tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post5926876335045738230..comments2024-03-15T09:26:02.796-05:00Comments on PROJECT MAYHEM: Why We Do What We Do, by Matthew MacNishProject Mayhemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05154342399869089664noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-21387749334360415892013-05-09T20:46:18.522-05:002013-05-09T20:46:18.522-05:00This is exactly why I don't tell many IRL frie...This is exactly why I don't tell many IRL friends about writing or blogging.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-56318164638740056862013-05-09T15:23:51.380-05:002013-05-09T15:23:51.380-05:00Well I know people in my IRL circle of friends thi...Well I know people in my IRL circle of friends think its crazy i spend all my free time blogging about books but hey - its because i love the online reading community and sharing my thoughts and reading books before they hit the streets. Mostly its for the community though. Dig it!Tabitha (Pabkins)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11945588780690794396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-41063654498077338362013-05-09T09:30:56.836-05:002013-05-09T09:30:56.836-05:00Agreed, Joanne. Even touching one reader's hea...Agreed, Joanne. Even touching one reader's heart would be amazing.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-35823024576841376842013-05-09T09:24:19.127-05:002013-05-09T09:24:19.127-05:00I think we write for the same reason we breathe: b...I think we write for the same reason we breathe: because we have to. For years, I never thought about readers, and I sometimes wonder if that's why I'm not published yet. But now I try to picture that one special reader (a child, since I write MG and PBs) and write for them. If I could reach just one kid, and fill them with wonder, it would all be worth it. <br /><br />How do you suppose Emily Dickinson kept on writing poetry all those years?Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-2561157465995755132013-05-07T12:17:00.683-05:002013-05-07T12:17:00.683-05:00Yeah, even if we start writing for ourselves, I th...Yeah, even if we start writing for ourselves, I think we keep writing for others.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-13524051998188230812013-05-07T12:14:19.623-05:002013-05-07T12:14:19.623-05:00Can't imagine writing if I didnt think (or hop...Can't imagine writing if I didnt think (or hope) someone would read it. I think it's human nature to want to entertain and please others, not only for our own satisfaction, but cuz it feels good giving others pleasure thru our art. PK HREZOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11650153097981426833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-23434136418788113322013-05-07T09:49:58.482-05:002013-05-07T09:49:58.482-05:00That's the part I dread. It's hard enough ...That's the part I dread. It's hard enough already!Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-16343802208975136102013-05-07T09:49:28.869-05:002013-05-07T09:49:28.869-05:00Hopefully, definitely!Hopefully, definitely!Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-9152189724158853532013-05-07T09:43:33.683-05:002013-05-07T09:43:33.683-05:00Lovely sentiment, and I agree. I certainly did sta...Lovely sentiment, and I agree. I certainly did start writing for me, for fun. Just to see if I could. Dang, but it's fun. Well, at least it was fun until I sold the book. Now it's a dang lot of work! =DDonna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763832177263927311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-21716891256775992732013-05-07T08:03:10.683-05:002013-05-07T08:03:10.683-05:00You're right. The chain doesn't feel compl...You're right. The chain doesn't feel complete unless someone is reading/hopefully loving what you write. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11622191037152999869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-10101493586174406772013-05-07T07:19:51.044-05:002013-05-07T07:19:51.044-05:00It doesn't sound corny to me at all, Joe. Not ...It doesn't sound corny to me at all, Joe. Not one bit.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-10285335168988943822013-05-07T07:18:21.493-05:002013-05-07T07:18:21.493-05:00Great post, Mathew. I love minor league games too....Great post, Mathew. I love minor league games too. Lot's of fun and much more accessible as you say. <br /><br />I think a lot about why I write these days. When I write and spend time in the action of writing/revising I feel just a little more complete as a human being. I feel more like me. It sounds corny but noticing how it makes me feel reminds me why I need to go back and do it again. It's purpose and complete-ness all rolled into one. Joe Lunieviczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14484546087380905437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-23913655702331709292013-05-06T16:56:19.863-05:002013-05-06T16:56:19.863-05:00Oh most definitely.Oh most definitely.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-40779725962224340492013-05-06T16:55:58.313-05:002013-05-06T16:55:58.313-05:00I sure I hope so! Thanks, Sarah.I sure I hope so! Thanks, Sarah.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-88322228735213840002013-05-06T16:34:29.521-05:002013-05-06T16:34:29.521-05:00We write because we have to. (Our brains would exp...We write because we have to. (Our brains would explode with untold stories otherwise.) But the payoff is unbelievable when you ignite the imagination and spirit and heart of a reader. <br /><br />I see that when I read aloud to my class. I hope Gordon Korman and Neil Shusterman and Kenneth Oppel and Richard Peck are feeling that pay-off when I read their books aloud year after year to my classes. There must be some glow, don't you think, when somebody somewhere is reading your book to children?Dianne K. Salernihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16459839567235304842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-75738818007677693002013-05-06T14:22:41.091-05:002013-05-06T14:22:41.091-05:00also, i think the pay off for when we do succeed w...also, i think the pay off for when we do succeed will be AMAZING AND WORTH ITSarah Ahiershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02795455714801965956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-89346689904095384212013-05-06T12:27:49.717-05:002013-05-06T12:27:49.717-05:00I suppose there's a little bit of selfishness ...I suppose there's a little bit of selfishness in everything we do.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-69086691342121227132013-05-06T12:26:41.628-05:002013-05-06T12:26:41.628-05:00Maybe. It definitely begs the question: why do som...Maybe. It definitely begs the question: why do some of us write porn? We could say it's "for the reader" but really...there's probably something else goin' on if ya know what I mean.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-78494748018180786722013-05-06T11:47:28.134-05:002013-05-06T11:47:28.134-05:00Very true. Thanks, Jay!Very true. Thanks, Jay!Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-38811065836931088572013-05-06T11:43:55.001-05:002013-05-06T11:43:55.001-05:00Great story, and a profound lesson here. I think a...Great story, and a profound lesson here. I think a lot of people write simply for themselves, and that's fine. But there's something amazing when you can share that with others.Jay Noelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04757777693161610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-21743485957061679142013-05-06T11:31:35.032-05:002013-05-06T11:31:35.032-05:00Definitely not.Definitely not.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-15279149717132708952013-05-06T11:29:05.454-05:002013-05-06T11:29:05.454-05:00Personally I started writing because I enjoyed it....Personally I started writing because I enjoyed it. My family's not the writer type so if it wasn't for the love before I got readers...I'd be doing something else. But readers are still very essential. Glad the little guy caught the ball. There are different types of 'Why' when it comes to writing but you can't do if in the long run if you hate it.Sheena-kay Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17712661419116636671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-13215352851682175372013-05-06T11:20:40.969-05:002013-05-06T11:20:40.969-05:00That's why I always say "aspiring novelis...That's why I always say "aspiring novelist." Thanks for your comment, Carrie-Anne!Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-16730342970468035192013-05-06T11:02:16.232-05:002013-05-06T11:02:16.232-05:00There's no real reason for why I write. I jus...There's no real reason for why I write. I just know that I've been writing almost as long as I could remember, literally as long as I've known how to write, since age 4, in 1984. It's just something I've always done. For that reason, I've never understood the modern phrase "aspiring writer." If you're actively writing, whether you're published or not, you're a real writer, not just "aspiring" to be a writer!Carrie-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05810154378449825641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-19575969390138458252013-05-06T10:32:39.055-05:002013-05-06T10:32:39.055-05:00That is very well said! Thanks, Martina.That is very well said! Thanks, Martina.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.com