Rosalind Porter: As a writer, how important do you feel it…
““Rosalind Porter: As a writer, how important do you feel it is to engage with the digital revolution? Margaret Atwood: I don’t think it’s important. If I do it, it’s because of my insatiable curiosity. But people are trying to pile stuff onto authors, like you have to have a blog, you have to have this, you have to have that. Various party tricks. You actually don’t. I would say that having done it, the blogging and Tweeting and so forth reaches possibly a different kind of reader than the kind you may have been used to hearing from. But an author’s job is to concentrate on the writing, and once the writing is finished what you essentially do is throw it into a bottle and heave it into the sea, and that’s the same for any method of dissemination. There’s still a voyage between the text and the unknown reader; the book will still arrive at the door of some readers who don’t understand it – who don’t like it. It will still find some readers who hopefully do, and the process is still a scattergun approach.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author argues that the core task is writing; digital platforms are optional tools that may reach different audiences but do not change the fundamental act of creating literature.
In simple terms: Writing is primary; digital tools are secondary.
Key Takeaway
Focus on writing, use digital media if it serves your curiosity.
Themes
writing
digital media
audience
creativity
distribution
Mood
thoughtful
critical
reflective
Type
advice
philosophical
literary.
When to use this quote
- author interviews
- literary festivals
- online publishing
- social media strategy
Key Concepts
literary craft
technology adoption
reader engagement
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you need a blog to reach readers?
- How does curiosity drive adoption of new tools?
A Different Perspective
Digital platforms may distract from deep work and dilute focus.