Out Riding Fences: Clash of the Storytellers.

by Christine Cavalier on 7 February 2008

Here I still sit, straddling the fence between two worlds.

Social media mavens are usually high achieving business people who love marketing, technology and the fast lane of constant connectivity. Writers are lone warriors, working alone for hours a day, with fierce determination at times and horrible block and depression at others. I’ve been drifting between the tech/business and the writer/academic worlds for my entire adult life. Just recently, I’ve noticed that they are slowly beginning to meet. Well, “meet” is putting it nicely.

Most writers don’t have any clue what social media and ‘web 2.0′ are. They have never heard of Chris Brogan (who seemed to call everyone I know last night) or CC Chapman or Jeff Pulver or Twitter or Qik or Seesmic. Writers, then, are like most people. Still in the dark as to what is coming.

Social media mavens don’t have a clue, in general, of what is going on in the publishing industry. They don’t read books much. They are on-line, but they haven’t moved over to reading entire novels on a screen. Younger generations are more accustomed to this, but social media people would rather listen to a podiobook than go to the library to pick up page book.

Here is one example of a fence skirmish between the mavens and the writers I witnessed recently. Back in November, I wrote a post for my NanoWriMo friends about Book Trailers, mini-movie previews for your written novel (not a movie trailer for a feature-length film based on your novel, but a trailer for just the actual novel). I see it as a great development and marketing tool. It’s combining two arts, film and novel-writing; it could be a new way to get people excited to read. What’s not to like?

But a writer’s group I joined last week in Yahoo has some genuine curmudgeons insulting the new art and practice of the Book Trailer. I didn’t jump into the discussion; I can sniff out unchangeable minds in a listserv like a police dog screening for coke. I’ll allow them their culture and stay perched on the fence (the view is usually pretty clear from up here anyway).

If I thought the writers would listen, I’d say that a more relevant and useful discussion would be to address concerns about the reading experience. For example, let’s chat about casting. Many writers purposely avoid describing their character’s physical characteristics so the reader (i.e. ‘user’) forms their own mental picture. A trailer may hinder the novelist’s intent to engage the user’s imagination. We can also chat about plot twists and spoilers. A trailer, in using film’s unique way of portraying human nuance and slight communication, may give away basic plot structure. We could talk about human psychology and storytelling in film and novels for hours on these questions alone. But to get to these discussions, more writers have to approach the fence. Right now, it’s mostly back-turned resentment. On both sides.

As you know, I’m a big fan of social media, blogging, vlogging, and technology in general. But the mavens need to take a step closer to the fence, too. Writers study human nature. They tell tales that give insight and into our past, present and future lives. They speak to our spirit, our very core of existence. Just because you have your own .tv channel doesn’t mean you have the skills to produce that magic that comes from consuming a great story or poem. Reach out to some writers in your village, whether it be a webtown or hometown. Appreciate their talents, and they’ll adopt your strategies and include you. Social media stories will show up in literature that will be more relevant to your lives (which is why the soul seeks out art). I am writing my novel with social media in mind. I’m not the only one.

Writers, get involved. Get into blogging and podcasting, even if you are just consuming it. You belong in this social media wave even if the mavens wonder why you don’t “produce content.” It is up to writers to come out of their shells and accept new media into their space. Listen to the new stories and see the new art around you. These people can inspire you, get you work, and market your book.

Neither side is evil and neither side is sinless. But together, I think we can raise the level of literacy across all platforms and cultures. And, as we all know, more literacy means more peace.

I’m out. Gotta keep riding this desperado fence until I find a place I can call home.

Love. Literacy. Peace.

-PurpleCar

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Tagged as: blogging, book trailer, CC Chapman, Chris Brogan, Jeff Pulver, Media, novel, publishing, Right-in, technology

http://blog.seesmic.com Cathy Brooks

Ah … I would argue that writers should be the most adept social media beasts of all … I’m not including folks like poets or novelists necessarily in this because they, by the nature of their work, do operate in a more solitary mode. However, most all other types of writing is done with the intent, if not effect, of communicating and connecting with others – and that is precisely where social media comes in.

