Comments on: On the Internets, Briefly http://ericshonkwiler.com/2009/08/on-the-internets-briefly/ The continued life of an aspiring writer. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:10:12 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Noel http://ericshonkwiler.com/2009/08/on-the-internets-briefly/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Noel Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:44:32 +0000 http://ericshonkwiler.com/?p=85#comment-62 I've been ruminating on this for a while. I mean, some authors try to be present on the internet without saying much at all while others are themselves the whole time online. It's censorship because people try to put their best foot forward, but I don't think being silent does much at all in terms of getting someone to read your work. Does that make sense? I feel like I'm on the flipside of the problem, where I speak so much about my personal life and not about my writing life nor my academic life, so I feel like I have to force it into conversation. Anywho, about the acknowledgment thing. I have issues with that too. I smile at people. I make eye contact. And because of that, people don't think I'm from California. Or they think I'm leering at them or making a threat. It's unsettling. I’ve been ruminating on this for a while. I mean, some authors try to be present on the internet without saying much at all while others are themselves the whole time online.
It’s censorship because people try to put their best foot forward, but I don’t think being silent does much at all in terms of getting someone to read your work.

Does that make sense?

I feel like I’m on the flipside of the problem, where I speak so much about my personal life and not about my writing life nor my academic life, so I feel like I have to force it into conversation.

Anywho, about the acknowledgment thing. I have issues with that too. I smile at people. I make eye contact. And because of that, people don’t think I’m from California. Or they think I’m leering at them or making a threat.

It’s unsettling.

]]> By: Sebastian http://ericshonkwiler.com/2009/08/on-the-internets-briefly/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Sebastian Sat, 29 Aug 2009 01:02:24 +0000 http://ericshonkwiler.com/?p=85#comment-61 Definitely a very-contemporary (?) subject, and handled well! I wonder the same thing sometimes, about how it might impact me. I have a cousin that's a famous author -- and he has a very public blog. Doesn't seem to have hindered his success... in fact some say he's as popular as he is because of his blog, and how much info he shared about his work and his life. But yes, personally, I feel the same way about literary giants remaining nebulous, bearded figures that I can only begin to imagine. It's a bit like when you finally see a picture of some radio DJ that you've listened to for years and years. Mystery... dispelled. Definitely a very-contemporary (?) subject, and handled well! I wonder the same thing sometimes, about how it might impact me. I have a cousin that’s a famous author — and he has a very public blog. Doesn’t seem to have hindered his success… in fact some say he’s as popular as he is because of his blog, and how much info he shared about his work and his life.

But yes, personally, I feel the same way about literary giants remaining nebulous, bearded figures that I can only begin to imagine. It’s a bit like when you finally see a picture of some radio DJ that you’ve listened to for years and years. Mystery… dispelled.

]]> By: Kristan http://ericshonkwiler.com/2009/08/on-the-internets-briefly/comment-page-1/#comment-60 Kristan Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:07:56 +0000 http://ericshonkwiler.com/?p=85#comment-60 I pretty much agree with you. When I dreamed about being an author, that dream did NOT involve desperately marketing myself via blogs, Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, etc. I understand now that I may not have much choice, but I can tell you this: If I ever get "big" enough to not have to, I probably won't. Like you said, I think there are better things I could be doing with my time. LIKE WRITING. (Or just straight up LIVING.) But I might keep blogging, potentially only in private for friends/family. It's a nice outlet, a little bit of non-fiction in my otherwise made-up worlds. :) I pretty much agree with you. When I dreamed about being an author, that dream did NOT involve desperately marketing myself via blogs, Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, etc. I understand now that I may not have much choice, but I can tell you this: If I ever get “big” enough to not have to, I probably won’t. Like you said, I think there are better things I could be doing with my time. LIKE WRITING. (Or just straight up LIVING.)

But I might keep blogging, potentially only in private for friends/family. It’s a nice outlet, a little bit of non-fiction in my otherwise made-up worlds. :)

]]> By: clowncar http://ericshonkwiler.com/2009/08/on-the-internets-briefly/comment-page-1/#comment-59 clowncar Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:48:43 +0000 http://ericshonkwiler.com/?p=85#comment-59 Synchronicity! Shay is singing this song all the time now (well, the first verse mostly). I put it on a mix CD I made for her birthday. I live my life. Then package it for the blog. And live it again, in a different way. That usually means imposing some sort of narrative flow. It grants my life more order than it had the first time around. Synchronicity!

Shay is singing this song all the time now (well, the first verse mostly). I put it on a mix CD I made for her birthday.

I live my life. Then package it for the blog. And live it again, in a different way. That usually means imposing some sort of narrative flow. It grants my life more order than it had the first time around.

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