Praying for attention.
If you have balls and some extra cash, you might try to see if the Rabbi can get you buzz.
Or not.
I've asked a dozen or so bloggers who are also writers and who I read daily - or as often as they succumb to the pressure and post - to answer those questions. If you are a writer/blogger and want to weigh in write me at [email protected]
Part 6 "The Blogging Thing" series: Susie Bright Blogs
Why do we do this blogging thing?
1. "To be all I can be." In publishing lingo, that means blogging offers us the chance NOT to be ghettoized.
Writers who live to write are SO sick of being pigeonholed as a "that cat writer," or "the sexpert" or "the chick lit mystery writer with chronic fatigue syndrome" -or WHATEVER.
We're so much more than that. In a blog, you can say it all, and no one can tell you "that doesn't fit our format." You don't have to compete with shoes, booze, and cooze in the men's magazines, or have the trendy angle on dating/fashion tips for the women's magazines. You get to be the multi-faceted YOU, call your own shots, and revel in your audience.
My blogs has my discussions of politics, whores, and my sewing patterns. And to my delight, it all makes perfect sense to my audience, who delight in the mix. They recognize that it's all one person, and that makes sense. It's conventional publishing that's gotten it all backwards.
2. You can get break a story and reap the rewards of that break.
I recently did an psychoanalysis expose of White House press corps hooker, Jeff Gannon. I had a hunch my story would be something of a sensation because no one else was analyzing his career as a long-term prostitute and how it works into Beltway politics so neatly.
If I had pitched that story to newspapers that I've written editorials before, I could easily imagine all the doubts, skepticism, and plundering that would ensue.
There would be the incredible yawning sexism that proclaims, "What? A girl? You're going to write about capital-P politics? Not on our masthead you won't!"
I'd have to deal with various "Richard the III" type manipulations of whose newsroom social ladder was crumbling, and whose was consolidating. NONE of this b.s. Would have had anything to do with the story, and I would have only been delayed and compromised getting it out.
Now, of course having a weekly column at the NY Times would be lovely, but that is just not going to be the case for 99% of political writers. Ironically, the only way you're every going to come to the attention of major editors is by forging your own way with your own scoops.
I am so glad I did this on my own. I got to see my blog numbers go through the roof, and read thousand of reactions to my piece all over the net. When you have something original and pertinent to say, the news truly does spread like a gasoline fire.
3. Blogging lets you have a life. I know that sounds counterintuitive, since blogging and reading others' blogs certainly sucks up the time and encourages insomnia. But in truth, you don't have to stick to a schedule, you can go through chatty spurts and quiet periods; you can change your style from poetry to grocery list and no one is going to turn you in. You don't have the pressure to fill up space with hot air. If you ever poop out and doubt yourself, you'll find total strangers writing to you and giving you a blog-pick-me-up treat
You make better friends blogging than you'd ever find on "Friendster" or even "Dogster." Now that's saying something.
This Blogging Thing : Cindy Smith's Conversations about Famous People
So far my blogging has- let me expose my inner wicked tongue. Blogging has afforded me the opportunity to receive mail from readers around the world who like my writing. People actually read my words! And they like it! And some don’t- so blogging has forced me to develop a rather thick skin.
Blogging has given me a stronger sense of confidence to approach other bloggers and editors and writers. I've been pushing myself to take risks I may not have taken.
The blog has let me run with my creativity and most importantly, has given me validation as a writer.
Recent Comments