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Question: Why do you write?
Once again, I'm late for bed. But I've got to squeeze in one post before I sleep.
I've been thinking about popularity on LJ a lot ever since I was put on that "LiveJournal As A Social Medium" panel at Arisia. Too much, to be honest. It's hard for me to think about the subject without eventually feeling like a whore.
Because most - hell, all, really - of what I write is me. So if I go around promoting myself, or make all my posts at 8 AM eastern time because that's when you're most likely to get feedback, I'm going to either feel like I'm selling out, or I'll have to find a way to come to peace with it.
I think I write a good journal, mostly. And yes, it's hard not to feel that I don't get the volume of readers and comments that I - look, I know this sounds bad, but I'm being honest - deserve. I'm also quite aware that there are few things more repulsive to read than the sort of stuff I'm writing now.
Suddenly I have an urge to delete this post and forget about it. It's not going the way I wanted it to, or meant for it to go. I don't think I can even comfortably get to the question that I wanted to ask. And...damn it...you know, asking a question is yet ANOTHER recommended way to coax comments out of readers.
Is this just how it is? Is that the way the world works? Is this what it means to be human in the 21st century - to sell yourself, to worry about who likes you?
It's like junior high school all over again. Only it lasts forever, until you're dead.
Sounds a lot like hell to me.
Okay, obviously I have a lot to think about. And I really DO need that sleep. Before I go, though, just a note: I have another piece of fiction in mind. Don't know how it will work out, don't know when I'll write it (soon, I hope), but at least when I think about that I don't feel like a whore. Even though I just promo'ed it here.
I wonder why?
I've been thinking about popularity on LJ a lot ever since I was put on that "LiveJournal As A Social Medium" panel at Arisia. Too much, to be honest. It's hard for me to think about the subject without eventually feeling like a whore.
Because most - hell, all, really - of what I write is me. So if I go around promoting myself, or make all my posts at 8 AM eastern time because that's when you're most likely to get feedback, I'm going to either feel like I'm selling out, or I'll have to find a way to come to peace with it.
I think I write a good journal, mostly. And yes, it's hard not to feel that I don't get the volume of readers and comments that I - look, I know this sounds bad, but I'm being honest - deserve. I'm also quite aware that there are few things more repulsive to read than the sort of stuff I'm writing now.
Suddenly I have an urge to delete this post and forget about it. It's not going the way I wanted it to, or meant for it to go. I don't think I can even comfortably get to the question that I wanted to ask. And...damn it...you know, asking a question is yet ANOTHER recommended way to coax comments out of readers.
Is this just how it is? Is that the way the world works? Is this what it means to be human in the 21st century - to sell yourself, to worry about who likes you?
It's like junior high school all over again. Only it lasts forever, until you're dead.
Sounds a lot like hell to me.
Okay, obviously I have a lot to think about. And I really DO need that sleep. Before I go, though, just a note: I have another piece of fiction in mind. Don't know how it will work out, don't know when I'll write it (soon, I hope), but at least when I think about that I don't feel like a whore. Even though I just promo'ed it here.
I wonder why?