So, we, the newest cultural explosion: the bloggists.

Perusing the layout of my fellow-bloggers who are traveling the world and reporting back, others pouring forth their hearts from the inside out, I have to ask: Is “being published” yesterday’s news?

Please. Get me, here. The New Yorker is still the gold standard. The Best Seller Lists are still where it’s at, and where would we all be without the efforts of J K Rowling? (I actually haven’t read the Harry Potters yet. That’s the beauty; it doesn’t.matter.)

My ex-mother-in-law urged me, fifteen years, ago. She said, ” Don’t you want to be able to say that you’ve been published?”

I think, in her realm, landing on somebody else’s coffee table was the equivalent of seizing that brass ring.

In mine…….welp, not so sure that somebody else’s coffee table was where I wanted to rest my weary rear.

Oh, I suppose that royalties are tasty. Once the publishing costs are finally covered, and the distribution, and whatever else has a fee attached. But, let’s consider that pesky pivot point: motive.

Why do we write??

Is it not to connect with those of like mind? Is it not to gift kernels and gems to the next generation? Is it not to answer our muse, for God’s sake – letting the universe take care of the rest?

I remember the first day I visited the WordPress Stats page. To my astonishment, somebody was reading me in Australia.

And, the UK.

All day, multiple readers on the British Isles and the continent down under. Then, a couple days later: South Africa. What??

India followed. And, of course, the ever-present continental USA.

Now, to somebody of my generation, one who can remember a day when the only way to make any contact of any kind with somebody who lived across any ocean was to actually get on a plane and go there, this connection was remarkably low-maintenance.

Add to that, those who chose to follow me had names and faces and bios. Family, without the psycho factor. Church, without the corruption. New friends, no baggage fees.

So, to those of the books, magazines and papers: I applaud the dedication to organization and representation. These are not the panderings of a proletariat. Well, okay, maybe. Seriously. If any one of their publications saw a piece of mine that fit, I’d be touched and honored. But, for now, there’s a community of readers already leaning in. And, I’m happy to both welcome and be welcomed.

Yes. Cain’t touch this; it’s priceless.

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Signed,

a Writer

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Ruth Ann Scanzillo

littlebarefeetblog.com