1. Kelly Link is participating in a blog tour that turns the whole concept on its head by writing about why she has largely not been writing for the past year and a half. These entries are must reads for many reasons, not the least of which is her very gripping description of how life, in the way of a very premature baby, has changed everything she thought about work. Gwenda has rounded up the links to all four parts (some of which are about types of reading that Kelly loves) and asserts that really, this is a magazine piece in the making. I wholeheartedly agree. Here's a bit:
When the nurses asked what we did for a living, I felt more than a little awkward talking about my writing. I write pretty weird stuff -- stories about werewolves, ghosts, monsters, wizards, etc. Even though most of the nurses were avid readers themselves, most of whom had already read or were currently engrossed in the Twilight series, or were rereading the Harry Potter books in preparation for the new movie, I wasn't sure what they would make of my stories. The first story in Pretty Monsters is a ghost story, in which a dead daughter returns to visit her mother. I really didn't want anyone to read that story while Ursula was in the NICU. I was already afraid that we were trapped in a Lurlene McDaniel book.
2. Maureen Johnson found herself developing an accidental manifesto recently about all things blogosphere related. I find it just a wee bit ironic that she comes out against the whole notion of branding oneself after recently being the keynote speaker at the Book Blogger Convention where there was a panel on Marketing that included - wait for it - discussion on the topic of how to brand (among many other things). Some of Maureen's thoughts on a recent panel experience (she doesn't say where it was):
My neighbor had a lot to say. She had a MESSAGE. She talked longer than anyone, and over everyone and through everyone. Her message, as far as I could determine, was that the internet is all about getting out there and SELLING yourself.
"I'm a brand," she said, every minute or so. "I'm always thinking of ways to promote my brand." It was all brand, brand, brand, brand, brand.
The other thing she said that made my head swivel around uncomfortably was, "Get your message and repeat it OVER AND OVER. Just keep saying your message OVER AND OVER in the same way. Just tweet it and put it out on Facebook OVER AND OVER."
I'm sure lots of folks would argue Maureen's conclusions but I'm with Gwenda on this one as well - can we be done with the whole use of management marketing terms in association with blogging? If you want to brand yourself then go ahead - just don't feel like you have to tell the rest of us about it all the time AND don't think that's what everyone else is aching to do as well. (Do read the comments - Maureen has clearly struck a chord among fellow writers.)
3. Maud Newton is giving us all a peek into the writer's life at the Paris Review blog. One favorite snippet of mine thus far:
9:30 P.M. Dread resumption of office job in the morning. Regret all choices and circumstances that have led to necessity of having a day job. Recall A.O. Scott's hilarious (yet sympathetic) indictment of Generation X in last week's "Week in Review" piece on Sam Lipsyte's The Ask. Track it down and reread. Reflect on the ultimate pointlessness of trying to escape the slacker mindset.
9:40 P.M. Begin drinking (bourbon).
If you are a writer this is utterly and completely addictive stuff, not only because Maud is funny as hell but also because of what she reads and writes and is curious about. I'll put it this way - as she laments not getting writing done, I happily put off my own writing to read her stuff. She is part of my problem!!!! She's a vice worth having though, and I'm happy to see the Review embracing her in this fashion.
June 9
2010
03:55 PM
It's funny - I agree with everything Maureen Johnson said about being a person and not being "sell!" and "I'm a brand!!!" all over the place... yet I still think she's branding herself. I just think "brand" has taken on a negative connotation, perhaps for the "management marketing" reasons you mention. Regardless, I'd argue that she would not be as active on the internet, blogging and tweeting, nor would she be speaking on panels if she did not have some product, or service or business that she wanted attention for (be it book sales or blog readers or whatever). In other words, she's just being herself (agreed!) but for a reason. Which is what marketing is, whether we use terms like brand or not. And it's NOT a negative thing!