I've said it dozens of times, and I still believe it is true: Blogging is NOT writing.
Maybe I spend too much time even thinking about book bloggers and what they write about. I'll admit that if I had to quantify the amount of time spent doing that, I probably think of lots of other things more often -- like what I'm going to have for dinner or colorful talking ponies.
Which reminds me. I had a dream about a hearse last night. I've never dreamed about a hearse before. It was white. I was following it in my dream, and the passenger door was open. The dream even gets creepier, about who and what was inside the hearse, but I'm not going to say it. I just mention this because of my preoccupation with superstition, and I figure if I die today or something, people will think I'm really cool.
But I'd be bummed because I'm going to see the Decemberists in concert tomorrow.
Anyway, about blogging and bloggers...
I thought about posting this because there's been a pretty intense and dramatic blog-o-battle going on this week, and I've been voyeuristically enjoying it.
I suppose it's a self-evident truth that anyone can have a blog.
So I always consider the source whenever I read a blog.
Some blogs are very good. They have voice and attitude and are obviously not the parroted blather that comes from the mouths of the blogger's network of friends.
I immediately write a blog off entirely if the person behind it can't spell and misuses apostrophes... or especially if they can't articulate the correct use of their, they're, and there; its and it's or your and you're. Which means I discount about 75% of all blogs as being vapid, meaningless, and... well, stupid.
A blogger has one chance and one chance only on the above list of words. That's it.
I try not to ever listen to stupid people, and if you're going to try and sell yourself as having a qualified opinion about books and writing, which, after all, are inextricably embedded in the English language, then get your tools right.
So the blogs I enjoy reading... they have something to say and they articulate their message well. They aren't merely friend-networks of like-minded shut-ins (hyphenation-gasm), which, unfortunately, too many blogs happen to be.
But then again, too many blogs are overly-adorned with colorful ponies or give book ratings based on pictures of one-through-five quantities of leprechauns and stuff like that.
If you want me to read you, and, more importantly, believe that you have something to say, then say something with your own voice and own it.
Is that a mean thing for me to say?
I'm not in a mean mood.
Even considering the weird dream about the hearse in the road.
Maybe I should put pictures of ponies on my blog.
19 comments:
ponies are scary. I prefer owls. Or rather, they prefer me.
Ha ha - yes, I pretty much have to agree with you on the overly adorned blog sites. Thankfully blogger allows us to keep ours neat and tidy. Found your site through a youtube video where the vlogger was talking about books for boys. Now I'm here I'll add you to my RSS feed.
Hope to read your books in the UK some day without having to import them!
Thanks, Liz. I really hope you get to read me in the UK too. I have quite an admiration of the UK, having spent many years there (and setting part of my last book there as well).
And, Jonathon, I have some owl stories for you.
You're fucking hilarious Andrew. I had no idea white hearses existed. In fact, now that I think about it, they probably don't. It WAS only a dream.
And I think I know the battle you're talking about. I saw it the other night, when there were still only about a hundred comments. It was fascinating to see all the vitriol that came about, but I felt dirty after reading it. Like I needed to go wash my eyes.
It reminded me of a train wreck, or Jersey Shore. I did not want to watch. God knows I didn't, but I couldn't wrench my eyes away ...
Yeah... a lot of those comments got really personal and nasty.
In all honesty, we have to accept that -- because anyone can have a blog -- some bloggers take themselves far too seriously (especially some of the ones who can't spell) and are a bit overly-impressed by their self-inflated sense of importance.
I don't believe that anyone who makes weekly (or more frequent) trips to their favorite bookstore is ever influenced by book bloggers. Maybe print reviews, like NYT or even (ugh) LA Times, but not book bloggers.
Maybe that's just me being a snob, or being overly-impressed by my own self-inflated sense of autonomy, but it's what I believe.
I send lots of books out to bloggers. My own books at my own expense.
You know why?
Because I'll pretty much give any book I own to someone who enjoys reading, and that's the only thing most bloggers have going for them.
I enjoy reading blogs by people who obviously love books and reading, and appreciate the broader spectrum of what's available out there.
But the catty, competitive, oh-look-I-got-this-ARC-before-YOU-did-and-aren't-you-jealous-of-ME-ME-ME???? bloggers should definitely stay home, shut themselves in, and be strongly encouraged not to breed.
