Last week I wrote about why I believe magazines won’t die. And it’s still true. But ironically, writing that made me love the Internet even more. Here’s why: Within minutes of posting, I had a nice email from the editor of Garden and Gun magazine. Then, four other blogs picked up my post. I checked Twitter and people were tweeting my blog like crazy—more than any other blog I’ve written before. After a day and a half I had more than 20 amazing comments from wonderful people—some of whom I know, many whom I don’t. It was instant feedback. No waiting. I hit a nerve. I went viral (yet I didn’t feel sick at all).
I’ve written for magazines many a time and to be honest, often it’s like writing for a mystery audience that you may or may not ever hear back from, or get to know. Every so often I’ll meet people and they’ll say “Oh! I think I read something you wrote in some magazine and it was really good.” But often they can’t remember what it was or when they read it. The worst is when I meet people and they tell me that Organic Style (a magazine I launched and shut down a few years ago) was their favorite magazine. I think to myself—where were you when I needed you most? Although, honestly, there was nothing they could have done. But the truth is, the distance between a magazine writer and an audience is often, well…distant. Whereas the distance between a blog writer and an audience happens only if the audience never shows up (a blogger’s nightmare, for sure.)
I still think magazines won’t die. But I think the Internet is alive and well, too, and still has plenty of room to grow. The best thing is I don’t really have to choose. I can love them both.
Hear hear!
I second that one Tony.
I agree, Maria. For me, a magazine offers a tactile satisfaction that the internet will never be able to deliver (I don’t think!). A magazine is a “thing” to play with, hold, and create an experience with by tabbing pages, rolling it up, ripping out coupons, gazing at amazing photos and turning them into collages, etc. The Internet offers more satisfaction to my busy mind through instant connection with the creative, answers to research questions, boatloads of amazing information and ever-expanding networks. End game: I love both, too.
I third that, Tony & Eileen.