Sandra, you seem to put a lot of your personal life out there for all the world to see. You publish under your real name, write about life, love, fears, kids and just about everything else in your world. Doesn’t it bother you that people have so much access to what might be better kept private?
Anonymous
True, not quite, yes, and no … reasons follow:
1. Because I don’t trust writers who refuse to put their name to their work, it’s long felt important that people know who I am. By not disguising my identity, I accept accountability, and given that so much of my work over the years has swirled around controversial, contentious issues that could have impact on lives, stepping up and stating clearly who I am and where I’m coming from has been important.
2. Contrary to some perceptions, I don’t actually write about everything in my life. There are huge swathes of living that don’t come under the pen because a) it’s not interesting, b) there’s nothing of value to share with readers, c) it’s not my story to tell, d) I’m saving it for a book, or e) I don’t bloody want to.
3. I find life as an open book rewarding, personally and financially. I’m a writer; opening books is what writing is about.
4. Writing about pain is cathartic. It’s neither fun, nor easy, but not only does it feel right at the time I’m spewing, I reap rewards of validation and compassion that would be hard to come by were I to sit on my story and stew.
5. I’m a cockeyed optimist when it comes to honesty. I actually feel that the more truth there is in the world, the more chance there is for improvement. Like putting a brick in the toilet, recycling or driving an energy-efficient car, writing the truth feels like doing my bit.
6. I live on an island in the middle of nowhere. It’s not like every wacko in Waco can pop by for a stalking.
7. I live on an island in the middle of nowhere. It’s not like I can cultivate a local contingent of hundreds of brilliant conversationalists to keep me sharp and interested.
8. People who come into my world understand that parts of my life end up in print. If I were a painter, I’d paint it; as a poet I poem it. Art comes from life. Send me something profound and I’ll quote you. Impress me and I’ll publicize you. Love me and I’ll celebrate you. Hurt me and I’ll whine about you. If that wraps my accountability around others who would rather not have life repeat on them, well, they knew that on the way in the door.
Nuff said …
A collection of my short stories:
I'm in this one, too ...
And I'm in here, as well ...
Paradise Preoccupied 
As we say on my little island in the middle of nowhere, “I hear ya.”
Island to island, Mel, how the heck are ya?
Bold, earthy, fruity with a sassy kick and a smooth finish.
You’d be a marvelous wine.
You are authentic. Never stop.
Salt on rim, Lisa? It’s tequila I’m shooting for with you …
as so frequently happens when I get a chance to tune in – tears and laughter. and you’d be a great writer under any name, but my preference has always been real stories about real people.
It’s me, just me, Amy … and I’m as real as I can be. Thanks!
I never salt the rim. 🙂 A good tequila is bold, earthy, fruity with a sassy kick and a smooth finish.
If you were tequila, I’d lick you off the floor!
Oh! To be tequila for an hour!
You know I’m behind you all the way. Love you Sandra.
I do know that, Lisa, and am grateful …
I feel sorry for anonymous. What would life be without honesty and openess? Life would be bleak indeed if we didn’t share ourselves and our experiences with others. My life is so much richer because of you Sandra. You make me laugh and cry and everything in between. And I love you for it. Thank you.
I feel sorry for him, too, V. A dishonest life is hardly worth the living of it. Wish I could hug your tiny self right now!
I opted for anonymity because my wife and my two daughters – who read my blog – asked me to do so. But WordPress knows my real identity, and also my readers after a while they frequent my blog.
I understand your issue and respect it.
And I, yours. I have been a professional blogger for many years, and it’s been reasonable to respect the rights of my readers to know who they’re reading. It’s completely a different thing when the situation has less … what? … influence? … potential for consequence? …. something like that.
“I live on an island in the middle of nowhere. It’s not like every wacko in Waco can pop by for a stalking.”
Someday, I might want to join you. I live in a city dominated by Christian fundamentalists and similar nut cases. In the time I’ve lived here I have had, at different times, three stalkers.
None of them were really serious. But enough to get one thinking.
There have been other things too, so I try to avoid trouble by — for the most part — staying away from locally based message boards, forums, and such.
And when I do, say, visit the local paper’s website to give an opinion on a local tax or something, then I go there under a pen name.
Also, I am very careful not to publish my address anywhere online. I will not even fill out an online discount coupon for the best bordello in town if they want my address.
I’m sure some fundie will someday object to my views — some fundie in this god-drunk town — and perhaps they will even be determined to find me. But I think that’s a long shot, and besides, I am not making it easy for them to find me.
Yikes. Seems much of the US has gone that way, a situation I don’t understand one little bit.
Feel free to viz here any time.