I have had my own blogs online, with photographs of myself, for several years now. Therefore, I was surprised at the rise in my stress levels when it was suggested I get a Gravatar profile. Gravatar is a “Globally Recognized Avatar”. Gravatar as a fantastic tool to help people streamline their online information for a number of different services. For me, this tool comes loaded with a weighty question:
Who is this writer version of me and how does it connect to the rest of my life?
Getting a Gravatar profile has meant a couple of big things:
1. I’ve had to stand on my own two feet, with a photo devoid of the family I usually lean on or hide behind. As THE WRITER, I am alone in my decisions – and my photos.
2. I’ve had to make a name choice and be done with it. No more of this tinkering with an author name. Katrina A. Brown. It’s not apart from me. It is a part of me.
3. I’ve had to truly commit to authorship. After all, there is not much point posting an avatar of myself claiming I write, if I don’t actually publish anything.
Who knew one little hovering box would cause so much anxiety?
Taipei Writers Group 