There is a distinct lack of writers on Tumblr

roamin:

reblogged from shutupinternet:

There’s such a distinct lack of text content on Tumblr that breaks even 100 words in a post, it’s pretty sad. I’m sure there are some fantastic writers out there, some fantastic thinkers too but where is their representation?

As I write this there are 1.2 million Tumblelogs, with “writer” being the ninth most popular tag and “writing” being the 18th most popular tag. That means there are a significant amount of writers on here, correct?

Nope.

The most popular Tumblelog classified under “writer” has three pictures of Miley Cyrus on its first page and a total of one hundred and forty three words. To anyone who writes significant amounts on Tumblr, like myself, frankly that is pretty insulting.

In a world where newspapers are folding due to distinct lack of funding, subscribers and new favor of online-only content, Tumblr is the perfect platform for writers: You write, you build a following, an audience, and anytime you publish you automatically have a group that auto-subscribes to your content with the possibility of reaching further once they choose to reblog and comment.

Tumblr, support your writers. Help add a text element to this picture-heavy platform that we have here.

I don’t wish for this to sound angry or rude, I just wish people wouldn’t try to change the nature of what something clearly is.

Tumblr is not a blogging platform. Tumblr is not a newspaper. Any object that can display text is the “perfect platform for writers.” Telephone poles, sidewalks, the backs of hands all can accept text.

Anyone confused might need to know that Tumblr (the service) was highly inspired by the ‘first’ tumble log, Projectionist. A site that has featured small snippets of content. Just because this particular service become popular, and you’ve found it convenient to write in, doesn’t make it blogspot. I’ve found it handy to post as few words as possible in, but that doesn’t make it Flickr, or a replacement for a physical photo album either.

Just as twitter isn’t Facebook and Facebook isn’t MyFriendSpaceSter (or such), not everything has to be an echo of some other medium or fit someone’s idea of what a platform should be when the majority of content creators in that platform are very clearly showing their preference to make it, still, a service for sharing single photos, blurbs, and links. Having subscribers is a function of content syndication as well, you can have that feature on any website by creating an RSS/Atom feed! Or you could have a mailing list that goes out to interested parties. There is no shortage of ways to get your content seen when you feel a 15 year old in skimpy clothing is taking away your attention.

You’re writing, good. You’re taking part in the participatory nature of the web on the site of being a content creator. You’ve already won the battle, but the overall war is all about making sure you’re still valid once the medium disappears and you’ve only got your content to your name to put into the new system.

If you’re only popular for posting celebrity photos on one website, and the website disappears, you likely weren’t providing the value you believed you were. I think this is well over a hundred words now.

07/03/09 at 2:56pm
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  1. pornoshoot reblogged this from taf
  2. nonduality reblogged this from zackshapiro
  3. jessicachu reblogged this from zackshapiro and added:
    COMPLETELY AGREE, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH WRITERS....fucking time… which is why I’m...
  4. unconventionalitismnessity reblogged this from gaseousbrain and added:
    I’m going to go out on a limb here that will probably lose me a few followers. Fuck off; use Tumblr the way you want to...
  5. gaseousbrain reblogged this from figuremeout
  6. chrisavila reblogged this from dailymeh and added:
    Basically I think everyone ought to read this.
  7. hullochristine reblogged this from thekeri
  8. plumkitty reblogged this from nosoiseauxx and added:
    i write as well, i am just not comfortable posting to such a public place, i keep my writings private until i am more...
  9. davidfbello reblogged this from seanorr
  10. sometimesthesethings reblogged this from nosoiseauxx
  11. nosoiseauxx reblogged this from heremotionsickness and added:
    i’m a writer. i just don’t post my writings here. i post them to my deviantart (same username). i posted writing in my...
  12. amwelles reblogged this from dailymeh
  13. ronenreblogs reblogged this from dailymeh
  14. foomandoonian reblogged this from zackshapiro and added:
    And then he goes...whatever. I like...scrapbook for stuff I...
  15. heremotionsickness reblogged this from neurotransmitters and added:
    That is all too true. The writers that are one this page should be easier to find, and there should be an own submission...
  16. dailymeh reblogged this from nostrich and added:
    Cue dozens of people going back and forth about how to use Tumblr, what it’s for, &c. This discussion is cyclic....
  17. cvxn reblogged this from sarahheartburn and added:
    cvxn:seanorr:shutupinternet:...… [edited for dashboard cleanliness]
  18. sarahheartburn reblogged this from cvxn and added:
    Um what is this all about? not enough writers, not enough good writers….please, make your point in about 100 words.
  19. sandgaijin reblogged this from zackshapiro
  20. cvxn reblogged this from seanorr and added:
    In response to SUI’s complaint, I have two words, and altogether they contain only two vowels and three Fs. Take a...
  21. taf reblogged this from doug and added:
    This is what I would have written if I could actually express my thoughts coherently in a non-snarky manner. To be fair,...
  22. deltafoxtrot reblogged this from littleorphanammo and added:
    “There is a distinct lack of writers on Tumblr” Perhaps. Or.. they use use Blogger, Wordpress or Typepad etc. Which they...
  23. seanorr reblogged this from zackshapiro and added:
    words: NOBODY CARES NOBODY CARES NOBODY CARES NOBODY CARES NOBODY CARES NOBODY CARES NOBODY CARES NOBODY CARES NOBODY...
  24. thecakeisalie reblogged this from littleorphanammo and added:
    also, aren’t there a gashmillion other blogging sites out there that are nothing but text? i have also found that in the...
  25. india-louise reblogged this from littleorphanammo and added:
    to be fair though, sometimes less words make more impact.
  26. doug reblogged this from roamin and added:
    I don’t wish for this to sound angry or rude, I just wish people wouldn’t try to change the nature
  27. littleorphanammo reblogged this from taf and added:
    teehee. what she said. Also, I write tons of content. None of it is any good, mind you, but I generate it. I wouldn’t...
  28. taf reblogged this from zackshapiro and added:
    you serious? Tumblr is not...perfect platform for writers; blogs are. Tumblr is
  29. neurotransmitters reblogged this from bubbleant
  30. angelasaid reblogged this from roamin
  31. mjchamplin reblogged this from roamin and added:
    be fair, I do my text-based blogging somewhere else, because I don’t really feel...tumblr...
  32. bardiche-side-b reblogged this from roamin
  33. roamin reblogged this from zackshapiro
  34. bubblegumpopper reblogged this from zackshapiro and added:
    actually really motivates me...write more in my blog….i
  35. bubbleant reblogged this from zackshapiro
  36. scrib reblogged this from zackshapiro
  37. nostrich reblogged this from zackshapiro and added:
    completely agree. Twitter also needs to target...more, I see very few people actually...
  38. stiff-upperlip reblogged this from zackshapiro
  39. tristn reblogged this from zackshapiro and added:
    Everyone calm down...my favorite writers period.
  40. zackshapiro posted this