My biggest beef with many of those mucking around in social media is that their writing skills are … well … nonexistent and as a result we have a messy pile of inarticulate (alleged) prose attempting to squawk out of the digital realm. The fact that short form things like Twitter are forcing people into ridiculous abbreviations and lousy grammar only serves to exacerbate the situation.

I, for one, am glad that folks like you are there straddling the worlds …

That’s my .02 …
http://blog.seesmic.com Cathy Brooks

Ah … I would argue that writers should be the most adept social media beasts of all … I’m not including folks like poets or novelists necessarily in this because they, by the nature of their work, do operate in a more solitary mode. However, most all other types of writing is done with the intent, if not effect, of communicating and connecting with others – and that is precisely where social media comes in.

My biggest beef with many of those mucking around in social media is that their writing skills are … well … nonexistent and as a result we have a messy pile of inarticulate (alleged) prose attempting to squawk out of the digital realm. The fact that short form things like Twitter are forcing people into ridiculous abbreviations and lousy grammar only serves to exacerbate the situation.

I, for one, am glad that folks like you are there straddling the worlds …

That’s my .02 …
http://twitter.com/superflippy Susanna

I admit I’ve never heard the term “book trailer,” though I have seen a few (usually via BoingBoing). I don’t think there’s any reason a promotional video for a book needs to give away a character’s appearance or crucial plot points. It could just be the artist talking about why she wrote the book (this one worked on me before), or a mashup of images, words, and music that get across the feel of the book.

I’m pretty into social media, but I’m also an avid reader and I tend to lean more toward that side of the fence. Until Seesmic came along, I couldn’t understand why anyone would watch some ugly guy who was a bad speaker do a long, boring podcast.
http://twitter.com/superflippy Susanna

I admit I’ve never heard the term “book trailer,” though I have seen a few (usually via BoingBoing). I don’t think there’s any reason a promotional video for a book needs to give away a character’s appearance or crucial plot points. It could just be the artist talking about why she wrote the book (this one worked on me before), or a mashup of images, words, and music that get across the feel of the book.

I’m pretty into social media, but I’m also an avid reader and I tend to lean more toward that side of the fence. Until Seesmic came along, I couldn’t understand why anyone would watch some ugly guy who was a bad speaker do a long, boring podcast.
http://geekmommy.wordpress.com GeekMommy

Brilliant!
And sadly all too accurate in my experience. The percentage of writers living in the social media world is surprisingly small given their native talents for communication.
A few of my very talented professional writer friends have made it up on the fence where you are – but far fewer than I would expect.

I’ve actually found that blogging and twitter and the like help me to learn different modes of writing. I can’t imagine that it wouldn’t be a help to most writers to explore that themselves.

That said, tho, I’m afraid you’re barking down a deep well when it comes to getting the soc med folks to look more closely at writing. Most of the internet is flooded with those who write incessantly on blogs, fanfic sites, and posting boards *because* they have little to no talent in that arena and no desire to improve their skills.

The world is short on folks like Chris Brogan et al. who can write well about tech – that’s why they’re the rock stars of our set.

Still – kudos!!
http://geekmommy.wordpress.com GeekMommy

Brilliant!
And sadly all too accurate in my experience. The percentage of writers living in the social media world is surprisingly small given their native talents for communication.
A few of my very talented professional writer friends have made it up on the fence where you are – but far fewer than I would expect.

I’ve actually found that blogging and twitter and the like help me to learn different modes of writing. I can’t imagine that it wouldn’t be a help to most writers to explore that themselves.

That said, tho, I’m afraid you’re barking down a deep well when it comes to getting the soc med folks to look more closely at writing. Most of the internet is flooded with those who write incessantly on blogs, fanfic sites, and posting boards *because* they have little to no talent in that arena and no desire to improve their skills.

The world is short on folks like Chris Brogan et al. who can write well about tech – that’s why they’re the rock stars of our set.

