Tossing It Out

Friday, October 5, 2012

What Makes a Blog More Relevant?

The Thinking Man sculpture at Musée Rodin in Paris (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I've Been Thinking

Did you watch the presidential debate? Do plan on watching the upcoming debates? If you are keeping up with the political campaigns then I'm sure you have a few opinions about the issues. I'm not a foaming at the mouth politico, but I do tend to keep up with the activities in the political arena as well as world affairs and social issues. I have a lot of opinions about many issues, but I have had a tendency to keep mum on most of these on my blog site.

I won't say that any change is coming that will include disclosing many of my opinions and actively promoting any agendas, but as I have been hinting in my previous posts a change of sorts is coming. Actually it might be more of a reversion to some of my earlier blogging tactics. I'll explain shortly, but let me first tell you about my decision to tweak the blog.

Where'd This Come From?

During the Hijack This Blog! project there were two standout posts for me--that is, posts that were particularly dear to my heart so to speak. One of the posts that generated some of the most active commenting activity was that of Andrew Leon--Is It Better To Be "Nice" or Honest?. Not only did Andrew's post generate a healthy dose of comments, but they were comments of substance. It was a true discussion, which is something I like to strive for on Tossing It Out. I want to see more of this type of activity.

The second guest post that I thought had exciting prospects was from Stephen T. McCarthy--Become An "Educated" American Patriot. On his blog, Stephen is capable of successfully pulling off extreme controversy to an extent that I never could because I just don't consider myself that educated when it comes to politics and American ideology. And also I'm hesitant to alienate too many readers with radical (by some standards) thought. I did, however, appreciate the challenge that Stephen brought to the table with his post and the response it generated in the comment section.

Inspired by those two posts I have decided to return to a certain element of introducing controversial topics in my blog posts. I'd like to see more relevance and some deeper thinking inspired by my blog posts. Now don't get me wrong, I'm no brilliant intellectual guy who is steeped in the issues of the day. There are just some things I wonder about sometimes and I like to hear what others think about those thoughts. I have come to a conclusion that there are many things I don't understand and I'd like to clarify them in my mind. Maybe some of you are the same way. It doesn't hurt to gauge our own opinions against those of others to come to a greater understanding of the ways of the world or the world beyond this one for that matter.

Some Backstory

In the earlier days of Tossing It Out I had a forum day called "Thursday Debate" where I would present a controversial topic and either pick a side or just present different sides. I would then ask what the readers thought. This was frequently not my most popular day for comments, but it was often the most fun and most interesting. I've not totally strayed from controversial topics, but I feel like I've generally lightened up on the issues. Could it be time for me to return to this concept?

I think so. I will not be striving for complete change. Content will continue to be eclectic and often random. There will still be the occasional guest post and the on-going nuttiness that I dredge from my old brain. But I will also be sometimes tossing out an idea, an opinion, or a pondering and hoping that you will have something to toss back to me. After all that is what this blog was originally intended to be.

If you're interested you might want to go back to my early post "Mission Statement" to get a better idea of where I like to be coming from (and some of you might say I've never strayed from that). But if you don't have time to go back let me quote the Mission Statement that I made at that time:

The "Tossing It Out" blog is here to entertain, stimulate, and inform whenever possible. The author will make every attempt to be accurate and fair at all times and will be open to the input of any readership the blog may develop. There is no set course, no absolute purpose, and the content, though at times random, will strive for cohesion and clarity.

Let me emphasize "stimulate" in the context of this current post. I want to think and I hope I can find others who want to do the same. And lest there be any fears of over-politicizing or focusing on American politics be assured that though I may bring up issues that are related to the politics, I don't plan to get into the current campaign to try to sway votes or focus on the current election.

I don't want to toss out the spirit of this blog, I just want to toss in a few ingredients that will make for a more savory stew.

Will controversial issues scare you away from this blog? Do you ever feel the need for more mental stimulation? What are some topics that you think might be interesting to discuss?

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

#IWSG: Would You Rather Hear the Truth or Flattery?

First Wednesday of the month means another edition of Alex J Cavanaugh's Insecure Writers Support Group. You can discover more participants here.

