivated for offline writing.
July 22nd, 2009 at 12:21 pm
As a mother trying to finish a PhD, I identify with a lot of what you say. I find my online writing pulls me through a lot simply because I’ve made a habit of writing daily. So even when I’m stuck on a research jag without getting much writing on my current project done, it helps me. It sounds like you find it the same.
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I really admire the honesty of your answer and I think it’s one we can all relate to on some level. There are times when I get in a slump and it feels like the only writing I get done is on-line, but at least it keeps me writing.
An online business and motherhood? Yikes!
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:32 am
It may not be a sentiment shared by many people, but I feel deeply guilty about not writing when things crop up to stymie the writing process. Anything that keeps the gears moving is important, especially when you have other things to distract you.
Kudos for the brave answer. I guess writing for a blog is, im many ways, similar to any commitment to put words down. Keep plugging away at the words, even if it is just for the blog, ’cause every word counts.
I know it may not be the same for everyone, but posts I have written for the blog have managed to work their way into ideas that have been nibbling away at the back of my mind. A blog may just be the place to test-run ideas before you commit to them in a longer form.
July 26th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Online writing works great for me. The thing that I enjoy most is the fact that thousands of people read my entries every month.
I liked the way you answered the question of Benjamin. It was very honest but at the same time it gave all of us some pleasure.
January 11th, 2010 at 11:56 am
Hey, I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say GREAT blog!…..I”ll be checking in on a regularly now….Keep up the good work! :)
I’m Out! :)