Still – kudos!!
http://funk.co.uk/funkblog.html Deek Deekster

Labels… I dunno. Just do the writing, and let others attach labels, is how I do it.
http://funk.co.uk/funkblog.html Deek Deekster

Labels… I dunno. Just do the writing, and let others attach labels, is how I do it.
http://www.donaldlafferty.com/about Don Lafferty

As a writer who hops back and forth over the fence you’re riding I’ve learned to tiptoe around Social Media when I’m over on the writer’s side.

I’ve spent a couple of years converting souls over on that side of the fence, evangelizing first the benefits of MySpace, then Facebook and now Twitter for their self marketing strategies. Over this time what I’ve found is, people are the same whichever side of the fence you’re on, and wherever you find new technology, a fence ain’t far away, dividing those who adopt from those who never will.

Some people jump the fences like Olympic hurdlers while others wait, wait, and wait some more lest they risk getting over to the other side only to find themselves lost and disadvantaged in the world on the new side of the fence, handicapped by their lack of tech savvy.

Writers are also a notoriously wary crowd, vigilantly defensive of nefarious agents and other unethical predators promising them a publishing deal if only they just sign here.

I recently offered to provide a tutorial to that same Yahoo group you refer to, and was roundly ignored by the more than 8000 members of what is arguably one of the most active Yahoo groups in the writing community. When I thought perhaps my post became buried in the blizzard of other activity, I took another run at them. This time I wasn’t ignored, I was politely told not to spam the group.

But the salesman in me, the writer in me and the social media evangelist in me doesn’t see a bunch of stuck-in-the-mud naysayers over on the other side of the fence, but lots and lots of opportunity.
http://donaldlafferty.com/blog/ Don Lafferty

As a writer who hops back and forth over the fence you’re riding I’ve learned to tiptoe around Social Media when I’m over on the writer’s side.

I’ve spent a couple of years converting souls over on that side of the fence, evangelizing first the benefits of MySpace, then Facebook and now Twitter for their self marketing strategies. Over this time what I’ve found is, people are the same whichever side of the fence you’re on, and wherever you find new technology, a fence ain’t far away, dividing those who adopt from those who never will.

Some people jump the fences like Olympic hurdlers while others wait, wait, and wait some more lest they risk getting over to the other side only to find themselves lost and disadvantaged in the world on the new side of the fence, handicapped by their lack of tech savvy.

Writers are also a notoriously wary crowd, vigilantly defensive of nefarious agents and other unethical predators promising them a publishing deal if only they just sign here.

I recently offered to provide a tutorial to that same Yahoo group you refer to, and was roundly ignored by the more than 8000 members of what is arguably one of the most active Yahoo groups in the writing community. When I thought perhaps my post became buried in the blizzard of other activity, I took another run at them. This time I wasn’t ignored, I was politely told not to spam the group.

But the salesman in me, the writer in me and the social media evangelist in me doesn’t see a bunch of stuck-in-the-mud naysayers over on the other side of the fence, but lots and lots of opportunity.
http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

Lots of stuff brought up in comments so far. thanks! Talent screams out as a main concern to me, on both sides of the fence. The web gives us all a bigger soapbox on which to put out our work, but that means a lot of flotsam for everyone. How to regulate? How to rise to the top? What are the cultural references that bind us?

Sure, we use labels, Deek, but we can’t talk about things that don’t have names. Applying the labels indiscriminately, with prejudice is the problem. I hope I didn’t do that here. One of the issues with ‘writer’ is that no one agrees on the definition! I’ve been published and paid by other people, so I qualify in one sense, but others won’t call me ‘writer’ until my novel is published. Still others call themselves ‘writers’ just because they keep a journal. Social media is too new to have those miniscule distinctions, but they will come. I stole ‘maven’ from cc-chapman.
http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

Lots of stuff brought up in comments so far. thanks! Talent screams out as a main concern to me, on both sides of the fence. The web gives us all a bigger soapbox on which to put out our work, but that means a lot of flotsam for everyone. How to regulate? How to rise to the top? What are the cultural references that bind us?

