Friday, March 23, 2007

Making a Literary Life Friday: Why Do We Blog?

This week we got tagged by Shanna Thompson to answer the question, why do we blog? We thought our weekly recap of our personal literary journeys was a good place to respond. Especially since we're really a grog, and each of us may have different reasons for doing this crazy thing we call blogging.

Lisa
Blogging, for me, is taking a trip to writer's cyberspace each week. Sharing my thoughts and hopes and dreams and frustrations with other lovely and talented writers.
This week, also, I am enjoying reading a very unique, engaging, and terribly fun first (or tenth) draft of a novel.

Amy
"Spring, spring, spring!" said the frog. "Spring!" said the groundhog. Remember that bedtime story, Moms? It about sums it up for me this week. On the matter of why do I blog: I do it because I want a voice in this parallel universe called the Internet. As for my literary endeavors the week, I did some PR for various writers and organizations I admire, and I met with a dear friend, a literary agent. If you or someone you know is writing literary fiction, let me know; she's looking.

Hannah
I never would have blogged unless Amy suggested it to the Group; when she did, we all jumped at the idea. The blog has been an education, as we seek to find and refine its structure, how we manage it. There is the challenge of putting aside chunks of literary effort and focusing on one essay a week, hoping to strike a chord. The growth of a community and new friends around the blog is a quiet reward, as well! On the literary side, it's been Muse sign-ups, and a new Page One, Page Two...

Lynne
I enjoy writing my weekly entry at The Writers' Group blog, and my two or three posts at my parenting blog for different reasons. My parenting blog is aimed at getting my thoughts, and opinions out into the world, and to publicize the release of my book. Here at TWG, I blog for the sense of community, and it's a great exercise in writing essays. As for my literary life, I signed up for the Muse and the Marketplace conference, which will include a twenty page critique of my novel by an editor I admire. Several charming notes, and revisions to my novel rounded out the week.

Literary Happenings: If you're local, please come to Grub Street South at Buttonwood Books this Wednesday, March 28 at 7:00 pm. This month we're featuring Eve Bridburg, a literary agent with Zachary Schuster Harmsworth Agency. Check out the Grub South link for more information. Hope to see you there!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a perfect week for me to discover your blog! I've been commenting like we all have tea together regularly (thanks for letting me barge in, by the way)and now this post: the day after I had finally bit the bullet and decided I needed to start my own blog. You've given me further motivation. Thanks.

Details to follow.

Lynne Griffin and Amy MacKinnon said...

Judy, I'd love to know every picayune detail about your writing life. Learning how others live this literary life, is somehow encouraging.

Amy

Lynne Reeves Griffin said...

Judy,

We're glad you found us; the feeling is mutual. I can't wait to read, All the Numbers. Let us know when your blog is live.

Lynne

Judy Merrill Larsen said...

Hi Lynne and Amy,

Well, "live" might be an overstatement, but I've posted my first entry.

Hope it's okay with you all that I've put your site in as a link.

Thanks for all the encouragement.

Larramie said...

Regarding blogging: Amy writes about having a voice in this parallel universe of cyberspace and Lynne mentions a sense of community. I can relate to both even though my purpose for blogging is to share something other than myself. ;o)

Lynne Griffin and Amy MacKinnon said...

Larramie, you are a good sharer. Thank you.