BC: The Internet has enabled anyone with a keyboard to call himself a writer. How do you separate the wheat from the chaff when you choose what to read when you're online? Is there anyplace you go for content (aside from Blogcritics, of course!) that you consider special?
Sadi: Gosh, the “wheat from the chaff” - I suppose because I have been an editor for so very long (my whole career) and had to read so much “slush” (unrequested manuscripts that come across the transom), I can generally tell from the first paragraph whether or not an article is worth the read. If it doesn’t grab me right away, then I don’t bother. It must deliver a punch and hopefully, or ideally, be memorable. I, too, strive for the same things, and though I may not always succeed, I do try. I often get the sense that a lot of writers online don’t really try any more, that it’s just a quick medium and then things become sloppy — no revision or real editing of any kind. (Self-editing, I should point out.) It’s almost too immediate so you can just let it fly without really thinking about it. I hope I’m not doing that now.
For online content, yes, here at Blogcritics obviously - that’s a given. I think actually that Salon is great and that Bookslut is super if you’re interested in literature and things of that nature. I also pick up a lot at Teleread, and even though I write for them, there’s still a lot there that I learn. For community reading, my favorite site of the moment is Gather.com, which is a growing community (with some pains, no doubt), but still a good place (so far) and with a great many talented writers if you’re just in it for the read.
For information, I surf a lot, but I usually wind up at Wikipedia, which I think is quite useful, and generally reliable, emphasis on generally. Always double, triple check. Do this in life generally. One can never be too careful. That said, never be afraid to just trust and fall backward and take a chance.
Q & A (The Fun Stuff)
BC: What book/CD/DVD do you have more than one copy of, in case something happens to the original one?
Sadi: Ada or Ardour by Vladimir Nabokov, since it’s my favorite book probably of all time, though that’s such a tough question since there are so many great books that I have doubles of. Another is Outermost House by Henry Beston, but the two books are completely different. If I had to select one in a fire, it would be Nabokov, my favorite author. As for DVDs, that would be The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera, of which I also have two copies in book form, and he also ranks as my second-favorite author, though it’s a tough decision.
Article comments
1 - Mat Brewster
Congrats Sadi!
2 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Thanks Mat ~ Congrats accepted and appreciated... ; ) Cheers, ... have a great day... sadi r-p.
3 - chantal stone
Congrats Sadi! And thank-you for letting us know you better :)
4 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Thanks Chantal ~ i posted on the Peaches thread for Steve and Scott to tell them in case they didn't know (how obnoxious of me, lol). Thanks so much for words of support in every way: on columns, here, every week... you be da bomb, girl... working on this week's list... think you will like a few of the songs v. much, i pray.... thanks again! sade... ; )
5 - Eric Berlin
Outstanding, congrats Sadi! I love this column, very very cool.
6 - Steve
Aww, Sadi, that was a sweet interview. I'm gonna check out those other Blogcritic articles you listed soon, I think.
7 - Mark Saleski
congrats sadi. there's a reason my rss reader has entry for your posts.
8 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Eric B ~~ Thanks -- i'm so glad you like this... i'm always nervous with interviews but she did a great job i think and made sound far better than i am in real life (but that said, i'll take it) ; ) cheers, S
9 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Steve, thank you - if you can't get to all the posts don't worry. Everyone is pressed for time. Try to get to Shimmer. You might like that one... i'd recommend different ones for different people... you might like that one...
10 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Mark Saleski ~ you have always been such a good and loyal reader that i can't thank you enough (i feel like i should be in slinky gown at Oscars bawling & etc blah blah blah ~ okay, shoved off-stage) Back to reality, you rock the house in all ways. Big supporter from the get-go... thanks for that. Thanks for driving people to my writing. All of it has helped no doubt. And no doubt, i will be back to writing my nonsensical articles in the very near future ... the sort of rambling ones such as those listed above that begin one place and end up somewhere totally different; if only i had more than those pesky 24 hours in one day and that absurd need of sleep (which frankly, i don't think i need but husband disagrees... *sigh*
what can you do?
Thanks, as ever... S.