Sure, we use labels, Deek, but we can’t talk about things that don’t have names. Applying the labels indiscriminately, with prejudice is the problem. I hope I didn’t do that here. One of the issues with ‘writer’ is that no one agrees on the definition! I’ve been published and paid by other people, so I qualify in one sense, but others won’t call me ‘writer’ until my novel is published. Still others call themselves ‘writers’ just because they keep a journal. Social media is too new to have those miniscule distinctions, but they will come. I stole ‘maven’ from cc-chapman.
http://otir.net/dotclear Otir

I met you on Seesmic and I am really glad I did! I am pretty new to social media and started to realize that I was on the writer’s side when I started to blog, which is relatively recent, and yet.

I am very impressed by your blogpost, because it gives me so much food for thought. I also realize how much these two groups actually don’t want to clash by staying each apart the other. I have been reading an incredible lot of bashing of the social media recently on the French-speaking blogosphere, and my understanding of their disdain is that they don’t use it but jump into it as if it were a pool were everyone is having fun, so let’s try and see what the fun about it all is. Then they come out and complain that they got wet and that their hair is all messed up.

I have started navigating Twitter, Facebook and more recently Seesmic very cautiously, like someone who was never formally taught how to swim in a pool. So I am taking my time, getting progressively in the waters, until I feel more and more comfortable.

So far, I am really liking it, I have to admit. It doesn’t mean that I know how to swim yet.
http://otir.net/dotclear Otir

I met you on Seesmic and I am really glad I did! I am pretty new to social media and started to realize that I was on the writer’s side when I started to blog, which is relatively recent, and yet.

I am very impressed by your blogpost, because it gives me so much food for thought. I also realize how much these two groups actually don’t want to clash by staying each apart the other. I have been reading an incredible lot of bashing of the social media recently on the French-speaking blogosphere, and my understanding of their disdain is that they don’t use it but jump into it as if it were a pool were everyone is having fun, so let’s try and see what the fun about it all is. Then they come out and complain that they got wet and that their hair is all messed up.

I have started navigating Twitter, Facebook and more recently Seesmic very cautiously, like someone who was never formally taught how to swim in a pool. So I am taking my time, getting progressively in the waters, until I feel more and more comfortable.

So far, I am really liking it, I have to admit. It doesn’t mean that I know how to swim yet.
http://fauxpress.blogspot.com fauxpress

Been there. Done that.

http://blip.tv/file/653372

Not that the book ever got published (yet), or the feature film produced (yet), but I’m giving a documentary a shot.
http://fauxpress.blogspot.com Jan / The Faux Press

Been there. Done that.

http://blip.tv/file/653372

Not that the book ever got published (yet), or the feature film produced (yet), but I’m giving a documentary a shot.
http://funk.co.uk/funkblog.html Deek Deekster

“Sure, we use labels, Deek, but we can’t talk about things that don’t have names.” – ooooooh yes you can. In fact, you must, or you’re not really writing… I’m not being just clever here, either, I mean it. Writing is all about defining and expressing and exploring things that don’t have names..
http://funk.co.uk/funkblog.html Deek Deekster

“Sure, we use labels, Deek, but we can’t talk about things that don’t have names.” – ooooooh yes you can. In fact, you must, or you’re not really writing… I’m not being just clever here, either, I mean it. Writing is all about defining and expressing and exploring things that don’t have names..
http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

Well, then they will have labels! LOL.

But true, our job as writers is to “give it a name,” no doubt. But that’s a different subject entirely. Here I just want to talk about a culture clash. I wish we could use a comprehensive tag cloud instead of “writers” and “mavens,” but brevity is the soul of wit. And more convenient.
http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

Well, then they will have labels! LOL.

But true, our job as writers is to “give it a name,” no doubt. But that’s a different subject entirely. Here I just want to talk about a culture clash. I wish we could use a comprehensive tag cloud instead of “writers” and “mavens,” but brevity is the soul of wit. And more convenient.
http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan…

Okay, now we’re going to have to fight.

