I’m just an old ‘sixties rebel from Kansas City by way of Southern California, and I started writing here two years ago because this was where the Big Kids of Writing (and Poetry and Photography and Art) were blogging. The comment strings were smart and funny and as good as the great posts they dangled from. I was scared to death to jump in the pool but did – wrote a post about kissing, of which I’m still proud – and got lucky: Verbal Remedy (aka Denise Montgomery) commented favorably on it.
I spent a good part of today going back through the archives of Open writers that I’ve admired since I started here. Here are just a few links, if you’re interested in seeing what great stuff is back there.
Steven Axelrod: "The One Who Got Away: Flying Weather"
Sandra: "A Few Moments Here and There"
Verbal Remedy: "Stock Up On Loofahs While You Can"
So when I started, that’s what I aspired to: to write as well as they do. And I read their work and commented on their pieces when I got my nerve up, and I kept writing. I figured if I got even sort of close to that good, people would read my stuff because they liked it. I mean, that’s what I’m always looking for, things that are interesting or funny or moving, full of sentences I wish I’d written, smart writing, beautiful stuff.
Everyone’s done at least a little of the quid pro quo stuff – I read and comment on your post, you do the same for me – and that includes me, back when. It’s how you let people know who you are, showing your face, being nice, and that’s okay.
But after a while I found that the writing on some of the blogs I went to because someone had commented on mine was, to be kind, not interesting. Or funny or moving or beautifully written. And even with encouragement, would likely not be.
So I read the piece but clicked away. And after I did it that first few times, I realized that I felt better doing that instead of saying something I didn’t mean. And I sure felt better after those folks mostly stopped coming to my blog. I just feel more comfortable with the ratings on a piece, even if it’s only 20 or 30, if I know they’re sincere.
Don’t take this to mean I think that’s what you, Gentle Reader, should do. I’m not keen on telling people what to do. But I’ve heard some rumblings and the word “agenda” has been tossed my way a couple times lately, so I thought I’d just put it out there, why I do what I do. Not that anyone should give a damn, frankly.
And I found an old Dixie Chicks concert on YouTube that reminded me of why I like those women.
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~r
'make nice' - pffffffft. you know me. that ain't happening.
joanie: you know what? i love that you said "generally." i do. because there have even been one (maybe two) of yours that didn't click with me and i didn't leave a comment. but that's because i fully expect that i write stuff sometimes that doesn't click with you, and i hope you (and anyone else who stops by) would feel perfectly ok doing the same. but i still love your work. and you. thank you.
Mann, you're a good writer!
Don't have a dog in this hunt.
Regardless, makes sense to me.
and to all you all, nick included, thanks a bunch for braving this and leaving a comment. i'm gonna go play Truth No. 2 and sing harmony. which i do well. xoxoxo
Also, I don't find good writing hard to find. I just come to your corner. Now, it might not be often enough to satisfy me . . . but I know when I get here that what I find, as Mike succinctly and admiringly said of Pat, will be "cherce."
Your writing has served as the same kind of inspiration to me as the examples you served up here have been to you. Thanks again for that.
I'm off to click the links
What Candace said.
That was easy. You did all the work. Thanks, Missy!
The problem I see, basically, is that OS has never defined itself. If we are mainly a "writing" site, then people shouldn't be afraid to critique works. When one defines oneself as a writer, that comes with the territory, and frankly, some people need stronger skin than what they've shown here. I remember threads here about asking others to critique, but then, everyone wants to be "nice", which is a word that doesn't work in this profession (because writing is a profession, dammit) and everything goes the wayside. Now, critique is critique. And trolling is trolling, let's not confuse the issue here.
Now, if OS is merely a social site, then all those niceties apply. But when someone says 'grow up', then we get all these feathers ruffled. And I want to say, you're a freaking writer, for Pete's sake, there's nothing deadlier than your words. Use them. Don't whine.
Now, that might come across as cold. But, I've said that elsewhere. I can be cold. So it shouldn't come as a surprise.
The problem is, we want this place to be all.
Now, I've also read the word agenda tossed. I don't think anyone who is writing at another place has any hidden agenda. We've actually been very straightforward about it. Many OSers are writing elsewhere. Talking Writing, Does This Make Sense, Fictionique, The Red Room, and others places. There was a reason we started posting elsewhere. For some, it might be a need to stretch one's wings, for others, reaching another type of audience, for others, getting to the business of writing w/o engaging on fawning.
Now, there are writers here I will read even if they never comment on my almost defunct blog. I don't care if they ever acknowledge that I exist. I read them, not because I want to be friends, but because there is writing of such exquisite beauty that my life would be less if I didn't read it. And it pains me that life has become so busy that I don't have the time to read all I want. Here and elsewhere.
So, like I said, there's growing up still left to do. By all of us.
(sorry about the meta, or whatever that is called)
now, all of you, get back to your keyboards. there are sentences to be strung, grafs to be juggled, thoughts to be wordified. as simon cowell would say: off you go.
Didn't touch a keyboard.
That felt good too.
I'm going to press the rate button
right after I "Post this comment".
Thanks for the suggested archives cuz, well, the last coupla days ...
and for serving up the tunes too, ms. candy.
You said it so perfectly.
And, BTW, my archives are always open for a visit, free of charge. (It makes me sad that some of my favorite posts will probably never be read by anyone again!)
I do try to stop by the blogs of those who read and comment upon mine and...I also get sidetracked into the blogs of writers I don't know. There are still many great writers to discover here.
Rated.
There's so much good writing on OS that it's difficult to keep up. And yes, the easy "reciprocal" catches me too...the sense of wanting to do as much as I can while I'm here while trying to be supportive to everyone who's being supportive of me because I've been lapping it up, the support. I've been a mess and OS has helped me to remain somewhat lucid and not chewing peoples faces off in real life and spitting them out.
So I confess I am a lazy slug who will click on whatever is easiest to get to that happen to be current the minute I'm here and not doing any traveling around on my own. I'm terribly guilty of it especially lately: taking the easy road.
Write on and I will read on.