hard copy

[serenissima]

Over the weekend, I was flipping through a parenting magazine left by my cousin. I came across an article in which the writer complained about how she had written a journal on the computer during her maternity leave, and it accidentally got irretrievably erased. I thought, if she had written that in a blog instead of just her own hard drive, that wouldn't have happened.

But even assuming that a web-based journal is always up and running, never crashed, you still need Internet access, electric power, and a computer to read it. There's a certain satisfaction I get from ink on smooth, pretty paper -- one of the advantages that a handwritten letter has over an email. It would be really cool if there were a service that could publish a weblog as a bound book. This wouldn't be too hard with a monologue-type format like Diaryland has. A LiveJournal, on the other hand, is inherently interactive and would be challenging to print in an easily readable format. If it could be done, though, I'd want one.

Changing the subject entirely...
I happened to notice in my websurfing today that of the top ten plants for cleaning the air in your building, at least seven are poisonous to eat and not plants to keep in the same household with pets (or babies) who nibble on things.

I have interview questions, so I'll be answering those shortly.

Comments

[elynne.livejournal.com]

LiveJournal, on the other hand, has an inherently interactive format that would be challenging to print in an easily readable format. If it could be done, though, I'd want one.

Oh, hell yeah.

The biggest problem I can see is the question of copyrights, especially with comments or journal entries cribbed from other sources. But, if it wasn't being mass-published, but just a one-shot vanity press... hmm.

Dammit, you've got me thinking. :D

Writing and stuff

[(Anonymous)]

I started writing technical user manuals for supercomputers. (I have a degree in English/Communications/Technical Writing). Writing manuals wasn’t exactly the kind of writing I wanted to do (and the creativity was, well, nonexistent) but it paid the bills and gave me the opportunity to write every day. After several years of writing boring technical manuals a position opened in the company for a copywriter. I jumped on the chance to write less boring but slightly more creative data sheets, case studies, web pages, and lately proposals.

Copywriting allowed me to experiment with different styles and voices that didn’t exist in technical writing. Anyway, writing is something I’ve always wanted to do and I feel fortunate that I have a job that pays me write which is honing my skills (hopefully) for a future career as a freelance writer/author.

Diaryland, although originally a means of writing out my feelings after my first wife died, now serves as an opportunity for me to practice different styles of writing and a place to post drafts and thoughts while still keeping those who care informed about my life with Marathon Girl. The bit I posted on the Spiral Jetty was actually a very rough first draft of an essay/article I want to solicit to a couple of publications after I churn out a more refined version. When I wrote the story about how Marathon Girl and I ended up together, it was actually a detailed outline about our story that I’m using to complete my book.

Anyway that’s the long version of how my writing career. If you have any more questions, I’d be happy to answer them. I’m glad you enjoy my writing. I also agree with you about the satisfaction ones receives from a real letter over an electronic one. Real ones seem much more real and personal. – widower http://widower.diaryland.com