I read TONS of books. I *love* books. I can recite my library card number without looking. I know really dorky things about books and am just shy of being a bibliophile. I used to work in a library (first job), and worked for several years in bookstores as recently as the year before last (around the holidays to pimp books on people).

I stay glued to publishers (little binding joke), and pay close attention to Tim O’Reilly’s perspective on this, as a guy running a big publishing company in a world of weird results.

Before I got into all this social media garbage, and the day before 9/11, I wrote almost exclusively fiction. I shifted over on that day (weird story).

I won the National Council of Teachers of English award in high school and was drafted to go to the Bread Loaf Young Writers’ conference in Vermont at the same college that Robert Frost hung round when he was on two sides of a stone wall.

That all said, SEEING is probably one of the biggest opportunities and downfalls in modern storytelling. The fact that we can actually portray most anything we’ve written is dangerous for the imagination. I’m the hero in all the books I read. I look nothing like Christian Bale (batman). In the Golden Compass, I was the hero. I don’t care that she was a girl. I was the hero until I saw the movie.

So I agree with you on that front, I think.

Beats me. I think it’s a tricky space now, and what I’m most wary of are people saying one way is right and another way is wrong on ANY front these days.

We negotiate everything these days. My take, your take, and what we mash up. Movies and books are no longer sacred. Want to try something REALLY weird? Write in a book with pen. Cross out things. Add your own passages. Talk about a strange feeling. I still don’t even break the bindings on books (except for Cryptonomicon, which I hacked in half and carried in two separate pieces because it was too big).

So there.
http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan…

Okay, now we’re going to have to fight.

I read TONS of books. I *love* books. I can recite my library card number without looking. I know really dorky things about books and am just shy of being a bibliophile. I used to work in a library (first job), and worked for several years in bookstores as recently as the year before last (around the holidays to pimp books on people).

I stay glued to publishers (little binding joke), and pay close attention to Tim O’Reilly’s perspective on this, as a guy running a big publishing company in a world of weird results.

Before I got into all this social media garbage, and the day before 9/11, I wrote almost exclusively fiction. I shifted over on that day (weird story).

I won the National Council of Teachers of English award in high school and was drafted to go to the Bread Loaf Young Writers’ conference in Vermont at the same college that Robert Frost hung round when he was on two sides of a stone wall.

That all said, SEEING is probably one of the biggest opportunities and downfalls in modern storytelling. The fact that we can actually portray most anything we’ve written is dangerous for the imagination. I’m the hero in all the books I read. I look nothing like Christian Bale (batman). In the Golden Compass, I was the hero. I don’t care that she was a girl. I was the hero until I saw the movie.

So I agree with you on that front, I think.

Beats me. I think it’s a tricky space now, and what I’m most wary of are people saying one way is right and another way is wrong on ANY front these days.

We negotiate everything these days. My take, your take, and what we mash up. Movies and books are no longer sacred. Want to try something REALLY weird? Write in a book with pen. Cross out things. Add your own passages. Talk about a strange feeling. I still don’t even break the bindings on books (except for Cryptonomicon, which I hacked in half and carried in two separate pieces because it was too big).

So there.
http://geekmommy.wordpress.com GeekMommy

@Chris

I think that’s part of what makes your work easy to read. There’s a point at which those on the fence are really the only ones capable of navigating either.

You wrote *before* you blogged. You didn’t blog because you couldn’t write.

There’s a divide however where there are writers are overly cautious about adopting new technology (outside of word processing!) and there are those who take their writing skills with them into the new technology arenas and thereby enhance them.
http://geekmommy.wordpress.com GeekMommy

@Chris

I think that’s part of what makes your work easy to read. There’s a point at which those on the fence are really the only ones capable of navigating either.

You wrote *before* you blogged. You didn’t blog because you couldn’t write.

There’s a divide however where there are writers are overly cautious about adopting new technology (outside of word processing!) and there are those who take their writing skills with them into the new technology arenas and thereby enhance them.
Pingback: Pages tagged "podcasting"
http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

Fire it up, Chris Brogan. Gonna throw down!!!

