n + 1 on Blogs

At the risk of belaboring this, let me make a few points.

1. I don't hate n + 1. I've read the majority of the pieces in the first four issues, and I didn't do this because I wanted to become bored or be told obvious stuff. I think that overall it's a worthwhile publication, and in this world where the great majority of the litjournals only publish short fiction, I think a journal that actually does in-depth literary criticism is something to be valued.

2. I think what they wrote about litblogs was unfair in that it lumped everyone together and relied on a lot of straw men. Frankly, I find some litjournals embarrassing. Do I judge n + 1 by them? No. So please don't judge me by the bottom of the barrel either. (Unless you truly think that's where this blog belongs.) I understand that this was a polemic in the context of three other polemics, but that was the form n + 1 chose to discuss litblogs, and they're going to have to live with the liabilities.

3. I've enjoyed a lot of attacks n + 1 has made on other sectors of literary society (which litbloggers comprise a small part of), so it would be a little hypocritical of me to get too bent out of shape over this one. Again, I think it's off-base and slightly unfair, but I also think I'll be able to live. Not to mention, the piece is pretty tame. I've definitely read nastier stuff.

4. I think the litblog world could use a little honest, intelligent criticism. A couple of the remarks I've heard from n + 1 have struck home, and I've tried to consider them and think about how this blog could be better. On balance, I think I prefer "The Blog Reflex" to the kind of superficial newspaper articles that have thus far typified most print discourse on blogs. At least "The Blog Reflex" has stirred up a few interesting posts (notably Garth over at The Millions), as opposed to the usual round of rolled eyes.

5. I don't know how much n + 1 reads blogs. To insist (as they did on The Millions) that this blog, The Elegant Variation, and Return of the Reluctant get all the attention while Maud Newton, MoorishGirl, wood s lot, The Valve, etc go begging is simply wrong. Many of those sites get more hits/links than mine. I can't speak for Mark and Ed, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same for them as well. (Not to mention, several of the "intelligent blogs" n + 1 names over at The Millions have linked to and complimented this one. I leave it to you to decide if it's all just an attempt to draw some of my, apparently, massive influence.)

6. I also don't know how well n + 1 understands blogs. They seem to be under the impression that longer is better, that short, quick posts are somehow necessarily uncivilized, as though it's a physical property of them. But blogs just don't work like that. Often in the blog world, short and sweet is what's required. Moreover, with the medium's requirement that people post often (daily or more), long isn't always possible. Should people say stupid or uninformed things? Of course not. But sometimes a few well-placed words is just what a blogpost needs, and just what readers want.

I like, for instance, the Literary Saloon because it picks interesting articles and usually has some intelligent things to say about them. Are they writing groundbreaking essays? No--their remarks are typically one to two paragraphs. But, they are giving me a few interesting thoughts every day, and over the course of reading that blog I've developed a definite sense of the Literary Saloon's sensibilities. It's no exaggeration to say I've found this useful and instructive. Call it modest, but I've gotten much more out of that site than many supposedly intellectual books and magazines.

7. I resent the idea that this blog, and a number of others, are PR hacks in pursuit of review copies. I've met a number of bloggers face-to-face, and my impression has been that they are prinicipled people who want to help perpetuate an artform that they love. Certainly there are unprincipled bloggers out there, but I don't think the sites I regularly visit are among them. Blanket accusations of this nature don't do much for me . . . with so many blogs out there, almost anything you say about "blogs" will be true for a handful. Maybe in some basic sense, then, you're speaking "truth," but I don't think that kind of truthiness does well to support an argument.

Moreover, this may be news, but I have more than enough books. If publicists want to buy me off, I'll take gold bars, please. And in that rare instance where I really, really want a book, but a publicist just demands I promise a positive post first (actually, this has never happened) there's that strange place called a bookstore where I'm pretty sure I can find a copy.

8. As for "dining off my self-respect." More news: this blog is not a cash cow. If anything, what I've gotten out of it is precisely self-respect (and a new level of respect for literature), and that's what I value. To be perfectly honest, when I started this blog I was a shaky little literary neophyte, and over the course of almost three years, blogging has taught me more about good books and good writing than I (honestly) think I could have gotten in most colleges. Moreover, it's given me a level of self-respect for my writing that I couldn't have bought anywhere.

This has largely happened because bloggers have criticized and complimented me where applicable. Yes, there is some "talk without communication," but what has stuck in my mind is all the substantive messages that have come my way. Obviously, it would have taken heaps and heaps of loose praise, and not a little money, to replace the self-respect that this blog has given me.

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