More of my life is now being lived online. I spend maybe 2-3 hours a day blogging, interacting with interesting folks, coordinating writing schedules, and generally updating/maintaining my online presence. Now to some of you, this may sound like a lot of time, and to others it may sound like a little. I’d consider myself somewhere in the middle of the pack in terms of technological expertise. I’m never the first one to own the latest electronic device, but I am certainly aware they exist. Nor am I the first to start using a cool new site, but I find out eventually, and if it’s something of interest to me, I make an effort to get up to speed. That being said, I think in terms of online time, I spend less time than others in my age/demographic do. Part of that has to do with my work and family schedule (busy, busy, busy), but part of that just has to do with who I am.

When I talk to someone, I want to see their expressions. I want to see their reactions. And I want to see their body language. Online, you just can’t do that. So much can get lost in translation. And emoticons just don’t do it for me.

What is becoming increasingly clear is that while I used to completely and utterly separate the two – online and offline lives – now the lines have blurred slightly. Only slightly, because many folks I know have a clear integration of online/offline lives and I don’t have that. At least, not yet. I still have quite a bit of separation – my family is absolutely offline. So, for the most part, are my friends, although I have really begun to connect with so many people online. Even my offline interactions are enriched by strong online presences (Roguers, I’m talking about you). But more and more, I’m integrating my author presence online, and with it, comes the desire to connect – with other writers and of course, with readers. It’s a fascinating evolution and I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops.