Words with a Blogger Wednesday

I'm not letting you down this week- I've made sure that I had an interview for Words With A Blogger Wednesday no matter what! I kidnapped a blogger and held him in my closet all week to make sure. I'm letting him out now-yes, I've got another dad interview for you. We needed a little testosterone around here.

This week's blogger is:

Jim from

The Busy Dad Blog

http://www.busydadblog.com/

Take it away, Jim...

I’m a first-time dad. Well, that was 7 years ago, I think I’m past the statute of limitations to be able to use “first-time” as an excuse to justify how I don’t always know what I’m doing. My blog is simply a journal of the crazy stuff that happens along my journey through parenthood. This is the stuff you’d normally forget a few months after it happens unless you wrote it down somewhere. Or at least I would, since my short term memory isn’t what it used to be.

When did you start blogging?

I started in the summer of 07. My job back then involved a 4-hour commute on the train every day. I really don’t like to read and I have a laptop, so I figured I’d write instead. I had never read a single blog before the day I decided to start blogging.

Do you make money from your blog?
Nope. I’m not against it though. I just haven’t found anything worth my while. I work in internet marketing so I know that making any decent money off my blog is close to impossible, so I save myself the effort and focus my time on coming up with amusing posts instead.

How frequently do you post?
Nowadays? Haha like once every two weeks if you’re lucky. My life is just too hectic to expect much more. It used to be twice a week when I started out. Hey, at least I can be proud of the fact that I live up to the title of my blog.

Do you have a favorite blogger(s) that you just can't live without reading?
I love to read stuff that makes me laugh. That said, http://www.whiskeyinmysippycup.com/ and http://momo-fali.blogspot.com/ are must-visits. There are about 5 more that I make a point to visit regularly for different reasons, but if you want the funnies, look no further.

Have your readers influenced you in any way?
They haven’t influenced me content-wise; however they have kept me motivated and inspired. There is no better feeling in the world than knowing that if you put something out there, a whole bunch of people will nod their heads in agreement or laugh with you (or at you, but it’s all in good fun). Without my readers, I don’t think I’d be half as motivated to do what I do. Feedback is very important to me. So is validation. My readers give me both. I have made some really close friends through blogging, and have been fortunate to have met several in person. And they are just as cool as they are on the internet. Who would’ve thought?

Has blogging changed your life in any way?
It has taken over every aspect of my life. It’s an addiction. Let’s just leave it at that.

What do you do when you get writer's block?
I walk away. I love blogging because in the end I’m the boss of my blog. If I’m too busy to post, so be it. If I’d rather hang out with friends and family, so be it. Or I drink. It is amazing how a couple beers or some alone time with a nice bottle of Scotch can open up the creative pathways.

Any other advice you might have for newbie bloggers?
Yes. DON’T TRY SO HARD. Just do it. Readers will come. Friends will be made. There is no short cut to a successful blog (I define success as having a regular readership). Just write for yourself and participate in the “community” by visiting other blogs you like and leaving comments that matter (i.e. a “LOL that was great!” comment is crap). People will see you around and do the same. And the folks who can identify with the stuff you put out there will become your readers and stalkers. Also, join Twitter.

Thanks!

Become a victim-er, I mean a featured blogger! Comment on here and include your URL and I'll sneak on over to check out your blog! :)