Reflections on My First Year Writing for SearchWarp
Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010
by Connor Davidson
Writing for SearchWarp has taught me many things. One of which is the importance of being accurate in writing – even more important than being Earnest! Thus I would like to make an admission: I have actually joined SearchWarp one year and nine days ago at the time of writing. But, as a writer yourself, you'll probably know what it's like. You plan that article and say you'll write it on such and such a date and then you get some wacky idea and just have to write it down then woops a daisy it's published. Last weeks column was prompted by the delivery of a bin – of all things. It is amazing how your life changes when you really get into writing. I recall when I first started out writing I struggled to think what to write about. Now the problem is choosing what not to write about. I never sit and think about what to write it just comes to me suddenly. I just go about doing this that, and then the next thing I've got an article idea. When my printer stopped working right I decided to write "Is it legal to murder My Printer?".
I'd also like to thank all at SearchWarp for the comments, the ratings, the reading of my stuff, the responding to my comments, joining my fan club and all the support I've got over the years. I've written for a few sites but none come close to SearchWarp in terms of the people. Yes, there are some annoying people that rate my articles one star and post nasty comments or even email me junk but they are few and far between. The vast majority of SearchWarp consist of wonderfully clever, open minded people who take to a debate like a fish to water with the spirits of an overflowing shot glass. This is really a place I feel I belong.
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It would be utterly impossible to write this article without mentioning the SS. By SS I mean SearchWarp Superstars – sorry couldn't resist the play on words. We have @member14641 and @member26386 who own and run the site and are constantly innovating and making improvements all the time. We also have the editors @member27001 and @member14188 who read through all of the articles here and maintain SearchWarp's name as a quality site. Another fabulous thing that has happened since I joined SearchWarp was appearing on @member85741 's wonderful radio station – which I recommend highly – The Kovacs Perspective. I'd never really done radio before so it was a wonderful experience and I had a blast doing it. Also, while on the topic of radio I also got to write a little comedy for BBC radio – that was so much fun too.
Oh, and how could I forget. After @member115111 wrote the article "Coffee Tastes Better in a SearchWarp Coffee Cup" SearchWarp gave our free mugs. They even posted me a mug, pen, mouse mat and hand written note all the way over from Texas to sunny old Britain. I got a little glance and the postage they paid and I suddenly felt highly valued and hugely impressed. How many sites do you know that would do that?
When I first visited SearchWarp I thought I would be one of those sites where Grannies Gripe, Granddads grumble, mums moan and dads drivel. I thought that since writing was open to almost anyone the quality would be low - it would be like reading a tabloid with terrible grammar. How wrong I was. SearchWarp has many published authors such as @member50791, @member113161, @member45667, @member85741, @member53533 (come back soon!) and soon to be @member78046. While also having a whole host of writers that would not look out of place in a professional newspaper paper or magazine. I'm constantly blown away by the quality of the writing that goes on here.
The one thing that blows me away more than the quality of the writing that goes on here is watching the writers writing improve. I can't speak for anyone else but I can tell you that my first articles are pretty crap in my honest opinion. If I read previous writings of mine I kind of look down on them. I even ripped out large chunks of the first chapter of my book, "An Olive Branch to Irons" because I decided it was not as good as the latter chapters. The more you write the better you get. My writing and everyone who has spent any amount of time on the Warp will, I'm sure, agree that SearchWarp has changed the way they write for the better. But at no point has the change been forced on me - it just happened though practise and constructive criticism. That's what it's all about.
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That leads me on nicely to my books – well it doesn't actually but I wanted to find someway to get there. Now, before I started writing on the Warp I started one book but scraped it. Now that I've been really getting into writing I find I can sit and write my book for hours at a time. That helps. Well, I can write my own book for hours. However, the science guide that I'm writing with @member181512 is somewhat different. Yes, we both enjoy writing it but two overly eccentric and excitable people in one room is not the greatest idea. For example I've been mugged by Cameron armed with only a keyboard arm rest thing (used as a sword) and I've made a rocket out of a pen lid and even hit the ceiling with it. However, somewhere in between we have managed to write 75 pages. I can honestly say that had I never stumbled upon SearchWarp I probably would not have started either of those two books.
In all my time at SearchWarp one thing has impressed me greatly. I wrote an article called "Why do Atheists Celebrate Christmas" that got so many comments that Bruce told me he had to sort out the comments since there were so many that some were not appearing – 128 in total. The thing that impressed me most was that people did not kick up much of a fuss. People were fine with me celebrating Christmas as an atheist and no-one told me to go to hell. Thank you. Most people thought I was wrong and I think they are wrong but neither side had to draw pitch forks. We were able to debate in a civilised way and that is to be encouraged.
Well, here we go again. I've sat down and started writing and before you know it one thousand two hundred words have appeared mysteriously and the clock has jumped again. I've not been writing for two hours… surely? Damn you clock and all the wonderful physics that would make a pretty cool article. @pagebreak
Well, I guess that's all there is for this week. I think that I've spent long enough surrounded with words. Well, that book I'm reading was pretty good. No stop it you've done enough. Just one page? No you've already read today. Now look here you can never get enough of reading or writing – after all writers are readers.
Right I'm off to spend the night with Harriet Beecher Stowe in Uncle Tom's cabin. Goodnight and thanks SearchWarp (and DNA – Douglas Noel Adams) for all the fish. Oh and I'll om-nom-nom through some more articles tomorrow.
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)Hi Connor--You had tons of great truths in this article--from the fine helpful people on SearchWarp to writing in general! I also appreciate the words about my show. I had a fun time on our last interview. I start a new, weekly, live, call in show called America Today in April where people call in and talk about anything from serious political issues to funny things going on anywhere in the US. Being from the UK your perceptive views and opinions are still welcome and I invite you to join in our conversations. I'm proud to consider you my friend from across the pond.SteveI enjoyed being on the show and have great fun talking to you. Good luck with the new show.Thanks for the comment.
Good job, Connor. Yes, your writing has improved. Still need to do a bit more proofreading though. You're = you are, while your indicates something you have or are.Write on!Arr. There is always one. I've went back and got that one (and another) that you pointed out.Thanks for the comment.I know what you mean. I can proof read my stuff 3 times and still miss things. :)
Hey Connor!Good to see you here again! Thanks for all the kind words and great writing. It's been a while since I heard the Scot in the kitchen! :)Thanks for the comment.
Wow, very nice article man :)I am sure this article will help many new writers like me, to motivate themselves and learn the truth about writing, which is not only for the "rating" like you said for the "VIP" and so on.And i also agree with the friendly community you were telling about, i hope this site will get many many more writers in near future! :)Thanks for the comment
Good article. It was funny, and it's showing your pure talent.That reminds me, I need to write about my one year anniversary.I look forward to it.Thanks for the comment.
Very enjoyable article Conner. Lately my life has been like a roller coaster but I am hoping to soon be able to get back to writing steadily again. It's been fun to watch your progression. Thanks for sharing.
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