Small Strokes Big Oaks

Danine Spencer

Bio:
Danine Spencer is a writer currently based in Rhinelander, WI. Born and raised in Eau Claire, WI, she graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, in 2002 with a B.S. in Computer Information Science. Her work has appeared in Bitch magazine (“Consumed” issue, Fall 2009) and she is a frequent contributor to the Women’s Rights blog at Change.org. She also blogs at http://www.danine.net and you can follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/daninespencer.

1.    Define the online feminist blogging community.
Feminists, particularly younger feminists, have exploited social media really well. We use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to network and exchange information with each other. Blogging allows feminists to network with each other like Facebook and Twitter but it’s more than that. Blogging allows us to contribute to the feminist (and sometimes national) dialogue as soon as we hit “publish.” By examining the world around us through a feminist lens and writing about it, we are participating in online and real-life activism.

I participate in the online feminist community through Twitter and blogging. Twitter has been really beneficial for me, helping me network with other feminists and writers. Twitter has helped me learn about new feminist blogs that I wasn’t aware of (including Small Strokes), find out what the important feminist issues and must-read blog posts are that day and promote my blog. I think it works similarly for other feminists.

2.    Tell me about how you came to be a blogger.
I started blogging during the 2008 presidential election. I was so outraged by the insanity the Republicans were spewing that I felt it needed to be talked about. I wrote (sometimes snarky) news and commentary about the election, economy, bailouts, George Bush, John McCain, Sarah Palin, Barack Obama, race relations, etc. Interestingly enough, my most popular post was called, “Top 10 Political Turkeys of 2008”. It was a Thanksgiving post and featured the likes of Norm Coleman, John Edwards, Ted Stevens and of course, John McCain, Sarah Palin and George W. Bush.  I discontinued that blog around New Year’s 2009.

3.    Tell me about your blogging experience now.
My blog is really brand new and it hasn’t fully evolved yet. Ultimately, I’d like it to be about empowering women, particularly women with disabilities. by telling their stories stories (yes, possible interview series to come!) and advocating for those who cannot do it themselves.

I am also using this blog to advocate for myself: why I need health care reform and what it’s like to live with a disability and a chronic illness. Also, I fully believe “personal is political” so when the headlines hit home I try to write about that.

I am also a frequent contributor to the Women’s Rights blog at Change.org and have guest-posted for several other blogs. I hope to continue this.

4.    Tell me about a time you were misread or misunderstood on your blog.
I recently wrote a review of the documentary Lioness for Change.org. The film follows five of the first women to see ground combat in Iraq and in U.S. history. I tried to convey that these women did an amazing job despite the fact that they had not been trained for combat. They were warriors. They also suffered the consequences of war and most exhibited signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I only had two comments on that blog, one of which likened the female soldiers’ service and resulting PTSD to what women and children go through with human trafficking. It was so inappropriate I decided not to respond. Still, I wondered if I had portrayed the women as victims. Where did she get that?

5.    Describe your process of writing online.
For my personal blog, I decide on the topic, decide on a general thesis and make a few notes. Then I usually start writing and write until I think it has reached its logical ending. I edit, proof and publish.

For some reason, I put a lot more work into my contributor/guest posts. I think it’s because those posts feel more “published” and I know more people will read them. I find a topic, decide on a thesis and make a slew of notes. I write a rough draft from my notes and then edit, edit, edit. When I think it’s good enough, I proof and send it off.

Also, I always carry either my iPod Touch or Samsung BlackJack II with Windows Mobile (or both) with me wherever I go so I can jot down notes whenever the muse hits. If there are times when I think I’ll be writing a lot, such as at a conference or when I’m traveling, I’ll carry a small notebook. Some of my best writing has evolved this way.

6.    Describe your online reading habits.
I subscribe to my favorite blogs in Google Reader. When I have something that needs to be shared, I’ll sometimes post it to my Twitter page.

However, I start with Twitter so I can find out what other feminists think is important to read that day. It’s the fastest way to tap into the feminist community: news articles, important blog posts, conference information, activism alerts, etc. Social media sites (Twitter especially) definitely help create an online community. By following different people on Twitter, I have become much more involved with the feminist community than I ever would have been just writing a little blog from my house in northern Wisconsin. Twitter has helped me learn about many well-written and influential blogs. It has helped me network professionally. Most importantly, I’ve even made some real-life friends by participating in the online feminist community.

For more information on the Literacy in the Feminist Blogging Community project, and to see all of the interviews, click here. Have something to add? Comment or e-mail me at smallstroke (at) gmail (dot) com.