One of the most controversy generating posts of my Hijack This Blog! series was the one by Andrew Leon called "Is It Better To Be "Nice" or Honest?". Andrew has touched upon this topic many times on his own blog and in fact did a Part Two of the post he contributed to Tossing It Out. I encourage you to check out the two I linked to as well as some of the others that Andrew has done. He has a way with words, especially when it comes to stirring controversy.

I too enjoy stirring the pot sometimes. That statement probably can be taken a number of ways, but in this case I am referring to controversial subjects in blog posts. Tossing It Out has often delved into topics that can provoke debate, but not so much in the past year or so. But I'm getting ahead of myself. As promised in my post of last Friday, I'll get back to that aspect of my blogging activity on this coming Friday. Please don't miss that.

In this present post I want to look again at Andrew's July post about critiquing others. This time I want to bring things closer to home. Andrew was asking whether you are prone to give the nice answer to what you think about another writer's work or are willing to risk hurting or even offending another by telling them what you didn't like about their writing or even that it is just plain crap. But what about when you are in the hot seat of the one being critiqued? Would you rather hear the truth or flattery?

Sometimes I don't take too well to criticism. If I really like what I've written I can tend to be very defensive about it. However I antithetically will embrace the cool harshness of criticism when I respect the source and am given the logical explanation of why that criticism has been given. For example, even if at the time I didn't agree with what my creative writing professor in college said about my stories, I accepted his suggestions because he was the professor who had the experience and I was not. Now in retrospect, I can read those old papers and understand more clearly what the writing in red was saying. I grew into the criticism with time and experience.

On the other hand, when my mother reads something I've written you'd think I was the greatest writer in the world. And I do believe she's being sincere. I know the feeling of beaming with pride when my own kids do something and I see it as potential genius. Parents often see their kids as an extension of themselves and the values they have espoused to their offspring. The praise makes sense in many ways.

Then there's a middle ground that may lean toward truth or fiction. There are the friends or genuine fans who actually like what I do and are very forgiving when I falter in my output. To them I am always good--or so they say. Or there are those who want to play the mentor role and let me know I've got a ways to go and maybe I'll never get there. The range might be wide, but I don't really know yet because aside from my blogging output, I'm not getting my work out there.

Perhaps that's why I'm not actually finishing anything. I am afraid of what I might hear. It might be true and I might like it or I might not. Or it might be just flattery because the critique giver wants to be nice and not hurt my feelings. If that's the case I might be in for a rude awakening when I've poured time and labor into a product that no one likes or wants.

"Just do it!" Some of you may be saying and yes I agree. And I am probably exaggerating my fears. I'm being much more dramatic than I actually feel. Or am I? After all, this is Insecure Writer's Support Group Day and insecurity is the theme. Right?

So what would you prefer: Truth or Flattery? Be honest. Have you ever had something you've done, writing or otherwise, deemed as quite excellent only to find otherwise when you put it before the public?

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Monday, October 1, 2012

Teresa Rhyne's Book Release Day!

On my memoir blog Wrote By Rote I have been following the publishing success story of Teresa Rhyne. In March Teresa told her story about how her book came to be and the road toward publication. Then in August she gave her report from the floor of Book Expo America in New York City and her successful preview debut. Finally, the big day is here! Tuesday October 2nd is the official release date of The Dog Lived (and So Will I). Teresa is here to fill us in on more of the story. And be sure to visit Teresa's blog for even more info. (Also check out the link Teresa gives toward the end of this post for the personal appearances she has scheduled so far--if you're nearby it sounds like fun!)

Do you know who has a book coming out on October 2^nd? Yep. Dennis Lehane, Jo Nesbo, Louise Erdich, Sherman Alexie, Bill O’Reilly, Ann Coulter, Nora Roberts, Jasper Fforde, and Neil Young. Oh, and me. And probably another 100 or so authors. But me. I’m there. I’m among them. Check out this list from Publisher’s Weekly and this article on why October 2, 2012 is the Best Book Day of 2012 (they did that whole article without mentioning my book; I’m shocked. Ahem. Not at all.) This sums up quite well the dichotomy that is my publishing experience of late, and, I imagine, the publishing experience of many a first-time author.

the box of my books I received from the publisher. It's an exciting moment in a writer's life. .

