To anon or not to anon, that is the question
I started this blog with the hopes that it would spur my own writing, be a therapeutic and creative outlet, and maybe, maybe inspire one or two other people along the way, or touch them somehow. Besides my mom.
It’s done those things and I’m so, so grateful.
Along the way, though, maybe my journalistic heart or simple love of attention has been awoken and while it was a conscious decision to stay anonymous (hell, I didn’t even tell anyone about the blog for a few YEARS), I’m starting to want to fess up to who I am.
There are a few noble reasons for this – transparency (important in my journalistic work and my current government job) but I confess most of the reasons are less noble – I want the credit! And, I want to link this work to my inspired-by-this-work return to publications and writing for broader markets.
While, no Herb of DC, I’m not Meg Greenfield or Maureen Dowd (shudder, “look at me, aren’t i so feminist in my slinky black skirt and glaring glances”) I have been lucky to be published and … coming soon to a radio near you, broadcast!
So what do you, my loyal few readers (yes, including now with dc blog-readers of note, welcome!) think? Does blogging anonymously change your experience reading for good or bad? Does it change the writing/experience one way or another?
I’m still making up my mind, and like blogging itself, expect this will evolve over time, (I’ll keep doing it til…I don’t) but I’d like to know what you think and do.
Thanks!
What Liz Said said,
Wrote on May 29, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
I blogged anonymously for quite a long time and just recently came out of the blog closet, and I’m actually glad I did. Granted, no matter how much people may think I’m divulging, I still keep quite a bit of myself out of it, but I do find I am able to be more honest.
As a recent reader over the past month or so (I’ve been lurking), I have to say I really dig your blog.
Frank L said,
Wrote on May 29, 2008 @ 3:55 pm
I have no idea what it is to blog anon. The most I ever do is to keep other people’s names out of it. I figure i don’t really write about anything all that personal anyway, so why worry?
Marissa said,
Wrote on May 29, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
It totally changes things. I’m not anonymous, ergo, I don’t write about my personal relationships, despite how funny, entertaining, tragic and ridiculous they are. However, the trade off is being able to take credit for my work (although it’s fun, it is still a lot of work to maintain a blog, as you know), which is gratifying. I guess it all depends on what or who you’re writing about. And perhaps how much of an attention whore you are. Maybe?
Herb said,
Wrote on May 29, 2008 @ 6:28 pm
Well I am a little disappointed since I always wanted to garden with Meg Greenfield even if she is a little, you know, dead.
I blog semi-anonymously and although that’s my first name and most of the time a distant yet flattering picture of me on my blog, most friends, co-workers, and all relatives do not know of my blog’s existence and I like it that way. I don’t ever have to stop and edit myself in order to project a certain image or protect someone’s feelings.
Having said that it is sometimes disconcerting when a stranger in public recognizes me from my blog. My tens of readers tend to get around a lot! The last time it happened I was sitting in the waiting room of my therapist and another client walked out and said “Oh, it’s Herb of DC!”
So come out Washwords, it sounds to me like you are ready to make your debut! And we want more details about this radio thing!
gilahi said,
Wrote on May 29, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
The other side: I think there’s already too
much stuff about me on the web, and I’d just
as soon keep it to a minimum. I hesitated to
even mention that I live in the DC area, but
I figured that would shine through. I suspect
that if anyone cared enough, they could
probably track me down, but I don’t think
anyone does. Personally, I like being
anonymous and take my credit myself. Guess
I just don’t need the public accolades.
Maggie, dammit said,
Wrote on May 29, 2008 @ 11:27 pm
I was never truly anonymous, but I always tried very hard to keep my professional writing and my blog writing separately. I no longer do that — I officially came out this year sometime (can’t remember, but I wrote about it pretty extensively if I recall. I could dig up the link if you want — people had a lot of good advice about it.)
I think it definitely changes things, but as a writer you never know who’s reading, what opportunities it might open up — so I definitely understand the urge.
soupisnotafingerfood said,
Wrote on June 1, 2008 @ 9:52 pm
I think it helps to share your own identity, because right now, your readers who don’t know you in real life don’t have a total picture of who you are. In my case, I erected a wall and do not use the names of my family members or post photos of them. I read lots of blogs where it’s all out there – photos, kids’ names, etc., and that kinda scares me. But then, this is my hobby. If I tied my blog to my vocation, I might tend towards fuller disclosure.
Come on out of the blog closet, WashWords. The air is much fresher out here!