Welcome!
I’ve always had an odd relationship with blogs. I have ran a couple, contributed to many, but always have been afraid that having an official blog on my website would take away from my work. For people who are not writers, blogs give the opportunity to express an opinion, a statement of record. For people who are writers, it can feel like an unpaid gig. At least, that is what I thought.
What I realize/believe now is that blogs actually help develop whatever ideas a writer like myself may have perculating. It brings things to the surface for feedback. It allows the writer to connect with others. It creates, to paraphrase Steven Johnson, a dialogue.
On another level, this blog will feature all the tidbits, rummations and possibly director’s cuts for which I was not able to find a home. I am a freelance writer. Aside from my two columns through City Link Magazine and PlanetOut, every article I would like to write (and get paid for) needs to be approved and assigned by an editor and, more often than not, the editor above them. (A separate soapbox will be required to discuss why videogames are yet to get a New Yorker… or even an Entertainment Weekly) For instance, my S & M-inspired essay about a recent video game is yet to find a home. Perhaps it will here.
In the meantime, feel free to read my brief Bio, check out my Journalism clips and, if you’re an editor, look at my Resume. The right-hand column has my major publications over the past five years. Use the Search bar to find a particular story topic. Try starting with “Redman”, “polar bear” or “beautiful stranger”. Those are fun ones.
July 2nd, 2006 at 5:51 pm
> It allows the writer to connect with others. It creates… a dialogue
Damon, I wish that were so! I created my blog, http://www.betterthanieverexpected.blogspot.com, hoping to stimulate a discussion of ageless sexuality after the publication of my book, Better Than I Ever Expected: Straight Talk about Sex After Sixty. People do read the blog, according to my site meter, but weeks go by between posted comments, no matter how provocative the topic. I wonder why. Any ideas?
I’m enjoying reading your blog, Damon. Hope you’ll visit mine!
– Joan Price
July 24th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
Hi Joan,
Thanks for stopping by! It’s rough to get commentary on one’s site, for sure, though it is quite an accomplishment that you have regular traffic in itself!
One of my favorite bloggers right now, at http://www.stevenberlinjohnson.com (he was at the ASJA conference), has two best-selling books. He still has many enteries with no comments on them. I think it just requires faith in your intended audience reading your website and, hopefully, following you into the print medium. With all the publicity-related stuff happening, it sounds like you just need to keep doing what you’re doing.
February 1st, 2007 at 9:35 pm
[...] [f] No, I wasn’t kidding. [...]
February 1st, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Hi, Damon. I’m checking in 7 months after writing the comment above, and yes, people are reading and commenting. We’re getting closer to the community that I envisioned talking about sex and aging.
And you! I can see from what I’m reading here that you’ve been busy and successful, and you certainly deserve that!
Joan Price
http://www.joanprice.com/
Author of Better Than I Ever Expected: Straight Talk about Sex After Sixty (Seal Press, 2006, http://www.joanprice.com/BetterThanExpected.htm )
Join us — we’re talking about ageless sexuality at http://www.betterthanieverexpected.blogspot.com