Writing vs. Blogging
I am not a writer. I used to be a writer. I was paid to write. I was trained to write. I went to college and learned to write. I studied a style book and learned how to write correctly. I did poorly at first. I improved. I became acceptable, even prolific. I could write at great length about nearly any subject and maintain at least a passable amount of interest, at least as much as the subject deserved.
But now I am not a writer. Sure I blurt out some thoughts once in a while, but that doesn't make me a "writer." It makes me a "blogger." I just try to get the ideas down. I don't generally think about style farther than maybe checking my parallel structure, syntax and spelling. Maybe. Sometimes.
There are actually writers out there blogging. Some very good writers also blog. Just because you blog doesn't mean you're not a writer, and JUST BECAUSE YOU BLOG DOESN'T MEAN YOU ARE A WRITER EITHER.
It is an insult to some of the "real" writers out there that some of you are calling yourself writers.
Seriously. I've been reading some GODAWFUL SHIT out there from some folks that think they can write. It seems like they are writing like they imagine writing should be. All full of clichés, horrible metaphors, retarded similes and run-on sentences. I guess they think their style is "conversational." It's actually "horseshit." It's phony.
Stop pretending to be something you're not. It's great that you have a place to express your feelings and opinions, and it's wonderful that you get to regale us with the sordid details of your past. But stop getting such a big head and calling yourself a writer. You're just a blogger.
Like me.
P.S. Lesson One: Less commas. More periods. Even that could improve almost everyone's writing by a thousand percent. Read your posts. If every single sentence has a comma in it you're guilty of comma abuse. Commas separate distinct ideas. They're not just a pause. Now go.
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11 comments:
I plan on progressing to bullet points in the very near future.
Dude, seriously, I understand that your kinda of the "alternative voice" of this community, but puh-leeez, nobody really, honestly, claims to be a "writer", I mean, seriously, we all just want to put down, our, thoughts, and have other, people read, them and respond.
We, want, to, be, loved.
It's, more, of a social, kind of thing, than anything.
Big, Ups,
BP
Actually most of the really good writers out there don't consider themselves more than bloggers. But a few of the hacks have really been getting big heads lately. Yet their "stories" are nearly unreadable.
so grumpy
Hope you have access to a defibrillater because I totally agree with your post. I will never be a writer. Just a blogger who butchers the English language.
Print.
Frame.
Hang on wall.
When are you gonna post some photography tips? Just got a DSLR and could use any advice you're able to share.
Comma, comma, comma, comma, comma, chameleon. Ditto what stb said. I'm happy if I put one coherent sentence together!
Actually, I don't claim to be, but I aspire to be a writer. I'm sloooowly getting there, I think: Speak Up and Remove All Doubt
Actually, horseshit is posting this without having the balls to name specifically who you're talking about. Why play the coquette Duggles? Suddenly you're not willing to simply state your opinion like a man? Right or [all too often] wrong as your opinion used to be, at least you wouldn't resort to a spineless quasi-call-out like this.
Lame.
Sincerely,
The Recovering Blogger and All Too Brilliant Wordsmith Some Still Call IAK.
Too many death threats already perhaps.
Or maybe too many to list?
Interesting post. I will try lots harder to improve the writing that I blog. Or is it the blogging that I write? ;-)
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