In Search of the Sabbatical and Anonymity

Why do I like to blog anonymously? Am I writing such hard, cutting-edge, in-depth travel vacation and news? Not really. But I just like the anonymity of a blog. I like being able to write about whatever and not over-edit or censor myself, nor care if I make some typos now and again. And while I doubt any of my freelance contacts would give a crap if I blog about them or my travel endeavours, I think it can potentially cause problems.

For one thing, I pitch big publications and all they have to do is google my name to find information about me. For the most part, this is cool with me. The primary information they would uncover are my writing clips from other freelance publications. But if I have my name all over my blog and I talk about how much working with a certain magazine sucks ass, then I'm asking for trouble if I try to pitch them.

Plus, what if I wrote a really lame post about hot travel trends in Ypsilanti and big shot editor thinks it's by far the worst thing she's ever read in her entire life? And all her past lives? And that she'd rather eat her own hand than publish such drivel?

Paranoid? Yes. But not entirely for these reasons. I'm also paranoid crocodiles and/or alligators will emerge from the sewers of Queens and slowly gnaw off my leg while I'm waiting for the G train to come on a Saturday afternoon.


Here's the deal. My husband works for a production company and went through a slew of interviewing last year for a new producer. On a whim, one of the administrative assistants googled someone they were interested in hiring. Google took them right to this person's blog who had actually made several entries about her interviews with the company. She wondered if the hot boss at my husband's work was gay (she sincerely hoped not!) and completely bashed some of the girls at the office who in turn did not take kindly to it. At all.

They didn't hire her.

And since I seem to be the only professional writer with my first and last name who comes up in google, I don't think it's so out of the question I could be eyeballed, mocked, and judged. Don't get me wrong, how hard it is to just poke around online and figure out what my name really is? If less than savory people are drudging up our social security numbers from thin air, then how hard can finding out my name be? Not that hard, I suspect. And I truly respect my reader's web saviness and nosiness. I'm just saying I doubt people, especially said big shot editor, would waste their time doing more than typing my name into google.



Speaking of sewer rats and mutated pigeons, the clever and witty blogger over at Escape From Brooklyn was so sweet to include me in her post today. We're kindred spirits looking to blow this ramshackle town. Perhaps my husband and I will adopt her (and I suppose her husband and cats) and force them on their own sabbatical.

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