Emotional night.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

But then, it's not clear to what end CP wants to put this out there. Share feelings? Show the power of her writing? Do both? Seek validation of both?

It's a good question. I like to do both, and seek validation, yes. I know I fall on the self-absorbed side of things and sometimes I truly feel that I am a blowhard saying nothing new. The morning after this post I thought ugh, what a mess that must be, and then was pleasantly surprised by the strong response. After all these years I know that you guys are honest about my writing and aren't going to say such precisely lovely things when it's just another post.

I want to post it to Facebook if it has some value in it. The responses I got here are the type of thing I'm looking for. I don't post poetry or personal ramblings much there because they aren't all people that know me closely, of course. The forum that FB provides pushes different buttons in me. I never would have guessed prior to joining that I'd post so many political and social awareness concepts, but the ability to reach so many people is almost a mandate for action.

I don't think that my essays are earthshaking but if they make people think just a tiny bit then that might be worth putting myself out there.

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

It hasn't happened often to me, but getting published and paid is fun.

I tried only once to get published and was rejected, of course. I never could muster full dedication to sending in things. I really don't feel the need to be published, or perhaps more truthfully, I don't want to be rejected a hundred times just to be published once.

Also, I truly do not value traditional publishing much at all anymore. If I felt a strong drive to have people see my essays and poetry, I'd work on blogging, push it via social networking, etc. I'd love a paycheck just like anyone else would but I simply don't have the passion to make a career out of it. A few bucks here and there doesn't motivate me. You want to be my agent? (Hmm, actually SL, I take it back.)

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

I'd also suggest breaking up some of the larger paragraphs. Fb scruntches things and can make a large paragraph seem like an intimidating block of text, which many people will just avoid reading.

Good point. Back when they'd force you to do a "note" with longer posts it made it much more readable.

Perhaps I'll dust off my blog and post it there in some form.