| (See what I did there? Twisting Anton's title from yesterday? Isn't that clever of me?) I blog...well, I blog in large part because it's easier than standing around outside with a copy of my book, jumping up and down and waving it in the air while shouting, "Look at MEEEE! Look at MEEEEEE!" But I also blog because it's fun. I like blogging. It's my own little platform for my own little opinions. It's a way to connect with other people, too, which is certainly valuable these days. Not just for promo, but for companionship. I love my blog friends. I love the people who read my blog. I notice when they stop popping in to comment. I cheer when good things happen to them and feel awful when bad things happen to them. It's nice. It makes me feel like I'm part of something. I've been blogging for years, since...late 2003, in fact. I started with a livejournal, a personal one. Then when I sold my first December Quinn stories I started a new one. Then I found Miss Snark, and along with her a whole community of writers I liked. People whose words and thoughts I enjoyed. And I actually got to become part of that. People actually link to me. They read my thoughts. They say nice things about my work--and I don't even pay them, can you believe it? Writing my blog and reading others has made me feel like there is always someone out there to talk to. And I love reading author blogs. To me a website isn't nearly as important as a blog. It's on a blog that I get a sense of an author's voice and personality. Do they have the same sort of sense of humor as me? Do they like the same movies? Because if they do, I'll probably like them and their books. And if I already like their books, it's a way for me to keep up to date, to find out what's happening in their head as they write the next book, or when that book will come out, or what new stuff they're working on. See, we get entertainment news in other industries. We can go on IMDB (ahh...IMDB...) and see what movies are in production, and who's in them. We can read music magazines to see who's working on a new album. But there's no way to tell, before a book appears on Amazon for pre-order, what an author is working on unless you visit their site or blog. There's no big clearing-house website that tells you what everyone is up to. In a way maybe that's good. But I like to know. I like to anticipate. I like to get the occasional sneak peek. Yes, my blog is promo, and as we march ever closer to the Personal Demons release I'll be doing more of it--more excerpts, more contests, more discussion of the book itself. But honestly, I always feel kind of bad doing too many promo posts, because I owe my blog friends some real interaction. Maybe that will change when the book comes out, or the subsequent books (got word today that the Personal Demons sequel, The Demon Inside, is tentatively scheduled for a January '09 release!) Maybe my blog readership will expand or change and will be more interested in that sort of thing as opposed to what it is now, where I rant about stuff. (I already notice a distinct difference in tastes between my Blogger readers and my Livejournal readers.) But for the past few years, and for now, I blog because I like to. I blog because it makes me feel like I'm contributing something, like I'm getting my name out there, and like I'm not alone in this big crazy world. And that's one of the best feelings there is. |
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gosh, I feel so shallow now!
I have to say that I recently jumped on the wagon and love it. I am a totally addicted to the whole blog world. I find myself checking out different blogs on the different sites I visit. I mean after all that is how I found this site ;) I agree with you regarding authors I love to see what they are working on and what their taste are in other things. It makes me evaluate if I would enjoy their books! Great post.
I check blogs more than any other sites. In fact, I can barely remember how I used to entertain myself before I found writerly bloggings. On slow days when no one is updating, I wrack my brain on that one. The personal contact element, though, makes it invaluable.
Now give Anton some Pez to make him feel better.
Well said, D, blogging is companionship without complications.
I'm with you on the community aspects. I love my little blogging circle of friends, and it's been fun watching everyone's progress over the last couple of years.
I enjoy the blogging too, although sometimes it is pretty time consuming to visit and comment on all the great blogs I've linked to.
Aaw, Anton, that's okay. We like shallow people. :-)
And we're glad you found us, too, Sarai! To me blogs are much more valuable than websites themselves--they're always changing and they're interactive. :-)
Lol, TM, I know what you mean. Days when nobody's blogging are just no fun, are they?
What a great way to put it, Bernard. That's exactly it!
I know, Jaye, it's cool isn't it? Seeing where everyone is going now and how much their lives have changed.
I agree, Charles. It's hard for me to visit everyone's blog these days, not like it used to be. I'm busier all-around now, which is good for me but also a shame.