Writing is one of those things that has woven its way into the ether of how we live our lives. We write quick post it notes on the fridge, we write notes to ourselves on our smartphones, and we write checks to pay for things. At the same time, we use the same verb (to write) for things like novels, poetry, or even a blog post like this one. With such ubiquitous use of the very word "to write" and the simple fact that most Americans can write, it's no surprise that there are many different and equally useful ways of thinking about the act of writing.
This week I'm going to dig into how different kinds of authors think about writing and what those differing perspectives can and will mean for the evolution of publishing and what it means to be an author in the first place. Here are some of the questions I'll be examining:
1. Why do we write? It takes time, it's difficult, and it's hard to get people to buy and read the final product. So, why do we do it?
2. What digital does to our writing brains: Does it mean the same thing to be an author now with the digital tools? With the evolution of creating books moving from scribes to Gutenberg to the modern typist to the ultra-modern laptop novelist, does "writing" mean the same thing? Can it? Should it?
3. Advice: Is there any advice that past writers have given that rings as true today as it ever has and ever will? How much of what writers have said in the past is still relevant to those of us writing today?
It should be a great week. And if there are any specific questions or writers you'd like to hear about, please let me know in the comments.
Image source: carpenter_patrick via flickr
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