Romancing the Blog...my big decision

aaahhhhh

You were out of town, I feel less ignored now. Not much less mind you but less ;)

I think blogs run the chance of 'video killing the radio star'. And honestly I read less author blogs then I do reader blogs. Partly because of time and cuz you never know if you are reading the person or the just who the author wants you to think they are.

To me a reader has no reason to 'front' anything other than who they really are. They don't have sells figures to worry about or losing readers or whatever. Although I do strongly think their are authors out there with blogs that do reflect who they are, damn it all. Which I like even if I don't like what they have to say. LOL of course a few have killed any want I would ever have to even read their 'type' of fiction muchless their books. But that is another post...

sybil

Now I'm curious about your reasons for leaving RTB and about who else is leaving. (I don't expect you to satisfy that curiosity, by the way.) I'll still enjoy reading your blog, though.

Laurie, I think this whole medium is so new, so untried, that we're going to see lots of fluidity for a long time to come. I think you have to go with your gut, and follow through, because there are just so many ways to stretch ourselves. I'm still floundering on my blog, finding what works for me. And I think your plate is pretty full.

Alyssa -

I don't know who the other columnist was who left/plans to leave. I was only told when I resigned that another columnist was doing so for the same reason(s). I presented three or four to RTB when I resigned.

The main reason is the one I mentioned...and it has to do w/a lack of fun as well as over-exposure. And then there's the fact that "rules" governing blogging are even looser than those governing webzines. There are certain "facts" that have flown through the blogosphere over time based on the word of one person, and everyone simply accepts them as truth. I even came thisclose to getting caught up in it recently, only to eventually hear the "other side," but by happenstance. This instance had nothing to do w/a specfic RTB column, btw, but, not being a joiner, I became suspicious of myself for buying into the whole "community" so easily. In my house my husband's the cynic and I'm the pessamist. I need my inner cynic to come out more often, and my little red flag dropped, letting me know it needed to appear at the time of that incident.

In other words, I almost got sloppy, and pulling back out of RTB is something I feel I needed to do to prevent that in the future. But they've given me the option to return in the future, and I'm glad.

TTFN, LLB

Laurie,

My basic problem with Romancing The Blog is the weird anonymity business of the self-styled PTB. I really resented the fact that they wanted RWA members to sign their names and membership numbers to a letter to the RWA conerning the graphical standards issue. Why on earth would I sign my name to a letter written by someone who doesn't see fit to identify themselves? It's a bizarre idea.

I'm sorry to read this; I've always enjoyed your columns at RTB. And, as there is still this blog and ATBF, I am relieved you aren't removing your voice from romance-land.

The blogging community--I'm not always sure what to make of it. I love it/hate it at times, even my own contribution to it. I find myself becoming more cynical as this-or-that erupts across the blogosphere, but also heartened by many of the voices and the amazing things other readers/authors have to say.

Jo -

I've now been blogging for nearly three years and am STILL finding my way. It's a tough balance. Some blogs are far too personal for my comfort zone. And for me, it's a tough balance...I want people to read it, but because of the tightrope I walk, I don't want too many people to read it. My stats have gone up enormously in the past few months since joining RTB, and that too is a reason for dropping out. That's what I mean about over-exposure.

MelJean -

I hope we do keep the PPP. You're the second person I've heard from since posting here. As for RTB, I know I had more fun when I wasn't reading so many other blogs. That said, yours is one I enjoy.

TTFN, LLB

Sarah -

Since I'm not an RWA member, I'm clueless about your post!

Sybil -

As publisher of AAR, I'm somewhere between a reader and an author because while I'm not worried about book sales, I do worry about AAR, which is my first priority. That said, I've never compromised either as a result of the other, if that makes sense. But it ain't always easy.

TTFN, LLB

I, too, have become somewhat weary/leery of the blogosphere. Sometimes it seems like there are too many fires lit by the same lightening bolt, so to speak. Or, too much rantiness that feels put on and just to gain attention.

Admittedly, I've deliberately kept my own blog lite n trite. ;-P Posting a bit about this & that--writing, reading, movies, jokes, funny anecdotes, or interesting/amusing links. Whatever. Just stuff.

On a sidenote, it gets disheartening to see lines drawn in the sand (over and over again on topic after topic) between people who really don't *know* each other--can't interpret facial/hand gesture, or body language--and don't truly know the full story; yet conjecture can become fact in the press of a 'post it' button and a too quick misinterpretation.

Sorry to see you leave RtB, I've enjoyed your posts there, but this site (& AAR) are still bookmarked under favourites for me.

I, too, have become somewhat weary/leery of the blogosphere. Sometimes it seems like there are too many fires lit by the same lightening bolt, so to speak. Or, too much rantiness that feels put on and just to gain attention.

Admittedly, I've deliberately kept my own blog lite n trite. ;-P Posting a bit about this & that--writing, reading, movies, jokes, funny anecdotes, or interesting/amusing links. Whatever. Just stuff.

On a sidenote, it gets disheartening to see lines drawn in the sand (over and over again on topic after topic) between people who really don't *know* each other--can't interpret facial/hand gesture, or body language--and don't truly know the full story; yet conjecture can become fact in the press of a 'post it' button and a too quick misinterpretation.

Sorry to see you leave RtB, I've enjoyed your posts there, but this site (& AAR) are still bookmarked under favourites for me.

Sarah, the PTB did come forward with their identities a few months ago, though some of the original founders (of which I am one) have left and some new people have joined in behind the scenes. The reason they don't "announce" themselves more often is because RTB is NOT supposed to be about them. It's supposed to be about readers and authors. We never wanted anyone to think of RTB as "Oh, yeah, that's so-and-so's site."

So that's the reason that the PTB names aren't brought up. :)