Comments on THE REASON BLOGGERS AREN'T DOING THIS AND SOME SUGGESTIONS FROM THOSE WHO R

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the_staggering_genius_ , yes, it serves a good purpose for that.

posted by Ariala on November 23, 2005 at 8:51 PM | link to this | reply

Manda, thanks, that's nice to know...Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

posted by Ariala on November 23, 2005 at 8:50 PM | link to this | reply

humililty

or some shit like that, is what keeps me from writing an autobiography. I don't know, but unless there are some uber-poignant moments in your life, just let it go. But that's what the blogosphere is for.

posted by _the_staggering_genius_ on November 23, 2005 at 8:49 PM | link to this | reply

Hey Ari, I'd care. Happy Thanksgiving!

posted by Amanda_ on November 23, 2005 at 6:34 PM | link to this | reply

Cosy, will miss you too! Take care and Happy Thanksgiving!

posted by Ariala on November 23, 2005 at 4:33 PM | link to this | reply

Jomei, oh my...I best stop now...or we will have a pineapple upside down

cake on our hands (and head) Yummy.

posted by Ariala on November 23, 2005 at 4:33 PM | link to this | reply

Ariala

Happy Thanksgiving!  I will miss you...I don't have much time to write anymore...Love Cosy

posted by cosy on November 23, 2005 at 4:31 PM | link to this | reply

Ok, but you'll have to sit on my head

(to get the pineapples)

 

posted by Jomei on November 23, 2005 at 4:07 PM | link to this | reply

Jomei, what? You put conditions on me? Does that mean I can't ravish you,

I mean the pineapples, and then post photos on Blogit?  How can you do this to me? hahahahaha

posted by Ariala on November 23, 2005 at 3:49 PM | link to this | reply

done deal! But.... no taking advantage of me, alright!!

posted by Jomei on November 23, 2005 at 3:38 PM | link to this | reply

Jomei, put me on that island and I promise I'll help you write that book,

eat the pineapples and fight the aliens.

posted by Ariala on November 23, 2005 at 3:36 PM | link to this | reply

stranded on an island with Jomei fighting aliens

with pineapple tops..... now that would be a book worth writing??

posted by Jomei on November 23, 2005 at 3:29 PM | link to this | reply

jollyjeff, therapeutic maybe, but when you go to publish that, the cost

of publishing might put some people back on the shrink's chair.

posted by Ariala on November 23, 2005 at 1:47 PM | link to this | reply

malcolm, good point...that may be the case...I just wonder about the mass

appeal of such a work...?

posted by Ariala on November 23, 2005 at 1:46 PM | link to this | reply

avant-garde, in the line of work you're in, I'm sure you see all kinds of

things...I believe you'd have a market for such a book and autobiography, even if you feel it's vain.

posted by Ariala on November 23, 2005 at 1:45 PM | link to this | reply

seshat, well, if you are famous, more people are likely to read it, that's

for sure.

posted by Ariala on November 23, 2005 at 1:44 PM | link to this | reply

Namowasiaras, thanks...glad you found that line amusing! lol

posted by Ariala on November 23, 2005 at 1:43 PM | link to this | reply

MayB, I have no doubts Temple can and that many people who have a story

can as well...I just know that some of the autobiographies I've thumbed through to write press releases on have been less than up to par in terms of interest to me...and like I said, I'm just one person.  I do know that editors are very aware of this as well, and have to consider whether the material will sell before investing in such works...unless it's a vanity press.

posted by Ariala on November 23, 2005 at 1:43 PM | link to this | reply

I find it impossible to judge such matters. What seems dull or inconsequential to me will set another person on fire. I think the attraction of the book is to go through the process of setting it down and come out with something tangible. Temple could write a fantastic book about what she has learnt and been through.

posted by Azur on November 23, 2005 at 1:31 PM | link to this | reply

Ariala

You sound like a really interesting person. I liked the comment you made about only the sex part being interesting. That was funny!

posted by Namowasiaras on November 23, 2005 at 12:04 PM | link to this | reply

writing an autobiography

I'm waiting to become famous, so someone else will write it. Then it will be a biography - preferably, an unauthorized one. Maybe Kitty Kelly would be interested.

posted by seshat on November 23, 2005 at 11:43 AM | link to this | reply

Ariala

I guess it depends on how much value that person has placed on his life experiences, as to whether or not it would be a good read. I thought about writing about being a medic, but every time I started I thought, 'This is so vain.'

posted by avant-garde on November 23, 2005 at 9:59 AM | link to this | reply

The best autobiograpy I ever read

was "Soft Pretzels with Mustard" by David Brenner who is a comedian. That's because he wrote it not as a book really but as a series of short essays about things that have happened in his life. That's why it was titled that, like soft pretzels with mustard, it was tasty and easy to digest.

posted by jollyjeff on November 23, 2005 at 9:50 AM | link to this | reply

I've written one or two page

autobiographies for writing classes. I think they're therapeutic for the writer, but don't do much for the reader.

posted by jollyjeff on November 23, 2005 at 9:47 AM | link to this | reply

I think

you're more likely to want to write about yourself if you feel you haven't been able to pass on the stories of your life already to family and maybe friends. There is a panic, I imagine, that your life will not be remembered otherwise. I think it's a function of loneliness.

posted by malcolm on November 23, 2005 at 9:44 AM | link to this | reply

Temple, it sounds like you DO have a story and people who can relate...I

realize everyone has a story, but when it comes to selling their story, that's where I get skeptical...and where editors/publishers get very picky.  If we're just talking about a story for magazines and etc., that's one thing, but when it comes to a book, man, that's a whole different ball game.  I see so many of these come through the vanity press I freelance for and I worry these people spent good money on something no one but family and a few close friends will buy.  If people aren't worried about selling their books, then by all means nothing should stop them, but as for me, I'm just not interested in autobiographies...I'm just one person though.

posted by Ariala on November 23, 2005 at 7:19 AM | link to this | reply

People are always interested in how others survive struggle.

I said the same thing, about myself, to people who keep telling me to write my story.  That's essentially what "Gidget" is...how I'm dealing with the brain injury, but it's specific to that mostly.  I get emails from people who thank me for addressing topics they were too scared to say/handle/think about...and comments/emails from people who say that I wrote their feelings.  That blows me away.  They've credited me with inspiration for some venture, a conversation, something that helped them.  I really write to save myself, but they tell me how much I helped them...many with disabilities also.  I never expected that, I never planned to write Gidget like it is.  It became that because of the support I got from people.  I wish I had something like what I write to read when I first find out about my brain injury. 

We all have a story, and we all learn from others...you just never know where inspiration will be.  The person who helped me the most in my situation was just a girl with a brain injury who wrote an article in a newspaper in Denver.  She helped me so much.  I bet she thought, who the hell would care?  She got me on the right track because I didn't know what was happening to me.  I just thought I was seriously going insane.  I was really scared.  I read another book of a woman who went through what I did...and then I was obscessed with anyone who struggled with religion, family, health, money, and found ways to make it through.  If you notice here, too, those stories are something we all love to follow.  We all like to find rays of hope, of light, maybe a new way to do something...especially when we struggle.  What do any of us have to lose by telling our story?  Even if it is just something super cool to have in the family. Everyone's story has something to offer, even if just your 2 or 3 fans. ::: cough :::

posted by Temple on November 23, 2005 at 7:13 AM | link to this | reply

Blackcat, I think they're stalkers...do they count? LOL

posted by Ariala on November 23, 2005 at 7:07 AM | link to this | reply

You have two fans? LOL we need names...

posted by -blackcat on November 23, 2005 at 6:58 AM | link to this | reply