Jonathan Franzen: It’s doubtful that anyone with an internet connection at his workplace is writing good fiction.
What the hell is this supposed to mean? No, really. Think about it for a moment. This quote could be taken any of a hundred thousand ways. Or, perhaps as many ways as the number of readers who ponder it.
It is an incredibly controversial statement, sure to engender disparate thoughts and much debate. This debate could take the form of anything from friendly discussion over coffee or adult beverages in any kind of setting from a living room or den to a beach or coffee shop. It could also be in the form of heated debates, or real teeth-gnashing arguments.
It’s very nature brings conflict and discontent – controversy. And, isn’t that what good writers are intended to explore? No matter what aspect you agree with, which side you choose, which plane of perspective you align with, there is deep controversy lurking in the shadows with decidedly anticipatory grins of visceral delight.
Gear up, writers! Don your battle-rattle and check your mags.
As writers, conflict is something we NEED. It is the engine which drives our stories and our passions forward. Without controversy, we are becalmed in an ocean of words in which each one is just like the other, dead and meaningless with no movement.
As mere humans, much less writers, we need conflict in our lives. We require it. It there is no source of external conflict, human beings will, without fail, create conflict from within our own imaginations. We must have something to overcome or life has no meaning.
So, where does the Internet fit into this mess?
Well, it is full of all manner of information. This information can be correct and accurate, or, it can be false and misleading. It can be a wellspring of ideas, a deep and broad pool of research material, or it can be a compelling distraction to what might be a single, poignant train of thought.
You can shop on the Internet, or be entertained eternally with videos on any subject of your choosing, or distracted by innumerable blogs filled with every idea imaginable and more recipes than you could ever cook.
Personally, I disagree with the quote even though I recognize the potential of truth within. The Internet can be a huge, massive, all-consuming distraction to the serious business of writing. It boils down, I think, to a question of self-discipline and passion. One must develop the self-discipline to avoid the distractions offered, and focus on the project at hand. If a writer has passion for the project, then the passion and self-discipline will compel them to focus on the project rather than falling down the rabbit-hole.
On the other hand, I devoutly appreciate both the quote and the warning it contains. The Internet should be a tool, nothing more. And any tool is only as good as the person using it.