Interviews and an informal survey

[sartorias]

A rarity, there are two! Both short, and not really about me.

Janni Lee Simner is doing a series on the mid-career writer and that one is my turn. (I think some of us are "mid-career" until they find us dead at our desk.)

When I approached the questions asked in this interview, I was thinking about Judith Tarr's recent post, and about the

Comments

[blairmacg]

Hey, I noticed you took a break, and figured you'd earned the rest. :)

I read the BVC blog daily. What I love more than anything is the diversity. It doesn't seem to be trying hard to be one certain thing, and therefore it's always interesting.

My favorite posts from you are those that tap your knowledge and cool perspectives on a range of literature. The compare and contrast, the "Hey, look at this connection!" The pointing out of what we assume to be "modern" thinking in works decades old.

And I always like hearing about your process.

[sartorias]

Thank you! With other blogs, which ones catch your attention, which kinds don't? (Not mentioning people just patterns)

[blairmacg]

I'm kinda quirky, so I don't know how applicable my interests would be in the greater picture. :)

I really like slice-of-life things from interesting people. Rather, from people who make their life experiences sound interesting, or connect their past to their present. I'm fascinated by self-examination.

I like reading views on stories rather than reviews. When a blogger discusses connections between this work and that, perhaps across time or culture, I'm fascinated. Give me a review of a story... Eh, I'm skimming.

Love historical and cultural tidbits as well. And I'm a sucker for "how I overcame this challenge" stories. (But I'll usually skip the common "Ten Steps To Better Whatever" posts.)

And writerly process? Love it. Not the checklist kind of posts, but the explorative sort.

In short, I love information and experience over guidance and opinion.

[sartorias]

Thanks!

[3rdragon]

I read the BVC blog when you link to posts (yours or other people's); I'll usually read yours, and sometimes other people's that look interesting. Occasionally while I'm there, I'll wander off on a link to other posts.

[sartorias]

Thank you! What sort of post triggers your interest?

[asakiyume]

Ditto this. I always go when you link, and occasionally when Deborah Ross links. And once in a blue moon, while I'm there, a topic from an earlier blog post will catch my interest and I'll go visit (or if someone else on my friends list or FB or Twitter happens to link there--which happened the other day).

The main thing, from my perspective, that BVC could do that would increase my time there would be to allow for notification when there was a comment added in a post one had commented on. As far as I can tell, there isn't that feature now, which means one has to keep checking back or refreshing the page, which--in my case--means less interaction, as I end up forgetting I've posted, or forgetting to check, and then time goes by.

I've two or three times bought books there, once an anthology to raise money after the Gulf oil spill and other times your books or possibly once someone else's (I lose track and, unfortunately, have yet to read all I've bought...)

[sartorias]

Thanks! Yeah, that business about comments has been brought up. I don't know what the issue is, since I do not understand anything about Wordpress and its widgets, and which ones will or will not play nice with others.

[gillpolack]

I noticed too. I go to the BVC blog when you or someone links to a topic I'm interested in. Occasionally, I'll browse, but mostly I follow links.

[sartorias]

Thanks! Generally speaking, what sort of post gets you to follow links?

[gillpolack]

The really long, thoughtful ones. And anything that expounds your blogs/salons theory.

[gillpolack]

Sorry - late here. I got that backwards. Explanations that suggest long and thoughtful posts. Ones with enough info in them to give me a sense of what I will be reading.

[asakiyume]

(And regarding your break, I figured you were tired or had other stuff occupying you at home.)

[sartorias]

Thanks!

[breathingbooks]

I also noticed (I always follow your link to read) but assumed you were just too busy to post.

Regarding group writing blogs -

Like: craft posts

Dislike: personal posts (if I want those, I'll follow individual blogs), book promos (fine if it's just a first chapter excerpt, but otherwise, no, especially if done more than once)

[sartorias]

Thanks! Re book promo, would you find it more engaging if the promo talked about aspects of the book, or the particular world or thing the book deals with?

[breathingbooks]

If the book becomes one example in a longer post or a true jump into a broader topic, that can be fine, but I definitely want some of that meatier content before the cut. "Yay, my/hir books is out!" with a generic summary and cover does little for me.

Again, I'd expect it on a personal blog and can handle it once or twice in such a setting, but I expect group writing blogs to be focused on writing. I also have very little tolerance for text advertising. I want words to give me ideas; pictures are for products.

I scrolled through the first BVC blog page, and these are the two I opened:

http://bookviewcafe.com/blog/2013/06/20/writers-as-thieves/#more-32854

http://bookviewcafe.com/blog/2013/06/13/best-of-the-blog-would-you-please-fucking-stop/#more-32566

[sartorias]

Thank you!