On the one hand, it’s wildly exciting to even appear on a list with names like this. I felt the same way (the “I can die happy now” way) when my book was listed as a BEA Buzz Book alongside Barbara Kingsolver. But then of course, because I’m new (and nervous, and probably a bit of a freak at this point), I think “Aaargh—I’ll get lost in the stampede of fabulousness that is all those other books!” Then I think, “Stop using exclamation points, you are a writer, damnit! Stop. It.” And also, “Yes, but maybe this means everyone will be rushing to bookstores and they may as well pick up your book too.” Because, you know, that happens. But the reality of it is I have very little control over any of it. Luckily, I have professionals looking out for me (my publisher, Sourcebooks, and their team of marketing, publicity and sales aces) and they know far better than I what to expect. They try to simultaneously encourage and caution me, and they advise me, but it’s all some crazy Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride to me. And to mix fairy tales but remain firmly in Fantasyland, sometimes I’m the toad and sometimes I’m the princess. To wit (because I’m always a lawyer):

Princess: Publisher’s Weekly gave me a nice review, as did Library Journal. Cesar’s Way magazine also had a nice blurb. A national magazine is doing an article and sent a photographer to my home for a photo shoot of me and my dog.

Toad: A different national magazine did an interview and we were told there’d be an article in the October edition. I gleefully raced out to buy several copies of the October edition, only to discover there wasn’t a word in it about me or the book. No word why. We’re seriously hoping I appear in the November edition and return to Princess status. But we don’t know.

Princess: Target picked up the book and will have it in all of their stores.

Toad: It won’t be there until October 17^th. Target is big enough to have its own release date. Okay, that’s not very toad-y; that maybe even sounds Princess-y. But it goes to show you the odd world of book sales.

Princess: My boyfriend happens to own a wine shop (hey, I’m no dummy) and we’re partnering to do a series of “Words, Wine & Wags” fundraising events for various animal rescue organizations and “Words, Wine & Women” events for breast cancer groups. It’s a chance to introduce the book and the wines, and hey we get to bring our dog and help some great causes. Great response from the dog groups so far. And I’ve been asked to appear and do signings at several animal fairs and walks.

Toad: We can’t seem to find any interested breast cancer groups and have had very minimal luck getting bookstores to be the bookseller at any offsite events. (So Chris will be selling not just wines, but books!)

Princess: There was interest in an interview from a national TV show.

Toad: The dog had to be with me and the interview has to be done in an East Coast studio. I’m on the West Coast and I won’t fly the dog in cargo (dog lovers get this; if you’re scratching your head, recall what just happened to supermodel Maggie Rizer’s dog en route between San Francisco and New York.)

Princess: Blog reviewers were interested in advance copies and have been very kind in their comments. The reviews have really touched me. It’s fascinating to discover what someone else gets out of my writing. And this being a memoir, it’s also good to know they seem to like my main character.

Toad: ….No, there’s no toad on this one. Readers are great. Bloggers are great. People who love books and reading are great. (Amazon reviews haven’t started yet.)

And that’s really the fantasy come true here. It’s not Fantasyland anymore. Whatever happens, I’m not a Princess or a Toad. I’m a published author. With a book tour. And readers who love the book.

Wait….I’m a freakin’ Queen!

Here’s my schedule of events for the next month: http://teresarhyne.com/appearances-and-events/ If I’m in your neighborhood, I hope you’ll stop by and say hello. I’ll be the one in the tiara. With warts.

The Tale Of A Dog Who Wouldn’t Let Go And The Woman Who Followed His Lead.

Teresa Rhyne vowed to get things right this time around: new boyfriend, new house, new dog, maybe even new job. But shortly after she adopted an incorrigible beagle named Seamus, vets told Teresa that he had a malignant tumor and less than a year to live. The diagnosis was devastating, but she decided to fight it, learning everything she could about the best treatment for Seamus.

She couldn’t have possibly known then that she was preparing herself for life’s next hurdle – a cancer diagnosis of her own. Teresa and Seamus would battle for their lives together, while at the same time she’d bare her heart for a seemingly star-crossed relationship

The Dog Lived (And So Will I) is the uplifting, charming, and often mischievous story of how dogs come into our lives for a reason, how they steal our hearts, show us how to live, and teach us how to love.