The Difference Between Bloggers and Writers

Everyone sees bloggers and writers as being enemies.

Except most bloggers and writers.

To me, the biggest difference is editing. Writers either have an editor or edit their own work multiple times before submitting it for publication. Some bloggers – okay, a metric ton of bloggers – think having a blog means never having to say, “Let’s reread this!”

I’m lucky. I know a LOT of bloggers that edit and rewrite and produce high-quality material. Of course, they consider themselves writers using the medium of blogging to get their stories out…not one of those bloggers. (Emphasis usually theirs, not mine.) But there are entire communities built up around the raw, un-edited realness of the first draft. Now there are entire groups that feel editing is somehow less authentic than a well-edited version of the same story.

Definitions of edit are also varied. Some believe that edit means leaving something out. Others believe that editing means polishing work so the true meaning really shines through. Editing can mean less possibility for misunderstanding and others believe editing is not authentic.

Of course, I have yet to hear anyone judge how they write as not being the right way.

Which is where I’m different. I wrote this paper – a personal statement – for the law school summer institute I’m attending next week. It went through two weeks of intense edits by not only me but my husband (an excellent editor) and a very intelligent friend who is really pesky about language. When it was finished it was so different from the original you would not have known they came from the same process if you read them side-by-side. It had different examples and different phrasing but it was so perfect I still want to frame it and hang it on the wall as the first 500 words I’ve put together that really, REALLY said what I meant to say.

So, for now, there will probably be fewer weekly posts here. My hope and goal is that when I do post, it is a well-edited article rather than a random spewing of facts.

I am not a writer – except in the sense we are all writers – but I want to do right by the medium, my own talent, and the people who take the time to read. I want to produce quality work and, hopefully, in producing quality work regularly I will learn how to produce quality faster and easier than I am currently able.

So, the real answer is, “It depends.” Writers can be bloggers and bloggers can be writers – but the terms are for different things. Blogging is a medium, and the medium alone is not the message – even though it contributes to the message and gives the message nuance and flavor and depth.

Marshall McLuhan had it more than half right – but as any good blogger knows … if you don’t take it all the way you won’t have the controversy that gets you comments!