Even Her

by Veronica Foale on February 12, 2010

in Uncategorized

Who are you?

You’re a writer?

No you aren’t. You can’t write. You just type things and they end up on this screen here. That’s not writing. In this day and age of the Internet and blogs, anyone can do what you’re doing.

You’re not special.

Anyone could do it.

Even her.

Who are you?

You’re a photographer?

No you aren’t. We’ve got digital cameras, anyone can take a photo. No skill necessary. Everyone gets lucky occasionally and gets a good photo.

What’s that you say? It does take skill to take good photos? Even with the digital medium?

Bullshit.

No it doesn’t. Take a hundred photos, one of them will be good. You’ll see. Go and try it, come back and report.

You’re not special.

Anyone can take a photo nowadays.

Even her.

Who are you?

You’re a journalist?

No. You aren’t. Thousands of people are doing your job on twitter, you’re outdated and useless. What need do we have of printed material when everything is on the Internet for free? Go and search twitter. The blogs.

It’s a digital world, you’ve got to move along with it.

You’re not special.

Anyone can report the news.

Even her.

**

Who are you?

**

You’re nothing special.

Except when you are.

Because it does take skill to pull together a blog post. Sure, anyone can do it, but not anyone can draw an audience and make them laugh and cry. That’s writing.

It does take skill to take a photo. A baby can push a shutter button and capture a moment, but it takes skill to snap a photo that make people see what you saw and feel what you felt.

There is skill involved in reporting the news. Anyone can tell you what they saw, but can they tell the whole story from both sides?

The Internet is changing the way we view things, skills that were once out of our reach are now being brought down to earth where we can capture them for ourselves. Things that were once the realm of only the specially talented are now there for anyone to practise. You’d think that this would water down the talent pool, but instead we’re discovering untold talent in hidden places.

Mothers, fathers, anyone. Everyone.

Anyone.

We can do this.

And we can do it well.

Even her.

Kristin February 12, 2010 at 2:04 pm

Even me? Cool.

Veronica February 12, 2010 at 2:06 pm

Even you 🙂

lceel February 12, 2010 at 2:32 pm

But most especially, you.

Renee February 12, 2010 at 2:36 pm

Nope.. Not me.. I tried.. And failed.. Miserably!

Veronica February 12, 2010 at 3:48 pm

Lou – Thankyou.

Renee – I bet you could if you wanted to!

Brenda February 12, 2010 at 4:39 pm

Thank you Veronica. On those days when I doubt myself, I’ll go back here and read your brilliant words again. And again. And again.

Thank you!

Megan @ Writing Out Loud February 12, 2010 at 4:47 pm

Wow. What a brilliant post. Thanks Veronica xo

Lotus / Sarcastic Mom February 12, 2010 at 5:32 pm

Hell yeah.
Love this post.

Veronica February 12, 2010 at 5:36 pm

Brenda – I’mglad I could do that for you 🙂

Megan – Hi! I’ve not seen you here before? Lovely to meet you and I’m glad you liked the post.

Lotus – xx

Michelle February 12, 2010 at 8:25 pm

That is really cook – I’m glad I dropped by to read your post. 🙂

Marylin February 12, 2010 at 8:43 pm

You just described how I feel about photography… great post sweety, great writing. 🙂 x

Barbara February 13, 2010 at 12:17 am

Sometimes I think you’re in my head.

Miss Ash February 13, 2010 at 3:15 am

I love this post. Thank you.

Kristin February 13, 2010 at 8:06 am

Who are you, Madame B? A big shit reviewer?

No, just a boy in your mama’s nightgown, throwing water bombs at the other kids from the safety of your tree fort. Is it any wonder no one wants to play with you.

minut'd'automne February 13, 2010 at 8:08 pm

I like what I’m reading here. It also brings to my mind something I once read on Robin Hobb’s website because it got transformed. I copied a passage on mine and unfortunately I can no longer find the complete text: check it out however it’s the passage in green, the rest is in French unfortunately:
http://minutepapillon8.canalblog.com/archives/2009/07/14/index.html

tiff February 13, 2010 at 9:09 pm

Especially you.

Love this.

minut'd'automne February 13, 2010 at 10:13 pm

“before” not “because”
Those ideas are Hobb’s not mine. It kinda contradict what you wrote and I think both of you are right though 😉

minut'd'automne February 13, 2010 at 10:19 pm

I’ve come back because i keep thinking about it. Actually I’d say that if I something “write” it’s because I also “blog”.

Veronica February 14, 2010 at 7:51 am

It does contradict what I say, but I still liked what she wrote. And for me, over here, it feels more like writing than blogging. Blogging is for Sleepless Nights – the ins and outs of life with children.

minut'd'automne February 14, 2010 at 5:56 pm

Right. So you do do both too!

river February 15, 2010 at 5:44 pm

I was going to repeat Renee’s statement, then I saw your reply and you know what? You’re right, I could if I really wanted to. So what’s holding me back? I don’t want to, that’s what.

sandi February 26, 2010 at 4:49 am

I love this post!!

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