According to Derek Gordon of Technorati, of the 110 million blogs 'out there' – in the blogosphere- most are only marginally active (one post a month). Of these, he says just over 99 per cent get no hits in the course of a year.
Unsurprising, many bloggers just give up. The parallels with creative writing are obvious. Rejection slips and/or only 3 reads on your favourite writing forum (ABCtales.com of course) might make you slip out of the writing room for good.
I'm no exception to the 'goodbye cruel world' syndrome when it comes to writing- fail to praise me immediately and I'll storm from the keyboard in a hissy fit that can last for days, weeks, yes, even years. This is not my first 'blogging' experience either. Which is why I'll make it occasional and mostly focused on writing. And me.
I occasionally get asked if I'm related to that other Rooney the one with the money and the fancy footwork on the football pitch. If you've ever seen me play football, you’ll know what the answer is. I've no money either. Or any passing knowledge of the offside rule. Football may be poetry in motion but I prefer poetry. Even poetry about football. Even a poem about Rooney's foot. I've never played in the band Rooney either. And if you've ever heard me sing, you'll know the reason.
Which is why I write instead.
Comments
chuck | January 8, 2008 - 20:23
I've come to see it as putting messages in a bottles.
kim.rooney | January 8, 2008 - 22:41
I agree-and often with the same kind of time delay... as the Police lyrics for the song of the same name goes:
"A year has passed since I wrote my note
But I should have known this right from the start..."
Lorraine_Mace | January 9, 2008 - 11:24
www.lorrainemace.com
Part rant, part humour. I enjoyed the read - and am saying so just so you know I got your message in a bottle. :)
kim.rooney | January 10, 2008 - 00:38
Thanks for feedback-always good to know when your words find a welcome.
Ewan | February 18, 2008 - 11:32
I read this after I commented on 'Our Lady of Locomotion', which I find quite ironic, since my comment was written 6 weeks or so after it's posting.
Messages in bottles? Or bread on the waters? Or a note tied to a balloon....?
Since the only way you know (or anyone does) - at the moment - of the existence of either of these comments, is if you revisit older pieces, I visualise a skyful of balloons and a bottle-necked sea of words to the unwitting.
I loved the piece above. Maybe it struck a c(h)ord tied to one of my balloons.