In Blogs We Trust

And I thought explaining blogging to ten undergrads was difficult.

Try selling the benefits to forty budding writers with varying degrees of Internet experience.

This afternoon I made the trip to Saint Joe for the second time this week to host a fifty-minute workshop called "Why Writers Should Blog," one of several offered through an all-day writers conference held on campus. I committed to presenting back in January, before the freelancing, teaching, and pregnancy gigs came along, and for the last month I've been kicking myself for not trying to worm out of it. I spent a good three hours putting my PowerPoint together--three hours that could've been spent sleeping, crying over my chipped pedicure, or diving headfirst into a pint of Ben and Jerry's--and several days stressing over my public speaking skills, which still leave much to be desired.

It's not a happy accident that I write for a living.

Once I took my place behind the podium, though, I realized how excited I was to brag about the blogging community. It took a few minutes, but I eventually felt myself relax, to the point where my voice stopped trembling over every third word and my face regained its natural, non-burning-red-oh-my-God-is-it-just-me-or-is-it-HOT-in-here pigment.

I felt adequately prepared to handle all the questions that came my way, though one in particular took me aback. Some were especially concerned about copyright protection for online works, wanting to know how they could prevent others from plagiarizing their content. "Anybody could come along and copy and paste what I've written," one person said. "Right?"

Well... yes. Yes they could.

I tried to explain that the blogosphere is a community based on trust, and when it comes to issues like that, we have each other's backs. I said that when cases of plagiarism do crop up, it's usually because a reader discovered it and brought it to the original author's attention. I pointed out that you can be equally suspicious of the individuals in your local writers group, and it's up to you to decide whether or not the benefits associated with publicizing your work outweigh the risk of any unethical use that may occur.

As I drove home, I thought a lot about my experience with the Internet. When I started blogging, I had no desire to post the Great American Novel or improve on my fiction. I started blogging because I liked taking incidents from my own life and turning them into stories all their own. My first year was a bit rocky in terms of finding my voice, but I did find it, and I'm quite proud of (most of) what you see here. I may not be peddling my entries to publishers, but if someone tried to claim them as their own, I'd be pretty effing pissed. So I can certainly understand why some are hesitant to give the blog thing a try.

But I think as people become more familiar with the blogging community, most of us worry less about public inappropriateness and instead revel in the joy this social networking tool adds to our lives. At least, I do. Blogging has been so, so good to me. It gave me a chance to find myself as a writer. It motivates me to keep producing content when I'm heartsick or sad or confused. It provides a way for me to document incidents in my life that I wouldn't otherwise hold on to. Most of all, it allowed me to find friends in corners of the universe I've never even seen, friends who empathized with me through struggles with religion and impatience with my biological clock, who delighted in my engagement and marriage and big baby announcement. You guys laughed at my omelet story and inability to properly use a meat thermometer, and you shared your personal experiences with prenatal testing and maternity leave. You climbed on board the cheesy love songs bandwagon and even came to my aid when I begged for your copy of a trashy tabloid because it featured a shirtless picture of an old friend. (Thanks again, Lauren, so much, and all those who e-mailed with links to Jason's MySpace page or an image of the actual article. You really are the best.)

I communicate with some of you more frequently than my "real life" circle of friends, most of whom don't even bother to read what I post online, not understanding this little hobby is sometimes the only thing keeping me sane, because no matter what I bitch about, I know at least one of you will understand. I shudder to think what would've happened if I'd let fear of the unknown keep me from sharing my life and my work with you. There'd have been no Tragic Love Friday, that's for sure--a tragic thought in and of itself.

Life is moving along at a lightening-fast past these days, and I don't always have the time or energy to update this site as often as I'd like. But selling the pluses of the blogosphere today reminded me just how important this space is to me and how much I value all of you. It would take a lot more than fifty minutes to convey how much.

Comments

[Lindsey]

When I started blogging I didn't even really "get it," but I am so grateful that my friend, Sarah, turned me on to it. It has become such a significant part of my life. Do you ever think though, of when it will end? Seriously, when will blogging end? Will we all still be blogging when we're 50? I'm curious to see what happens, but in the meantime, I guess we'll just continue doing what we do.

It sounds like your workshop went well! Way to go!

[Molly]

I love reading you, and have been hooked since the days of the Pra-Da glasses. You're a great writer, and have every right to be so proud of what you've got archived here. Thanks, also, for convincing me to start.

[Audrey]

I often wonder about the same thing as Lindsey -- just how long will this blogging thing continue? I sometimes think about things that will probably happen 5, 10, 15 years down the road and think "That'll be fun to blog about! ... but will I still be blogging then?" I honestly have no idea if I will be or not, but I hope I am.

Um, speaking of Tragic Love Friday...any chance we might see a, uh, recap around these parts sometime? Just curious. :)

[daddy dd]

The fact that people can and do talk with each other is very positive. Any mode of doing so can be a plus. Face to face, over the phone, through the mail of all kinds, and blogging are all good ways of making a connection.

[Alexander Pavlovich Romanov, Autocrat of All the Russias]

Aww, shucks.

Well, we value you too. Blogging, more than any sort of media, allows people to interact with the thoughts of others on a wide scale in media res.

Thanks for looking in on my little effort...don't worry; there is more Thomas Hobbes content to come.

I can tell that you can't wait.

[Isabel]

As always, a beautiful and thought provoking post.

(And also, thought provoking comments. I haven't ever really thought about how long blogging will be around. Wow, now I get to think about that also.)

And for the record, you should be very proud of your blog. You do good work! And it's been a joy and a pleasure to be along for this ride.

[Rachel]

What an awesome post! I think most, if not all of your readers, feel the same way about you. I feel like I know the people that read my blog and who's blogs I read. I know that someone, somewhere has dealt with whatever problem I am having or will rejoice in my happiness with me. I am so grateful that I have discovered the world of blogging and I think it is awesome that you are out there promoting it like you are.

[VirginiaGal]

And a big smushy, squishy internets hug right back to you.

Ditto everyone else's comments (too brain dead right now to come up with different superlatives and / or expressions of thanks in return).

[Brittany]

I think you did a mighty fine job tackling that copyright question. I'm not so much worried about people plagiarizing my works as I am worried about accidentally plagiarizing someone else's. I'm always very hesitant to post pictures or to use plays on words because I read in the paper recently about a huge lawsuit involving a man who sold portable toilets with the catch phrase "Here's Johnny!" Evidently the Johnny Carson fan club is very mighty, and they put the guy out of business. Copyrights... wow!

And like everyone else, I love your blog, and I think you are a very talented writer. How wonderful it is that you have documented such monumental times in your life - not just for the blogging community, but for yourself and your family.

[Ree]

I can so relate. I started blogging because someone suggested I share my story, now I blog because it's a wonderful release with additional side benefits - like a voice and a community unlike any other.