‘Whatever’

Posted on August 17, 2019 by

36 Comments

Hanging in my writing room

I have written poetry and stories most of my life, but it wasn’t until I left my 35+ years career that it became my passion. When I decided to start my blog, I told no one what I was going to do. I’ll never forget the day when I told my husband, “I’m going to start a blog and I am going to write.” His response- ‘Okay.’ A fateful day indeed- February 27, 2017.

The first few months were tough, but I kept writing, never giving up. I found the scattered likes and comments in those early days defeating, for in and of itself the silence spoke volumes to me. No one likes my writing, no one gets me, am I deluding myself?

But I kept writing, I kept reading, I kept blogging. And, people found me and started commenting on my words. I take all those comments, positive and negative in and think on them. I find there is value in them all. In June of 2017, I won my first writing challenge. I cried big tears that day!

Once I found sites like Poets United, Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, and dVerse, I felt I found ‘my people.’ Today, the most frustrating aspect of writing comes from promoting it in Twitterland. I have over 4200 followers; yet seldom do any of them comment. I’ve realized that Twitter is nothing more than a numbers game. Many writers on Twitter think of poets as ‘wannabe’ writers, and to that I say ‘Whatever.’

What matters to me, are the true artists who give thoughtful comments that make me think, and help me to grow as a writer.

©2021 Linda Lee Lyberg

Author’s Note: The print above hangs in my writing room. It was a gift from my husband. To me, that about sums it up. It keeps me humble and makes me smile.

Poets United: Moonlight Musings: the interactive edition #1

Category: Non fiction, ProseTags: ,

36 Comments on “‘Whatever’”

  1. You are a true poet, an artist that takes the mundane and creates beauty from a dictionary garden.
    Screw Twitter. That means nothing.
    Keep doing what you do, Linda. Delight, inspire, and let that imagination of yours flow endlessly! 💗

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  2. I tried Twitter but it only lasted a couple of months. Not my thing.
    That cartoon is perfect, I too have found that most people could care less when you publish a book. But, that’s okay. Like you say, it’s the few people who genuinely support you that matter.

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  4. Linda, you have shown great promise and having faith in yourself and ignoring any wannabe detractors. It’s wonderful to read your poetry and even more encouraging that you’ve ploughed on and flourished, regardless.

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  5. I love this. I love it because it reminds me of my own experience (and I’m sort of selfish, lol) down to the bursting into tears when I won my first competition. I’ve heard people say that writing is work you do alone, and I’ve no idea how they get to that conclusion. Words need community. Words need belief. Words need partners who know exactly what piece of art we need on our wall, partners who give us typewriters and silly “I do it with ink” T-shirts. And, yes, we need other word-lovers who take the time to read and (if we are lucky) digest our words and tell us how they feel about them. We are lucky to have found each other.

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  6. Great article. I got off Twitter years ago and, even after I’m successful, do not plan to use that site again. It was a huge waste of time. I have written a lot of poetry, but want to be known for my books and short stories. All I need to do is publish them instead of letting sit in my folder getting stale.

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  7. So glad you kept writing. I enjoy reading you!

    I so love your husband’s response, which I hear as, ‘whatever you do is fine with me and I support you in all your endeavours.’ That’s the kind of husband to have! My Andrew was another such. (I’m just going to go and do a spell,’ I said for the first time ever. ‘OK,’ he said – just like yours re the poetry blog.)

    Twitter in its early days was lovely for poets, but it has changed a lot and I’ve discontinued my account.

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    • Thanks so much, Rosemary. Yes, he’s a keeper. I am so happy you had someone like Andrew. I agree on the other hike Twitter thing. I constantly get men sending me DM’s – it’s become a pick up site. I used to respond politely with I’m happily married. These days I just delete!

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  8. I have kept to posting on WordPress. After posting lots on Facebook I decided that I just wanted to publish to other writers on WordPress, and have enjoyed the smaller but more interesting feedback I get from that.

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  9. A brilliant take and response to negative criticism, Linda. You are also correct, the most frustrating aspect of writing comes from promoting it, on any social media I’d say. Numbers can be an obsession (followers, likes or reviews) but what truly matters is thoughtful feedback from people who took time read our work. This helps us grow as writers.

    p.s. Love that print gift from your husband. 🙂

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  10. ” I felt I found ‘my people.’ ” This is exactly my sentiment when I came across Poets United. A lovely read Linda. Hope this time the comment posts.

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  11. Thank you for the rundown of your success, Linda. And still growing, always.
    I looked up my first and second comments on my other blog on December 1 of 2005. The second comment in part said, “HI Jim, well you’ve learned how to get readers already. You have to leave messages and they will return the favor. Rachel, above, is one of my favorite blogger friends.” [ http://jimmiehov.blogspot.com/2005/12/just-couple-two-of-words-to-welcome.html ]
    Blogging and writing poems are not a passion for me although they do take a lot of my time. I am very active with a few other items still. But I had to give up golf because of my aging body’s rebellion.
    ..

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  15. Twitter is not the platform for writers or poets. I found it to be the greatest waste of time. I have an account and haven’t opened it in well over a year.

    Linda, the beauty of your words would be wasted in Twitville.

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  16. I wrote in a vacuum before i found the online poetry world. I have written more since than in my whole life before, and am so grateful. The support of and association with other writers is golden. So happy you are writing, Linda.

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  17. Pingback: Five Links 8/23/19 Loleta Abi | Loleta Abi Author & Book Blogger

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