To Blog or Not to Blog

There has been a debate on some blogs that it really isn't necessary to blog, or to network, or to have a platform. The usual advice is to do all of the above. Even Twitter. Whatever that is. I have no clue how to Twitter, and I'm not even sure I know what it is. Is it something like email? As far as I can tell, it is. Or is it more like texting?

Anyway, the argument against it is that authors such as J.D. Salinger were very reclusive, and they didn't need to do any of that. But now, the trend is to be outgoing, get known to as many people as you can BEFORE you are published, and I admit I have fallen for that concept, and I'm not sure I am right to do so.

I was a lurker for a long time on many blogs, learning about the publishing business, and I learned a lot. Then I started commenting on one or two, and then, finally, (last May) I started my own blog. But I am not sure I agree with the necessity of it. I mean, authors were successful before the internet. They didn't rely on cyberspace.

But then again, I'm a guy who didn't get a computer or even a cell phone until years after they became available. I'm an old school type, but I eventually get with the program. I suppose it's called progress.