Comments on: Print vs. Web Writers: Is There A Great Divide?

By: Wilson’s Words and Pictures | The Blog Renaissance

Wilson’s Words and Pictures | The Blog Renaissance — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:03:54 +0000

[...] 2nd, 2008 in Uncategorized There is this feeling among the writing community that blogging and other forms of online writing are not “real.” Online writers argue [...]

By: Wendi Kelly

Wendi Kelly — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:48:01 +0000

Well, I followed James over here and was surprised to see that the great debate continues on. For the record, I am off of my chair now…

I just posted my own thoughts today on this subject after having a few days to think about it, and I believe I fall into the catagory that writing is still an art. Anyone that looks down on anyone else who feels the desire to express themself through the medium of the written word, in my opinion, should zip the lip.

We all have a right to express ourselves through the written word in the way that suits our creativity, our needs and our budgets. No one way is better or worse than an other.

Any time one person feels the need to make another person look or feel bad, I am checking to see where they are feeling insecure within themselves.

oh.. and Herbie J. Pilato..I agree.

By: Deb

Deb — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:25:31 +0000

BestofBothWorlds – Why do you use a pseudonym for your Internet work?

By: Katherine

Katherine — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:25:15 +0000

I do both, and don’t prefer one over the other. I appreciate how you get paid quicker when writing online but it is also quite thrilling seeing your name in print.

Unfortunately, I don’t have time for everything so in any given month, the balance may be tipped to favor one over the other.

I do feel the divide as well – it’s almost as if the two sides don’t understand each other. But, I am one of those writers who does both and enjoys both.

By: Bestofbothworlds

Bestofbothworlds — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:08:13 +0000

Some of us have the best of both worlds. I write professionally under my ‘real’ name. I write for the internet using a pseudonym. I see this turning into a war similar to the Mommy Wars (to work outside the home or not). Why can’t we all just do our own thing, and let everyone else take care of their own business?

By: James Chartrand - Men with Pens

James Chartrand - Men with Pens — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:47:07 +0000

@ Sue – No, arTEESTEs are in a class all their own. There are some really haughty people out there that put *themselves* on a pedestal that’s so high, I think they scrape the sky. They’re in a class all their own, and they can be web writers, content writers, designers, you name it.

I’m just talking print versus web for the Divide.

@ Mary – Thanks for seeing what I’m trying to get across. You have the right of it.

And… uh… no, I don’t like classic literature. Personal preference, nothing at all against it. Or those who write it.

By: Graham Strong

Graham Strong — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:44:24 +0000

I’m not sure about the whole snobbery thing, but personally I hold novel writing (aka “literature”) in higher esteem than brochure writing, etc. Not that I look down on brochure writing, by any means. But there are relatively many writers who can write decent brochure content, and very few who can write “The Great Gatsby”.

On the other hand, I am able to make a living writing those brochures — not even Fitzgerald could make a living from his novels…

~Graham

By: Mary Ward

Mary Ward — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:32:55 +0000

Gee, James, I guess this means you don’t like to read great literature, huh?

I say again that I think the point a few people are missing here is that James is not in anyway against literature, just against the attitudes of snobbery among those who think they are better because they are novelists, published book authors, etc…

It’s not about the type of writing, it’s about the attitude that SOME think they are entitled to hold over others.

By: Sue

Sue — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:22:16 +0000

Yes, I see arrogance — on both sides of the divide. (And I see a divide.) Even though he says otherwise, James’ arTEESTs comment was haughty and, I felt, a swipe at those of us who appreciate literature and fine writing above slap-dash articles (no matter where they are published) or who prefer to be published in print or who used traditional methods to publish a book. That shouldn’t be any more accepted or tolerated than writers who look down their nose at professional bloggers or others who write primarily for the web.

By: Lynsey Keep

Lynsey Keep — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:09:20 +0000

Divide is most certainly an issue. In the UK webwritwers are most certainly the ‘poor relation’ of the writers world!

Like Jennifer I write for ‘love to know’ and get the best buzz out of writing about topics of interest. I also write for 2 magazines and quite frankly it is boring and they never pay on time!!!

When I say I am a writer people always ask “so what hyave you published”? Omitting to care about the hundreds of interesting web articles I have written. By sheer fact that I’ve morphed from a nurse to a writer is good enough for me, to then face snobbery and a writing ‘cast system’ is just another challenge!