Viral
A couple of months ago, I posted a question to the site of my good friend and copyeditor extraordinaire, Deanna Hoak. The question was about interrobangs, which is the practice of using a combination of exclamation point and question mark in order to denote a question that is shouted, or otherwise intensified. Some people hate the practice, saying it is cutesy IM speak, and unworthy of use in “real” novels. I tend to disagree.
Anyway, in her response, Deanna linked to my website, particularly my post on Subway Writing, where I describe how most of my current novel was written on my cellphone with my thumbs while I was commuting to and from work, saying it was an inspiration to anyone who claims they don’t have time to write. There was a brief spike in my internet traffic as many of Deanna’s readers clicked the link for a look. And then, for a while, all was quiet.
But then, a funny thing started to happen.
I started getting pingbacks, which are notices that show people have linked to my blog. Apparently a lot of aspiring writers were inspired enough by my story to not only take it to heart, but to pass it on to others as well by linking to it on their own blogs. For instance, Stacy King had a post on it on April 17, followed by Talitha Kalago on her journal, She Writes! on April 29. Then, on May 13, there was another pingback from a writing forum called Inkstains. A lot of commenters also mentioned reading it and feeling inspired.
Apparently, this is a subject of some interest. If I’ve inspired anyone to use their traditionally unproductive time to write more, I’m honored. The story is one that is near and dear to me, as I owe much of my current career to it.
I’ll have to post more on the topic…
Peat, you are now officially a Trend Setter. Here’s to another notch on your Belt of Super Coolness.
Oh, what I wouldn’t give, to truly own such a belt.
There’s a story in there somewhere…
Hm…perhaps about a kid who lives in a world where your social status is worn on your belt, that in most cases is forbidden to be taken off unless the need it dire. His belt is the belt of Uber Nerdness but one day he’s walking along and suddenly finds….*holy sound* THE BELT OF SUPER COOLNESS!!! So he wears it for a while is like “Hey, this is freakin’ fawesome” and fawesome becomes a the new Super Coolness word. But then there are the down sides of Super Coolness and he final decides to leave that belt behind, because face it, life is just better as an Uber Nerd.
There are also like twelve other possibilities.
Oh and there’s also a gift idea there. I think I should make you a Belt of Super Coolness.
Dude, why are you surprised?
You’re a writer.
You’re in the inspiration business.
still taking over the universe, i see.
Lo, i think you’re on to something. make sure it’s sparkly.
i’m with myke on this one. why are you surprised?!?!?!
heh.
You wanna really go viral? Four words: “Painted Man Treadmill Dance”
I have a ski machine. Maybe we could choreograph something with that. Go round up all your old partners from N’Sync and see what you can come up with.
Yep, that’s the way the web works. 🙂 Nifty thing, linking. 🙂