Don’t know who you’re gonna throw down with, though. Not I, surely! Of course there are people who ‘go both ways’ in any culture clash. Superb to hear you are one of them! But let us not pretend that there isn’t some resentment brewing between the general populous of both groups. You haven’t felt it? Oh you, Maven and Writer Fence Rider Extraordinaire? This discussion has to come up. Outreach has to be made.

Deek warned me, I must say! He knew someone would pop up and be miffed at my generalizations. But as I said, I can’t ‘tag cloud’ mere words. I must label, for now. Temporarily. Until the fence comes down like the East German wall. Besides reading and writing, Chris, what kind of things do you do to get some connections going between the most die-hard extremes of these cloudy groups? I look to you for leadership, as do many. I’m not being sarcastic. Well, not right now anyway.
http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

Fire it up, Chris Brogan. Gonna throw down!!!

Don’t know who you’re gonna throw down with, though. Not I, surely! Of course there are people who ‘go both ways’ in any culture clash. Superb to hear you are one of them! But let us not pretend that there isn’t some resentment brewing between the general populous of both groups. You haven’t felt it? Oh you, Maven and Writer Fence Rider Extraordinaire? This discussion has to come up. Outreach has to be made.

Deek warned me, I must say! He knew someone would pop up and be miffed at my generalizations. But as I said, I can’t ‘tag cloud’ mere words. I must label, for now. Temporarily. Until the fence comes down like the East German wall. Besides reading and writing, Chris, what kind of things do you do to get some connections going between the most die-hard extremes of these cloudy groups? I look to you for leadership, as do many. I’m not being sarcastic. Well, not right now anyway.
http://thepaisano.wordpress.com paisano

I really liked this. I love writing and web 2.0 so this whole blog is like brain candy to me now!

As for the discussion about seeing an author’s work in a visual presentation vs keeping it all within the imagination of the reader, it reminds me of something I read about Ric Ocasek from the cars, one of my favorite bands ever (despite their Boston roots!). He said he wrote songs that were meant to be heard in the car on the radio and hated music videos because he preferred to let his listeners and fans writer/direct and star in their own music videos in their head. Guess that’s why he called the group The Cars too, huh?

I used to agree with Ocasek on that matter but now I’ve grown to love all forms of a story or song. I can still create my own imaginary version of any book I read even after seeing the bastardized Hollywood version of the yarn. The same with songs.
Pai
http://thepaisano.wordpress.com paisano

I really liked this. I love writing and web 2.0 so this whole blog is like brain candy to me now!

As for the discussion about seeing an author’s work in a visual presentation vs keeping it all within the imagination of the reader, it reminds me of something I read about Ric Ocasek from the cars, one of my favorite bands ever (despite their Boston roots!). He said he wrote songs that were meant to be heard in the car on the radio and hated music videos because he preferred to let his listeners and fans writer/direct and star in their own music videos in their head. Guess that’s why he called the group The Cars too, huh?

I used to agree with Ocasek on that matter but now I’ve grown to love all forms of a story or song. I can still create my own imaginary version of any book I read even after seeing the bastardized Hollywood version of the yarn. The same with songs.
Pai
http://fauxpress.blogspot.com fauxpress

Aw crap – the best discussion on a subject near and dear to me and I post an incorrect link to a page from the new media book I’ve been writing since 1999. “The World’s Longest Open Love Letter.”

http://blip.tv/file/702/

That’s the correct link to an excerpt from the 2000 “Valentine’s Day Parade” ‘pages’ from the love letter, including the genesis of its being called an ‘open’ love letter.

It’s metaphrasty, this book.

It exists as film, poem, collection of short stories, short films, audioworks, interviews, other peoples’ works, live theater, dance, fine art in the gallery, documentary, fiction. All of it.

And this is what the digital age has allowed me – as pure & eclectic artist – to tell a different kind of story in as many dimensions as the 0′s and 1′s will permit.

Exciting times.

