Hi. My name is Matthew and I'm a blogaholic.Beneath everything else this is a blog for writers. The idea behind it all is to show other novice writers great examples of query letters - ones that worked, and ones that didn't. But that being said I really love it that I can spew about travel, sushi, TV, and books, or even other inane personal stuff, and you people will still laugh or cry alongside me (hey, I can pretend), and more importantly, still accept me for who I am.
Today I am on Step Eight.
Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Last time I talked about the only people I had harmed through my ignorance of publishing. Mostly it's just agents who had to read my terrible queries, and my CPs who struggled through many awkward phrases in my WIP. I'm making amends to all of them by continuing to improve my craft. I read books on writing, and I practice writing new and different things, and I improve by critiquing others work, but you know what really improves my writing the most?
Corresponding with all of you, and talking to you about writing. About techniques you use. About how you stay motivated. About how you come up with ideas. About what kind of alcohol you like the best. About what kind of snacks you enjoy while writing. I give a shit about all of it, and all of it makes me a better writer.
Soon I may share about Step Ten.
Disclaimer: This post is satirical. It is not meant to offend anyone, or to belittle the integrity of 12 Step Programs anywhere, which have saved countless lives since their inception.
33 comments:
I agree! The blog world totally makes me a better writer. Yay Timmy! You're making progress through your steps. Pretty soon you'll be clean and sober (in the writing sense, of course) :)
LOL!
Coronas. With a lime of course.
Blogging has definitely changed my writing too! I can't even imagine what hole I'd still be stuck in if I'd never begun ...
Oh yeah, and I like red wine, port, Martini Bianco, and beer.
I like how you connect your responsibility to improve as a writer with the entire writing community. If we all claim that attitude...hey, there will be no stopping us.
Aw, thank you! Yeah, I'm a much better writer thanks to blogging, too. Now I feel like I at least have a clue, where before I was just writing blind and thinking it was fabulous when it definitely wasn't.
I don't drink alcohol anymore, but when I did I liked Jack Daniels and Guinness (although not together; that would be gross) and occasionally a gin and tonic. And sometimes Bacardi.
The blog community is tight and I have made some actual friends out of it. The whole thing is just plain cool, IMHO.
I love your disclaimer at the end of each 'step.' Chocolate and red wine is a favorite when I'm deep into revisions. When I'm cranking out an actual first draft, I usually have Chai or green tea at hand. Hmmm...maybe I should try reversing that. :)
me too!
... umm... that's all braindead's got today~ ;p
This was too funny, I love your steps Matt. I'm not quite certain what I'd do if I hadn't discovered blogging.
I live blogging and I think it really helps me as a writer, too. And it's a great outlet - AND the people are so lovely! Maybe I need the 10-step programme.
I love this whole blogging thing. Definitely changed things!
Great article, thank you very much!
Injury! I doubt it. Occasionally you make me laugh on purpose and i get a stitch in my side, but for that I freely forgive you.
Awwwwwww!!!! I love the community spirit and general bloggie lurve that wafts from all the lovely blogs I follow!! Yay!!
what's step 9?
Take care
x
Ugh, without the blogging community I think I'd feel like I was goin at this completely blind.
Champagne (though I'm drunk after two glasses)
or a nice cold Coors Light on a hot summer day
I love puttering around in the writerly blogging community! Writers are FUN people.
Hi. My name is Matthew and I'm a blogaholic.
Hi Matthew!
Hi Adam!
Blogger buddies rock, that's for sure!
*Gin and tonic for me. Or a Mojito, depending on my mood, but SOMETHING with a lime in it.
Oh, well, since you're interested I'm a tequila and vodka kind of gal--NO rum unless I'm on an exotic island. And of course I like wine too. :)
I owe every bit of where I am to the blogging community--and I will never forget that. Seriously, how did writers do it before the internet???
Hey, everyone has to start somewhere. You read books on craft, I continue to torture my CP's. I only make amends with chocolate pie. :)
The blogging community is indeed a special place.
My poison of choice is a nice chilled Chardonnay served in a beautiful glass - or bucket - which ever is closer :)
Nice post.
The blogging community is wonderful. I love my blogging friends!
oh, I must've missed when you asked us what kind of alcohol we like the best. :)
I've slowed down with drinking over the years, so I just drink wine these days. I like chips and salsa when I write. I do like beer with chips and salsa, but lay off as beer makes me fat. And I've been thin as a rail most of my life. But now, if I drink beer I balloon up in no time.
Hi Matt! So I just found your blog the other day and have been repeatedly hitting the "older post" button to read all your great insight!
It's been wonderful to hear how much blogging has had an effect (eeek, the homonym I'm awful at) on people.
Everyone has inspired me and I just started my own blog! Yay!
Anyway, I can't wait to follow your blog now :)
-Genissa
genissa.blogspot.com
hi mr matthew! yep for sure all my blogger friends been teaching me soooo much about writing. im gonna do a post on it some time. i got here knowing not so much and now i know sooooo much good stuff. for me its red stripe beer and peanut butter cups. haha. you gotta know im kidding about the beer but never about those peanut butter cups.
...smiles and hugs from lenny
Blogging made me a better writer definitely. It helped me make words come out more easily.
ficklecattle.blogspot.com
Blogging is writing, and connecting, and learning. Although having said that, I'm woeful behind in my blog reading/commenting. Alas, the WiP has commanded my soul lately. :)
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