Center of Attention: Part 3

May 24, 2008 in On Writing | View Comments

WWW's Image via WikipediaYep, so, I admit. I’m kind of socially inept. Inadequate even. I sweat and stutter and I always think of my snappy comebacks when they’re too slow to be snappy anymore. I am most described by people who know me in real life as “nice,” which tells me they don’t really know me at all, through no fault of their own.

The internet, however, is a different beast. I can be who I am in my head online. I am kickass, I am independent, I am funny, and in my little corner of the web I am always the center of attention.

And, in the end, I guess that’s why I’m so exposed online, by choice. It’s also why I’m a writer. Where else can the voice in my head make it out into the world beyond sweating and stuttering but in my own little space on the internet, or between the covers of a book I’ve written?

So, how about you? Are you exposed online? Are you patently absent online? Why?

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  • Sonja Foust
    Merinda, exactly. :) I liked the allure of people actually respecting your ability to spell and write in complete sentences at the tender age of 14 online. Heehee.


    Beth, I don't think anyone should feel like she HAS to blog. And most of the time I'm pretty sure no one cares what I have to say either, but I care what I have to say and I'm self-centered, and therefore I put it out there anyway. :)



    Ashley, totally. And thanks for visiting!



    Ilana, yes, you DEFINITELY have to be careful about anything that's written, and I've done a lot of going back and cleaning up to make my online presence squeaky clean since becoming a writer. That's part of being online too!



    Steph, thanks for stopping by! I'll definitely check out your site.
  • Steph
    You've just described me perfectly. In 'real life', I'm shy, awkward, and introverted. In fact, when I was in high school I went to some seminar for nursing and won the "sweetest disposition" award because they gave everyone an award and were obviously scraping the bottom of the barrel when they came to me.


    Online, I'm much the opposite. It's wonderful, like being mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent by day and Superman on the computer. Something like that at least.



    Anyways, I found you blog on blogcatalog.com and since you're obviously into writing, I wanted to let you know about a new e-zine that me and a few writer friends are putting together.



    It's called The Oddville Press.



    You should check us out if you're interested--or better yet, submit something!



    Thanks a bunch! Your blog made me smile so I'll probably be poking around here more in the future. :)
  • Ilana
    I also like being to edit and am more likely to share things online. At the same time, I feel the need to be a bit careful since it is written, not spoken, and could potentially come back at you at a later date.


    The up side of this is that there's not much about myself that I feel I need to be careful about.



    And I'm liking my blog, because I get to let my (weird) obsession with old stuff filter through.
  • Ashley
    I'm so with you. When I'm around people I am a mess but when it comes to writing, when I have lots of time to think before I speak, I feel much more at ease.
  • Beth Caudill
    While the internet gives some anonymity, I still have a hard time 'putting myself out there.'


    I'd rather sit in the back of the room and watch everyone else. I'm not much of a blogger because I don't feel like anyone wants to hear what I have to say.



    I know, I'm writer...inconsistent is my middle name. :)
  • M.Brayfield
    "I can be who I am in my head online."


    Oh man I so relate to this. The whole paragraph really. Or this whole post.



    I've been on the net since I was a stuttering, insecure 14 year old. And back then people were surprised I was 14, as I was actually somewhat articulate. I used to half joke I preferred the net because on there nobody could hear me stutter or notice my speech impediment.



    And yes, I'm way exposed on the net. Reliantfc3? Merindab? either of those are frequently me :)
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