Thanks for this discussion.
http://fauxpress.blogspot.com Jan / The Faux Press

Aw crap – the best discussion on a subject near and dear to me and I post an incorrect link to a page from the new media book I’ve been writing since 1999. “The World’s Longest Open Love Letter.”

http://blip.tv/file/702/

That’s the correct link to an excerpt from the 2000 “Valentine’s Day Parade” ‘pages’ from the love letter, including the genesis of its being called an ‘open’ love letter.

It’s metaphrasty, this book.

It exists as film, poem, collection of short stories, short films, audioworks, interviews, other peoples’ works, live theater, dance, fine art in the gallery, documentary, fiction. All of it.

And this is what the digital age has allowed me – as pure & eclectic artist – to tell a different kind of story in as many dimensions as the 0′s and 1′s will permit.

Exciting times.

Thanks for this discussion.
http://jamiecroft.createsdesign.com Jamie Croft

I too am standing on the same fence. Except, instead of being a writer, I am a graphic designer, web designer. All of the information I look into on “Social Media” or whatever it is being called today, says that I need to develop new skills etc. I do not want to participate in the social media space just to be “cool”, I want to learn new ways to communicate with people. I think that most of this is just a new way to communicate with each other. I have to admit, I have just started this and I have met people from all over the world that I would have probably never met. Just like you. I saw a seesmic video of you and then started reading your blog.

Again, this still leaves me here standing up on this fence. I just need to figure out how to use what I am learning in this new space and see how I can use it to my advantage.

ps it is very intimidating to write on a writers blog when I cannot write at all.

take care, Jamie Croft
http://jamiecroft.createsdesign.com Jamie Croft

I too am standing on the same fence. Except, instead of being a writer, I am a graphic designer, web designer. All of the information I look into on “Social Media” or whatever it is being called today, says that I need to develop new skills etc. I do not want to participate in the social media space just to be “cool”, I want to learn new ways to communicate with people. I think that most of this is just a new way to communicate with each other. I have to admit, I have just started this and I have met people from all over the world that I would have probably never met. Just like you. I saw a seesmic video of you and then started reading your blog.

Again, this still leaves me here standing up on this fence. I just need to figure out how to use what I am learning in this new space and see how I can use it to my advantage.

ps it is very intimidating to write on a writers blog when I cannot write at all.

take care, Jamie Croft
http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

Jamie and all! Thanks for coming. You are welcome here. No skillz needed. In fact, I don’t even require English. And let me tell you, I have no real success yet as a writer. I’m still a novice, so no worries. Let’s keep the discussion going.

Hopefully Chris gets my point. Didn’t want to piss anyone off. But ya know, you can’t really blog without miffing someone off. Paisano reminded me of this guy in tech named Robert Scoble – he likes to read on his new Kindle machine. But as I said, there are always exceptions. Chris and Robert are big exceptions, because the numbers of men in the USA that report that they read is very low. Check out this story from NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14175229

So, exceptions aside, there is a literacy and e-literacy issue happening here and we need to start admitting that it exists. That’s all I ask.
http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

Jamie and all! Thanks for coming. You are welcome here. No skillz needed. In fact, I don’t even require English. And let me tell you, I have no real success yet as a writer. I’m still a novice, so no worries. Let’s keep the discussion going.

Hopefully Chris gets my point. Didn’t want to piss anyone off. But ya know, you can’t really blog without miffing someone off. Paisano reminded me of this guy in tech named Robert Scoble – he likes to read on his new Kindle machine. But as I said, there are always exceptions. Chris and Robert are big exceptions, because the numbers of men in the USA that report that they read is very low. Check out this story from NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14175229

So, exceptions aside, there is a literacy and e-literacy issue happening here and we need to start admitting that it exists. That’s all I ask.
http://lilyhill.wordpress.com/ Roberta Frazier

@Chris

Yes, Chris, but you never sleep. And you blog, Twitter, Utterz, and drive several hours to work while doing all 3 – we have proof! And I’m sure there are speakers for books on tape in your pillow…

