The Conversation: Giving Up the Web

May 14, 2010— -- For a man who makes a living from putting ink to paper, cartoonist and author James Sturm was spending a lot of time in front of a keyboard.

Addicted to the web like many people today, Sturm couldn't keep himself from checking e-mail, watching YouTube videos or browsing through articles. He also obsessively monitored his books' rankings on Amazon.com and followed readers' comments.

But Sturm came to believe that all those hours spent surfing distracted him from the things that really mattered, such as spending time with his family, drawing and engaging in life. So, with a new graphic novel, "Market Day," coming out, Sturm made a big decision -- to go cold turkey. He promised to give up the Internet for four months. No Facebook, no Google, no nothing.

What happens when you give up the web? Do your friends forget about you? How does it change your life and realtionships?

Today, Sturm talks about the experience -- via phone -- with ABC's Diane Sawyer. We hope you'll watch the Conversation.

Thanks to the makers of the forthcoming documentary "Cartoon College" for sharing footage of James Strum used in today's Conversation.