Monday, Sep. 21

The Internet is Good for Writing

Cory Doctorow, co-editor of Boing Boing on the evils of Internet distraction:

The single worst piece of writing advice I ever got was to stay away from the Internet because it would only waste my time and wouldn’t help my writing. This advice was wrong creatively, professionally, artistically, and personally…

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been guilted into shutting off my browser because it would improve my writing. But no matter how hard I would try, it would always pop up. Cory explains why this is so:

But the Internet has been very good to me. It’s informed my creativity and aesthetics, it’s benefited me professionally and personally, and for every moment it steals, it gives back a hundred delights. I’d no sooner give it up than I’d give up fiction or any other pleasurable vice.