Christine, great article. You straddle both worlds well. With a child on one hip and holding the hand of another.
http://lilyhill.wordpress.com/ Roberta Frazier

@Chris

Yes, Chris, but you never sleep. And you blog, Twitter, Utterz, and drive several hours to work while doing all 3 – we have proof! And I’m sure there are speakers for books on tape in your pillow…

Christine, great article. You straddle both worlds well. With a child on one hip and holding the hand of another.
http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

So I twittered that I needed non social writers to come comment, so I was in essence asking the social media writer fence sitters to find me some hermit writer types. Still working on it.
http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

So I twittered that I needed non social writers to come comment, so I was in essence asking the social media writer fence sitters to find me some hermit writer types. Still working on it.
http://ericrice.com Eric Rice

I’m always amused at how social media is some ‘skill’.

You wanna know why it’s easy to generalize? Because of how mavens appear to look at themselves in the mirror. I bet Scoble might read books, but you might not ever see it because he can’t disconnect his phone from Qik.com. I know Brogan reads, but I can’t recall if it’s ever come up in all of his work and exploration into social technologies. Has it, dude?

If Christine is generalizing, it’s probably for a reason.

Perception is 9/10ths, and if we’re to be so brilliantly social, we need to stop failing so much. Because even if one inspires people, the message might be wrapped in an invisible fog of uncertainty.

Also, I highly recommend ‘Silicon Snake Oil’ by Clifford Stoll.
http://ericrice.com Eric Rice

I’m always amused at how social media is some ‘skill’.

You wanna know why it’s easy to generalize? Because of how mavens appear to look at themselves in the mirror. I bet Scoble might read books, but you might not ever see it because he can’t disconnect his phone from Qik.com. I know Brogan reads, but I can’t recall if it’s ever come up in all of his work and exploration into social technologies. Has it, dude?

If Christine is generalizing, it’s probably for a reason.

Perception is 9/10ths, and if we’re to be so brilliantly social, we need to stop failing so much. Because even if one inspires people, the message might be wrapped in an invisible fog of uncertainty.

Also, I highly recommend ‘Silicon Snake Oil’ by Clifford Stoll.
http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan…

Hmm. Books and social media? How do you mean?
http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan…

Hmm. Books and social media? How do you mean?
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http://candogphotoblog.blogspot.com/ Roger R

just want to say your article is brilliant! ..and it made me think. Thanks

oh.. and Cathy Brooks: I do actually see twitts with exellent grammar every day. Things like twitter is here to stay, and it will influence language development severely in years to come.. so why not adopt some of the writing techniques you see online?

(btw I’m Norwegian and might have done a few peculiar linguistic errors) ;D
http://candogphotoblog.blogspot.com/ Roger R

just want to say your article is brilliant! ..and it made me think. Thanks

oh.. and Cathy Brooks: I do actually see twitts with exellent grammar every day. Things like twitter is here to stay, and it will influence language development severely in years to come.. so why not adopt some of the writing techniques you see online?

(btw I’m Norwegian and might have done a few peculiar linguistic errors) ;D
http://candogphotoblog.blogspot.com/ Roger R

‘made’ I mean
http://candogphotoblog.blogspot.com/ Roger R

‘made’ I mean
http://www.memorywritersnetwork.com/blog Jerry Waxler

This is a great topic Purplecar, and with 25 comments so far you’re stirring things up. I think both sides of the fence take talent and time. It’s hard coming up with enough of each to do everything right, so I just keep trying, hoping I’m putting enough energy into all the right places. The internet age is filled with infinite possibilities. Hopefully we can have fun and keep each other company as we strive towards greater heights.

Jerry
http://www.memorywritersnetwork.com/blog Jerry Waxler

This is a great topic Purplecar, and with 25 comments so far you’re stirring things up. I think both sides of the fence take talent and time. It’s hard coming up with enough of each to do everything right, so I just keep trying, hoping I’m putting enough energy into all the right places. The internet age is filled with infinite possibilities. Hopefully we can have fun and keep each other company as we strive towards greater heights.

Jerry