11 - Scott B
Congrats, S.
12 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Congrats Sadi--you've made my list of much more than a moment.
13 - Steve
Indeed, Gordon, I'm with you on that one lol.
14 - Howard Dratch
Sadi. Interviews are difficult - to do, have done to you and, often, to read.
You and Lisa made a good read out of someone's life. Well done. We want more of your articles and your life when the interview is done. Just like a good story.
15 - Connie Phillips
Congratulations, Sadi
16 - Steve
I find it interesting that you DIDN'T choose James Dean as an idol...if I never hear another thing about Marilyn Monroe or Janes Dean, I would be a happy camper...talk about overexposure, wow. That's going back 40+ years now isn't it?? Sheesh.
I was initially surprised that you said you admired the Stoics, given the way you write...but as you said, what you are like online and in person are two different things, so I guess it may make sense in an offline kind of way, at least.
Given what you said recently about women's magazines, I'm surprised you still subscribe to any (are those an exception??)!
Re. Scooby Doo, I used to love that show as a kid. Other than the voices however, the recent live action Scooby movies were quite disappointing, I thought.
Re. books, have you ever read Harry Potter??
Re. TV, I love it, though more for info, than entertainment, there is alot of stuff on it that I'd never watch.
17 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Thanks Howard... Lisa did a great job of interviewing me and i hopefully provided her with some interesting material. overall, it's been a great and learning exeperince in every way... really interesting....
Thanks for reading through ; )
18 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
stoics have long fascinated me for myriad reasons but is see no contradiction between that and the internet, steve...
women's magazines - gifts, so that's that and W. is interesting. Really, the best part is this LUNATIC woman at end end, Countess Estherhazy or something, i'm sure fake name, who writes these hilarious columns.... that's really what i'm in for... and i admit, havnig worked at Vogue, it's stuck in my blood whether i want it there or not, it is just always going to be a part of who i am so there is a natural curiousity as well...
Scooby scooby doo!! what did you say about that again? I used to watch it all the time and i so so so much wanted to be the slinky chick not the chick with glasses and the plaid skirt (hence, here i am)...the movies suck, but the actual cartoons were and are great (the real old ones).
Never ready any of the Harry Potter books but as a kid loved C.S. Lewis and even as an adult but as an adult i read his adult books like recently i just read "the problem of pain" and "a grief observed" which are both great books if you are going through any kind of loss or illness or anything of that nature... suffering i suppose...
but anyway..... for me, some sleep now (again, profound waste of time but family mandated... lol ) house rules and all that... *sigh* I suppose it's a good thing to rest at some point, yes?
be well, and g'night. Next list should be up soon.
19 - Steve
Re. Stoics, just wondering why you admire them so much.
Yeah, I have also read Lewis, including those two you mentioned and also "Mere Christianity", "Surprised By Joy", "God In The Dock" as well as a devotional called "The Business Of Heaven". Really enjoyed reading his stuff, being a former atheist myself too. I never read the Narnia books as a kid, but just saw the new movie recently, which wasn't bad, more for kids I thought, though...
I just mention Harry Potter, because you seem to enjoy talking about male/female relationships and I'd read an essay the other night talking about how Harry ended up with the girlfriend he has by the end of book six, why he's attracted to her etc. instead of his main female sidekick Hermione, and I thought it was the kind of artcile you might be interested in. However, if you've never read the books, I suppose you might be a bit lost by it all. Never mind...
Re. sleep, can I ask, do you dream...or, more to the point, do you remember dreaming at night?? Just wondering why you have an aversion to sleep. Or is it to do with the 'being productive' idea?? Sounds like you've already accomplished alot in your life. What would you do in retirement, do you think???
20 - Mary K. Williams
This is a terrific honor Sadi - you are a superb writer.
21 - Scott Butki
Sadi, congrats!
Great interview. I had no idea you had so many different projects going on at once.
22 - Scott Butki
Oh and check back on your old lists - I'm leaving comments at them as I've been downloading and listening to some of the songs you included.
Like last nite i listened to that Jesus is Way Cool song and it's bloody brilliant.