It’s always the blogger’s balance, trying to figure out what to reveal and what to withhold. Do you really need to know how about I danced so hard on Saturday night that the balls of my feet are still aching and tingling 48 hours later? Do you need to know what it was like to tell a friend I hadn’t seen in 10 years about who’d died since we’d last spoken? Do you care about my mad dashes through Manhattan trying to catch a bus called the Dragon Express? Can I tell you about how, as much as I love the Very Serious electronic dance music, there ain’t nuthin’ like a little pop and R&B to get me to make me sweat myself into a slick disco-ball mess? I want to tell you about asymmetrical blond bowl cuts and people who ask “Do you know who I am?” and actually seem to mean it.
The geeks might be amused by the fact that I’m realizing that as much as I love looking at my pretty Apple laptop, I’m 10 times faster at actually getting shit done with a PC laptop. Should I muse about productivity tips right now? Can I tell you all the back-stories about the people I saw on Saturday night — how one of them was the first ecstasy dealer I ever met and another one has a 10-years-younger adorable boyfriend and another just relocated from Los Angeles, and another was there the night Andreas and I first met, and yet another had read this blog since I was living in Olympia in 2001. I want to tell you about making the little veils, and I want to tell you about guys from Pittsburg who call me buddy and say shit like “Buddy, I don’t even READ and I liked that shit. Damn.”
I want to tell you stories until you’re drowning in them like you’ve fallen into an industrial vat of waffle mix, gasping for air under the creamy whirlpools of tangents and anecdotes and asides and apostrophes. I want you to be so full of stories that the words are simmering out your pores like garlic, and everywhere you go people sniff and think, “Hmm, stories” and aren’t sure if they like it or are sort of repulsed. I want you loudly flatulating atonal stories and sighing with relief as you smile apologetically at your spouse and explain, “Too many stories.” Sometimes I think the world is my wall, and the stories are wads at spaghetti I toss at it to see what sticks.
Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
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ivy
March 6th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Tell stories. Your stories are what make your blog inteesting. There is too much e-promotionin the world and not enough really rad stories.
Janece
March 6th, 2007 at 11:08 am
mmm… waffles!
I’ve yet to get enough of your stories, Ariel. Not even close…
Brita
March 6th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Nice writing today, Ariel. That last paragraph makes me want to sit for a while with pen and paper.
Ben Haley
March 6th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
i’m always up for a good drowning - bring it!
Ariel
March 6th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Ivy: My stories may be what makes this blog interesting, but what about when my stories about about my career or promoting my book? I’ve been criticized for using this blog too much for self-promotion, and honestly: I’m in the height of a massive publicity push right now and many of the stories I would tell are about that. Does anyone care? Not a rhetorical question.
amy.leblanc
March 6th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
i think any story that has a point is worth being told. you always seem to have a point, even if the point is just connecting the dots toward new meanings of things in life. i don’t like reading anecdotal blogs that don’t ever seem to put everything back into big picture perspective, just tell you the story and then forget about it later. you interlace everything well, and i think you’re a good story teller.
however, i do agree that too many posts about your book tour and self-promotion that don’t interlace any kind of point or bigger-picture meaning are a bit tedious. save those for offbeatbride.com.
Ariel
March 6th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
So, if the choice is me talking about what I’m doing vs. me not having much to say because what I’m doing is self-promotion, you’d rather take me not saying much?
amy
March 7th, 2007 at 4:58 am
I think it’s sad that people are giving you a hard time for promoting your stuff on this blog. I’m excited about your success and I honestly enjoy hearing all about your readings and parties and such. Stories about success are at least as much fun as stories about everyday mundanities.
leandra
March 7th, 2007 at 9:31 am
its your blog. how is it anyone’s business what you decide to write? if you want to turn it into ariels’ BIG FAT promo vehicle then that is entirely your right and choice. this is a chronicle of you, your life and what you’re doing. you’ve never purported that this blog is anything else…its a vehicle for ariel, not everyone’s daily dose of easy entertainments (though it often fulfills that need too ; )
if your world is revolving around your book et al, then that’s just the way it is. next year it will be something else. maybe people are tired of reading about the book et al, because hey they know about it, but again..you didn’t sign up to entertain people with this blog. if you did, and that’s your goal, THEN perhaps you should reflect that and only because YOU want to…
personally, i read because you’re my friend and this blog is a damn convenient way to keep track of what you’re doing in your life, and right now the book et al is what you’re doing…its what you care about. thus, i listen. just as i would if you were obsessing about some love affair or job problems or painting your house. its all the same to me except book stuff is alot more joyful for you, and thus to me.
write whatever the hell you want…then i’ll know that you’re authentically expressing what is on your mind at that time, for better or worse.
Tonya
March 7th, 2007 at 10:41 am
I stumbled onto your blog last year and your stories have pulled me in like a tractor beam. I do want to hear all of the trivial happenings in your life. You could write about having your head stapled to the floor and make it sound like it was fun. And, as far as the self-promotion–I would have never heard of your book if I hadn’t read about it on your website. I’ve recomended to a couple of my freakster friends who are about to take the plunge. So, I think self-promotion is an absolute must if you want to get the word out about your clever book.
Shannon
March 7th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Ooh, ooh, i care! i care! i love all the stuff you write, and i could care less if other people think you’re self-promoting too much. those people can shove it and stop reading if they want to. we dont need no fair weather readers!
krs
March 7th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
as an author and social media consultant, you are your business. no one is going to promote you better than yourself.
the stories are part of the process, and eventually you will be able to discuss the process and draw larger conclusions.
and i enjoy the stories.
sarah
March 7th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
oh yes. i (we) love it =]
p.s. i was totally bummed that i couldnt make it sunday. i couldnt line up a babysitter for a “work night”. im still very sad about that.
catina jane
March 7th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
“I’m realizing that as much as I love looking at my pretty Apple laptop, I’m 10 times faster at actually getting shit done with a PC laptop.”
AMEN!!
im so glad someone less feels this way!
i felt guilty for being the only one i know
who has the best of mac & pc and still
perfers her pc..
great post too ..
jenica
March 13th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
i just found your blog and i love you! i can’t seem to get enough of your words. i love this last paragraph and hope to someday reek of stories. your words are beautiful, never quit writing!