Do you like to blog?

me

When I close my eyes, I try and picture the "interviewer". Almost always, he (yes, the voice inside my head asking these questions is male) strongly resembles "Jake Blues"..and he smokes cigarettes.

(...continued from here.)

Interviewer: I was saying…do you like to blog?

Julie: Most of the time I do. I like that I am able to check in with artists from all over the world and see what they’re up to. I’ve made a lot of friends that way.

Interviewer: What else?

Julie: I receive feedback on the artwork I make…and I feel good being able to offer tips and tricks to people who ask for them.

Interviewer: What could be so bad about that?

Julie: Sometimes I am frustrated that words I write of things I create are not “taken” as I intended them to be.

Interviewer: But you realize that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, right?

Julie: I guess. I also think that everyone should have the same opinion I do…

Interviewer: Are you kidding?

Julie: Do you have to ask?

Interviewer: Do you like reading blogs?

Julie: I refresh my feed list a couple of times every day. There are over 250 blogs on there.

Interviewer: You read them all?

Julie: Uh…most of the time I look at pictures. If the picture grabs my attention, I go in for the read. I read almost all of them through my RSS feeds.

Interviewer: How come you don’t read all of them?

Julie: There is not enough time in the day. I enjoy the visual stimulation from the blogs on my feed list. My primary goal is to browse through them for entertainment…not to email every person every day.

Interviewer: Who said you have to email every person every day?

Julie: Artful Blogging.

Interviewer: They did?

Julie: Yes. They mentioned in the last issue that you should take the time to respond to every comment that you receive on your blog.

Interviewer: Do you?

Julie: Up until about a week ago I did. I emailed a response to every person who commented on my blog.

Interviewer: And then what happened?

Julie: I got fed up.

Interviewer: Really?

Julie: Yes. I am not fed up with receiving comments, everyone likes comments. I think I made myself crazy wondering if people were commenting just to pay back comment or if they really liked my work.

Interviewer: And then?

Julie: And then I was wondering if people who I left comments for thought I was only leaving comments to get comments back from them. It got out of control.

Interviewer: How so?

Julie: In my head. My head got out of control.

Interviewer: So what do you do now?

Julie: Now I answer when I can and post when I can. Someone as compulsive as me needs to be able to browse so much every day….in order to keep up with my insane demand for visual stimulation, I have to be fast.

Interviewer: What about quality?

Julie: Exactly…I need to be able to post quality comments and posts…that’s just me. I want everything to be good.

Interviewer: Catholic school?

Julie: Hey- you’re pretty good.

(to be continued…)

Jake and Elwood Blues: Image courtesy of wikipedia

Comments

[Kim H]

You are so crazy! You make me laugh and smile each day! You are an amazing artist!

[Tami Bayer]

That is the best pic of you, just captures you so well. Really fantastic. The interview is a riot...love Jake and Elwood there at the end, perfect interviewer. Never ever worry about emailing everyone...that is insane.

[Sharon @ norah'S]

I'm loving this. Your "Jake Blues" look-a-like has been over here asking me the same questions and I am amazed that I have had the same answers.
(no need to respond back. I know you're gonna read this and I know my pleasure was in leaving it. Relly) Love that photo of you up there too.

[laurence]

Love your interview. I feel the same about leaving comments. Your photo is fantastic.

[lee]

I also feel that way about comments. I dont comment just to comment, it has to strike a cord with me. Even if i dont leave a comment still means that I like it. And I like your work, you dont have comment back lol.

[Sandy]

Ruh roh, have I been rude all this time not replying to comments? lol. I figure I'm cutting down on e-clutter by not replying...ha.

Love your interview, you make me laugh!

[Traceytreasure]

I'm supposed to be cleaning, you know? I just had to let you know that when I do comment, I really, really do mean what I say about your art. I'm not artistic myself, so I appreciate what you are capable of creating and I love to see how you do it. I can't crochet, so I love to buy things that someone has crocheted because I appreciate the creations someone has made. I don't know if that makes sense. I've been know to leave stupid comments with typos so you'll have to forgive me. Have a great weekend, Julie. I'm a big fan our yours!

[Kimbo]

Ah Julie... That picture of you is gorgeous ! I get the image of you holding your head and laughing, laughing cause your head is spinning with all those comments (these comments ?!)going back and forth and all around ! You and Jake the interviewer are very thought provoking today... thanks for the food for thought.
Take care,
Kim

[Traceytreasure]

I see that I did it again. I'm so sorry! I meant "fan of yours." That's what I get for blogging when I should be cleaning. I'm not getting much done. :)

[Laura]

Wow... did I go to Catholic School too?

[Dymphie]

Love to read your interview Julie. You always hit the nail on its head (does one say this in english too?). I feel your 'pain. I remember nuns from kindergarten till middle school as teachers.
To be honest I gave up answering on comments on the very start of my first blog, could be because at first I didn't notice there where e-mail addresses in the "comment-mail" *lol* Or is it my kick-back at the nuns? Any how I'm bad at feedback... (and writing this kind of things in proper english, sorry)

[Zorana]

I enjoyed reading the interview - you are good at it. I don't leave comments often (because it gets old over time saying that things are beautiful and I'm not creative enough to write more interesting stuff). And I feel major guilt for not replying to every comment I get... And - I went and bought a stencil cutter because of you...

[Erin K]

haha, this is fun.

nntr

[Randi]

Read the book "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield. I think it might help. It made me change my attitude about my art and blogging and comments and...lots of things. (And you don't need to send me an email)!!

[tina]

i could be having this same conversation. i stress about the blog so much it is no fun. i should be doing it for fun but spend all the time thinking i should redo the banner, i should post more, what do people think, comments. Crazy isn't it. I think i will take randi's advice and read that book.

[stephanie]

You are hitting a lot of nerves for me here. I so agree....first, I am a visual gal, I cruise through blogs looking at pictures, I sometimes get turned off/ bogged down when there are too many words, but I was captured my your interview here! 2nd, I don't expect responses back to my comments unless something really hit home in some way. 3rd, there are so many wonderful blogs these days, you look at 250! phew! I peruse for inspiration and find no shortage. so, that said, I enjoy your world here however often you decide to share.

x...x
steph
p.s. no response required :)

[Jacqueline]

Wow you have got great teeth!!

[Pam]

Great idea for the interview... I can relate to all the angst (love that word!) about how much and when to reply and comment... guilt is such an easy thing to create and carry around! Most of us go one direction too far... too much or too little maybe. I love your site and how visual it is... looking at the yummy pictures... you're right - more inspiring. I tend to be more apt to put words, but I always start with a picture at least! Clever idea for the interview... I might try it myself. It really lets you shine through and is fun.

[Laura Bray]

I just went through the same convo with myself. Do you really think it's because of St Lucy's? Hmmmm

[~*~ Patty]

Hey I've had a similar conversation in MY head! I always thought it was kinda WOW+how does she do it...when I would get a reply comment from you, truly above and beyond......I'm happiest with fewer "rules" and doing what feels right...a great example of time crunching is it looks like you got alot of probably really neat comments on this post, but I have to keep moving, can't read them....must go see your transfer tutorial :)

[Hazel]

Brilliant stuff, Julie! Life is too short to live according to someone elses rules, especially when you have a full-time job (otherwise known as a gorgeous child) as well as a blog and a life. Bravo!