Walden, the Blog

~ Jenny

I went to the blog because I wanted to write deliberately . . . no, I didn’t, I went to the blog because my webmistress made me because she said the site needed new content on a regular basis and I might as well provide it by rambling on the net instead of on the phone to her. My webmistress is also my daughter, which I think explains a lot. But I really did see it as a solitary thing. My own little Walden. If an opinion falls in the wilderness and nobody hears it, does it count? Did I care? What I didn’t foresee–forgive my naiveté–was that people would want to talk back. Did Thoreau have people saying, “About that thing you said . . .” No wait, actually, he did. They asked him what he ate and if he gave to charity.

So anyway, here I was, felling my little opinions silently in the woods, thinking it was kind of fun because it was the one place in my life where nobody was reviewing my work, and then the letters started. Plural. Not dozens but more than one. From people who would like to post replies to my blog which so far consists of me telling people what I’ve been doing–“Another interesting thing about me is . . .”–and my thoughts on women’s writing organizations, neither of which struck me as really engaging, although I, of course, found them fascinating. Still, these people wanted to respond.

And I suppose that’s fair. Accountability and everything. There have been websites I wanted to respond to, like that idiot Focus on the Family questionnaire, “How to tell if your child is homosexual.” Who makes up this crap anyway? It wasn’t even fun crap like “Corrects the words when you sing show tunes” or “Criticizes your sensible shoes,” it was stuff like “Doesn’t like sports” and “Cries like a girl.” Where’s the originality in intolerance these days? That’s the real problem with bigoted quizzes, no creativity, no wit, no flair, no SNARK. Let’s face it, homophobic websites need gay writers.

Where was I?

Oh, right, people want to respond to my blog.

I don’t get it, but okay. I’m adding that capability as soon as I figure out how to do it, which since Blogger is designed for the terminally clueless should not be long. I like a site that knows I’m hopeless and plans for that. But I am not answering anybody. I’ve got enough problems answering my e-mail. So I’m telling you right now, I’m not getting in any fights with anybody or giving advice or in any way engaging in a dialogue here. Unless you’re a homophobic website looking for a gay writer because I have some FABULOUS friends.

But really, feel free to read this and not respond. I’m good with that.

Oh, and one more thing: No anonymous responses. If my butt is hanging out here in the wind (a disturbing image), so is yours.

Thank you.

19 thoughts on “Walden, the Blog”

  1. Oh, Jenny! I can’t believe the world isn’t responding to your blog! Okay, so only my old boyfriends have responded to mine, especially the one about why I, an officially older woman (just turned 50), am now wearing thongs…but I digress…Your website update is wonderful. Your blog is outstanding. Mollie is doing a fabulous job! (My son does mine and I love it but he’s 16 and getting him to update it is like…well, you know! He’s 16!) Anyway, I am probably your biggest fan and student and I know I should be writing my way out of deadline hell but hey, I’m writing deliberately…to you! Keep up the wonderful blogging. Nancy Bartholomew (nancybartholomew.com)

  2. Jenny – great blog, great site, great books!
    Margaret, member of RWA Greater Vancouver

  5. Jenny, I’m impressed you even wrote some entries. If you wind up responding to responses, I’ll be more than impressed – I’ll be in awe.

    Stef, who’s had a blog since March – and it has exactly 4 posts on it, two of which are photos with one-liners

    p.s. – Nancy, get to work!

  8. I’m so glad that my favorite contemporary authors are using blogs – first Jennifer Weiner and now you. Yay!

  10. Well, I admit I was one of those plural annoyers who clamored for the Comments.[angelic smile]

    Thank you.

  11. Feeling random and bored at work, I decide to do some web skulking and see if any of my favorite authors have books coming out. Instead, amazingly, I find this very cool blog. I’m feeling a little swoon-y about it, really.

    You should update your blog often, Jenny. You have interesting things to say, and my job is very boring.

    Best of luck with, um, diverting fresh tributaries into the cruddy pond of your literary stagnation. Cause I sure do like your books. Oh, and luck as well with the volcanic joys of menopause. I hear it’s GREAT FUN.

    Regards,

    Lemony

  12. As further evidence that the world revolves around me, just as I figure out how to use Bloglines, Jenny starts a blog. Cool.

    (Of course, it could also be evidence that the world revolves around Jenny. Just as she decides to blog, people figure out how to find it. Nah…)

    Plus, work avoidance on all sides. I call this win-win.

    Pamela
    (aka BioCherry, the once and future Cherry.)

  14. I was so happy when you started your blog but I figured you’d be too busy for updates. Now you’re going to be updating reguarlarly? Jenny, you just made my day.

    Yippee!

    Cherry In The Rough

  15. Jenny,
    Thanks so much for sharing your Walden with us! It is going to be great to be able to read your blogs and get a “Crusie Fix” between new releases!

  16. TMI: If you only have one daughter, I think I might know your webmistress. I used to work with someone whom she dated back when I was at OSU.

    Anyway, glad she prompted you to start the blog–I’ve enjoyed your novels and the blog is great too!

  18. I wondered why the previous posts had so few comments! Now I know. Blogs are much more fun to read when you can comment, even if the author of said blog doesn’t comment back, so I’m glad there’s now space for that. Oh, and I agree on the homophobic quiz. Have they ever knowingly talked to a homosexual, or are they just making it all up? Never mind, I think I know the answer to that one…

  19. It is a little-known fact, but Thoreau also had people asking him where he got his ideas, if he was going to come to Cincinnati on his next book tour, and when he was going to write a sequel to A WEEK ON THE CONCORD AND MERRIMAC RIVERS.

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