Is blogging a way of publically expressing yourself in lieu of a more traditional form, such as a diary? I’ve written before about the nature of blogging and what blogging has done to the written word. However, the more I blog – I’ve recently had my two year anniversary on WordPress – the more I feel like it’s become some form of literary and public form of writing down thoughts and feelings.
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I’ve written before about the need to write and the significance of this desire to my life and writing. However, the more I think about it – when I’m not writing – the more I believe that it is almost like a psychosis or (more correctly) the cure for one.
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The stifling morning air churns with excitement, energy and the sweet smell of homemade hooch. The road is coated with drunken pilgrims seeking refuge, dancing and chaos inside the gates. A sea of blue and green monitors the scene ready with cattle-herder’s sticks and AK-47s to beat any civil unrest – which might be detrimental to the elite minority -into the muddy dust at our feet.
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Is Blogging Devaluing the ‘typed’ word? Part V
I find the easiest way to address this is to quote Melissa’s concise response to my question: ‘At what point do you believe that written work becomes worthy of a monetary value?’ She stated simply, ‘when it is well written.’ (See An Interview With Melissa Foster). In many ways this sums up my research. The ‘word’ will always have an inherent value to it. Whether it be written or typed a value will always be there.
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Is Blogging Devaluing the ‘typed’ word? Part IV
It is difficult to gain any clear-cut evidence to support a claim into whether it has a direct effect on one’s publication chances, my research found. For instance, 62.5% of those I interviewed – who had been published – suggested that blogging had no effect on their chances of publication. With 32.5% claiming that their publication was of a direct or indirect result of their blog. Therefore the evidence, suggests that one cannot simply advocate blogging as a direct link to publication; however, neither can it be dismissed as irrelevant to the process, based on the results that I gained.
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Is Blogging Devaluing the ‘typed’ word? Part III
The question now becomes, does blogging have an effect on one’s chances of becoming published and therefore, increase writer’s monetary wealth in this way? It is at this point that the argument becomes more fluid and simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers really won’t suffice.
Both Luke O’ Neil[1] & Melissa Foster[2] have praised blogging as a method of promotion for writers as have all but one of the writers that I surveyed[3]. Therefore, it can be asserted that blogging isn’t devaluing the written word in this sense. By contrast, it is instead giving value to it as a promotional tool for writers. Nevertheless, it is far too simplistic to simply state that blogging does add value and publication potential to one’s work. However, there are other factors at play, naturally, that need to be looked into deeper for a balanced analysis to be achieved.
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Is Blogging Devaluing the ‘typed’ word? Part II
The first question that needs to be addressed – when looking at devaluation of the written word – is whether blogging generates a direct income. From this perspective, I can confidently suggest that blogging, even when done to the fullest extent possible, will provide you with at maximum – a token income. To take the example of Don Charisma[1]: his interview gained me 75 ‘Likes’ on WordPress within a 24 hour period and he perceives the essence of blogging to be self-promotion. Therefore, he’s the perfect candidate for testing this hypothesis.
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Part I
Over the next five days I will be examining the reasons that writers blog and the effects that blogging is having on the typed word.
To be a writer in the 21st century there is a prerequisite to be a blogger – or so it would seem. The days of signing an agent or a publisher – without an ‘online presence’ – are behind us. I myself have been blogging for a number of months now and have some thirty-five blog posting in my repertoire. In terms of the blogging world, I blog sporadically and a little infrequently. The reason being that I’m eager to have an stimulating topic to explore before I write. I don’t see any point writing anything unworthy of reading. That said, I also don’t write anything that I see as worthy of monetary value. By contrast, my blog is a place for me to explore, to vent, to celebrate and to express myself and indirectly to build an audience for my writing. Therefore, in many ways, I am the stereotypical writer who blogs.
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Melissa Foster[1] kindly agreed to an interview with me as part of my research into blogging and the value of the typed word. Melissa is a best-selling author and a role model for anyone struggling in the indie and self-publishing market. She has previously written about how self-publishing can have a negative effect on the quality of the publishing industry[2]. Therefore, she proved a very interesting person to speak to with regards blogging and the publishing industry.
You’ve suggested that ‘self-published authors are devaluing the written word’. What impact do you think bloggers are having on it?
I actually think bloggers add value to the Internet world. Everyone has an opinion, and it’s interesting and conversation worthy (most times) to gain insight into many different opinions. I’m personally thankful to many bloggers who have become my personal friends and colleagues.
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Don Charisma kindly agreed to an interview with me with regards to my research on blogging and its effect on writers. Don is an avid blogger[1] who is clearly eager to promote himself and his brand through blogging. Therefore, an interview with him proved very worthwhile in learning about blogging as a form of self-promotion.
Do you use blogging as a way of promoting your work?
Yes. First and foremost I believe promoting the brand, business or individual comes first. So my blog is partially about that. I work in partnership with another guy. We have a web design/development/seo firm http://DonCharisma.com, which is promoted (a little) out of http://DonCharisma.org
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Scribblings and Broken Glass 