... and publishers should STOP FEEDING THEM.
You've got a damn good point there. And it does sometimes seem like it's either black or white in blogging. As in either all salt and competition, or all roses and smoke being blown gently up each other's asses.
That's actually the reason I started coming back here like a junkie since the moment I discovered you. It's a really refreshing departure from that game.
*tries to avoid using their, they're, and there; its and it's or your and you're in this comment*
So, um, HI! I've been blogging for 3 years. And no it's not writing. But it does help with the routine and mechanics of writing (if you're a writer).
I am also a newspaper columnist and there can be a bit of BS involved there too. Things get slanted etc. and I'll stop there.
The point is that you'll always find garbage sitting alongside gems no matter where you look.
*off to find more pony pictures* :D:D
Super jealous that you'll be seeing The Decemberists in concert, but I'll admit, The King is Dead has yet to connect with me. But for the sake of the $10 I squandered on it, I'll make a connection somehow.
Ever since I left the sandbox I don't have a clue what's going on but I did give a bag of books to a friend today - Ghost Medicine, The Marbury Lens (my brand new first edition not the ARC), and In the Path of Falling Objects. She was excited about reading them because there were NO vampires, fairies or boy wizards. LOL (bc I love text speak).
After watching your video yesterday I'm really wanting to pick up Gone by Michael Grant.
After reading this and the comments, I'm grateful to remain in ignorance about the blogger-battle. But it seems like, either way, people will sort themselves according to motive and need. I myself am pretty overwhelmed by all the blogs out there, and to keep myself from going crazy, limit my visitation to the ones that say things I find interesting. Like this one.
Dude, it wasn't a hearse. It was a limo. And it was waiting to take you to prom in a light blue tux with ruffles.
Shelley
Holy shit!!! Did you go to high school with me???
i don't know anything about a battle, but i have difficulty judging people based on typos. i guess it's because i'm a dishwasher by trade and i know a lot of good-intentioned people with big hearts and a slippery grasp on the english language. i sort of see the point of anyone being able to have a blog differently than you. there are all kinds of different reasons to blog. some people want to sell books or make contacts. others are lonely. some seeking critique partners. i blog because there is so much information about learning how to write out there, and i want to learn.
i don't know. i kind of feel like everyone has things to teach us if we are willing to listen and sort through the garbage to find the gems. but i'm probably wrong.
i'm glad i didn't see that fight. that sounds terrible. but i hope that such a clever person as you doesn't stop listening to everyone who is less clever- that won't leave all that many people left.
I like aspiring's point, but I think it's out of context. Andrew is talking about writers and book bloggers. These are folks who have a profession based on the mechanics and proper manipulation of the English language.
Dialect is a wonderful thing and it's an intrinsic part of our culture as humans, so again, I agree with you there.
I took Andrew's point to specifically apply to writers and bloggers who claim to be about diversity and bringing about the end of adversity within the publishing world, but they blog each day about a different version of the same book. That's hundreds and hundreds of reviews about books that publishers choose. The writer sings his or her praises about the books and fifty young readers go out and buy the books. Good for the publisher, bad for the writers out there with high-quality books, but little backing by those with a say (publishers and high-profile bloggers).
The publishing world's food chain is not a circle. It's a twisted and distorted shape with a superficial base that is going to collapse in on itself.
Breaking out of the cycle is like jumping off a roller coaster before the big decent. So I am told. Haven't been there yet.
Waiting in the queue.
Aspiring's comment made me lie awake in bed, thinking about things. It made me feel bad and guilty, too.
Well said, A_X.
I hope today's blog, which is a kind of response to my own guilt, doesn't discourage you.
"Breaking out of the cycle is like jumping off a roller coaster before the big decent. So I am told. Haven't been there yet".
Decent or descent.....
Ummm.... careful when you point the finger guys.
Ha ha!!! Someone needs some pony therapy...
I feel like I am constantly playing catch-up these days. I intended to leave a comment after you first posted this, but didn't get a chance until now.
Anyway... I was basically going to say what Matthew said. I love that your blog is a break from the pretentious cliques that many bloggers have formed (not all, but many). It reminds me of high school, and I didn't particularly like high school so it seems kind of stupid to me.
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