I read quite a few online memoirs, courtesy first of Sari Botton, which is how I found yours. I'm struck by how freely people share private details of their lives. As a baby boomer who remembers life before cyberspace, I spend a lot of time trying to convince millennials (my three children and many of my colleagues) that every single thing put online lives forever, with unforeseeable consequences. The rules are changing, including those of "friendship." Your example of someone using your life story -- wrongly -- and then refusing to correct the facts and "unfriending" you is spot-on!
I agree with you Bette, anything we put online, we lose control over how it is going to be shared, interpreted, and re-used. So I ask myself two questions when I post online: Is this something I want the entire world to see? Am I being true to myself?
Thanks for sharing some of the pitfalls of online writing and for helping me to consider the stories that I want to keep sacred. I’m sorry this happened to you. That’s very unpleasant when publishing is already so vulnerable! I am a new subscriber but I appreciate your words and voice! ☺️
So much to ponder and enjoy in this post, as always! I love your list of "digital age toolbox" tools, and I'll share one of mine: because I spend so much time in my day both reading and listening to materials, I try to allow at least 15 min between each item. The transition allows my brain to absorb what I just heard or read, and refresh itself before tackling the next one. I've found this to be particularly important with fiction, which (if it's well-written) demands total immersion in the story. If I overload on too much back-to-back fiction I find I'm exhausted and slightly disoriented at the end of the day. Short breaks (especialy if I can walk aboutside for a bit!) greatly improve both my retention and my enjoyment of each piece.
Such a thoughtful piece, as always, Yi Xue. I can't really understand what goes on in the self-aggrandising mind of someone who quotes the First Amendment in defence of guessing facts (and getting them wrong) about another person. But you are surely better off without their online "friendship."
As far as I am concerned, your newsletter is a jewel in the “digital age toolbox,” which I continue to enjoy.
I read quite a few online memoirs, courtesy first of Sari Botton, which is how I found yours. I'm struck by how freely people share private details of their lives. As a baby boomer who remembers life before cyberspace, I spend a lot of time trying to convince millennials (my three children and many of my colleagues) that every single thing put online lives forever, with unforeseeable consequences. The rules are changing, including those of "friendship." Your example of someone using your life story -- wrongly -- and then refusing to correct the facts and "unfriending" you is spot-on!
I agree with you Bette, anything we put online, we lose control over how it is going to be shared, interpreted, and re-used. So I ask myself two questions when I post online: Is this something I want the entire world to see? Am I being true to myself?
Thanks for sharing some of the pitfalls of online writing and for helping me to consider the stories that I want to keep sacred. I’m sorry this happened to you. That’s very unpleasant when publishing is already so vulnerable! I am a new subscriber but I appreciate your words and voice! ☺️
Thank you, Heidi, for subscribing and reading my publication! I am looking forward to your next piece! :)
So much to ponder and enjoy in this post, as always! I love your list of "digital age toolbox" tools, and I'll share one of mine: because I spend so much time in my day both reading and listening to materials, I try to allow at least 15 min between each item. The transition allows my brain to absorb what I just heard or read, and refresh itself before tackling the next one. I've found this to be particularly important with fiction, which (if it's well-written) demands total immersion in the story. If I overload on too much back-to-back fiction I find I'm exhausted and slightly disoriented at the end of the day. Short breaks (especialy if I can walk aboutside for a bit!) greatly improve both my retention and my enjoyment of each piece.
Thank you, Alicia, for sharing your tools! I have only started recently to take a break between my reading and writing, and I find it very refreshing!
I can always learn some from your posts, thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Janice! That’s always the best encouragement to a writer!
Such a thoughtful piece, as always, Yi Xue. I can't really understand what goes on in the self-aggrandising mind of someone who quotes the First Amendment in defence of guessing facts (and getting them wrong) about another person. But you are surely better off without their online "friendship."
As far as I am concerned, your newsletter is a jewel in the “digital age toolbox,” which I continue to enjoy.
Thanks for your kind words and friendship, Jeffery! It means so much to me and my continued writing!
Likewise, Yi Xue!
Succinct and thoughtful article, as usual! Much to think about. Thanks for your continued writing that makes your readers think.
Thanks, Sigrund, for being supportive, encouraging, and for being my reader!
I'm not always disciplined in personal blogging. But when I get around to it... I have other ideas outside of writing,