Writing For The Response

I've never been a writer and never plan to be.  I write a lot on this blog but I don't consider it writing.

Bob Lefsetz made a passing comment in a story he told on his blog today that got my attention.

Bob said:

So this man in the queue at the bathroom haughtily says I must be a lawyer.  I told him I was once.  But that was long ago.  And now that I was a writer.  And I lived for the responses.  It wasn’t a chore to check my Blackberry, but often a key to excitement.

What Bob is referring to (I think) is the excitement of getting an email notifying you of a comment or trackback to your post.

And that is what writing in the new two way medium is all about.

Writing for the response.

Comments

[Brian]

Actually, I think Bob's referring to getting a ton of email in response to his letters. The Lefsetz Letter has a large subscription base as a mailing list. It also now happens to be a blog, but I think a lot of the diehards (incl me) subscribe to his mailing list and get his latest Letters by email.

And he gets TONS of email replies to his letters. Often from rock stars, who set him straight and tell him The Way It Really Was, which he then reprints with glee. :-)

[OrlandoVC]

This post deserved a response. Keep up the good work.

Will you write a post about who you believe makes up your audience? It would be very interesting for us to hear from your perspective, who you are speaking to.

[Ben Casnocha]

Writing for the response is a *kind* of writing. You can also write in a two way medium just for yourself, and let the response be what it may. When you write *for* an audience, it changes what you write.

[Gary Bourgeault]

I think it's great the enthusiasm that blogs can create in a person, and the fun of getting feedback to what you've written. No matter what you may call it.

Obviously those responding and writing this post sure are enjoying it.

[Chris Yeh]

A writer who doesn't crave feedback and engagement from his readers isn't a writer.

[fred]

Orlando VC - I did a survey of my readers last month and published the results in this post:

http://avc.blogs.com/a_vc/2006/02/who_are_you.html

So that's the best data I have about my audience.

I know its not perfect, but I think its pretty close.

[fishbane]

There are many ways of writing for a response, and this blog is a good example of one of them. The Sex Pistols were another.

There is also writing as a way of decision-making, which is strictly internal. I suppose that can be taken as asking for a response from one's self, but it does look distinguishable to me.

I don't mean this to take anything away from the first type, or demean the blog in any way. Just an observation.

[Jim Griffin]

I like your writing very much, and the fearless transparency you bring to the space is terrific.

The avatar now speaking on your web site is the opposite: Weird and only vaguely reminiscent of a human.

This gimmick cheapens this otherwise wonderful blog. It's odd enough to hear any sound while web surfing, but to see the weird head moving in disjointed ways is creepy!

[Steve]

That's the same rush I get out of taking pictures on Flickr. I check the site often to see if I have new comments, a favorite, or best of all, someone has used one on a blog entry (that's only happened twice.) Still, I do ask myself once in a while whether I'm taking pictures I like or those my audience (read my contacts) would like. I feel I do a little of both, but that's okay. It's been the most fun I've had with a hobby in years!