Blogger Interview: The Naked Redhead

In this blogger interview The Naked Redhead talks about using humor and blogging to explore life.

Tell us a little bit about your blog.

I finally realized that my passion is life is three things: learning to be emotionally honest with myself and others, finding the funny in life, and bringing people together to help each other to the Right Thing. So, many of my posts contain a lot of humor, but I’m always super tickled when I read buzz on other blogs about me that say, “It’s so TRUE!” That’s kind of my goal: to talk about the truths of life (even the scary, dark ones) but still extract what humor I can, and all in post form.

How long have you been blogging for? What made you want to start blogging?

I’ve been blogging since, oh lord, um…2002? However, at the time, I wasn’t at all “serious” about it and it was mostly whiny entries on the inky blackness of my wounded soul. I originally started blogging because I thought an online journal was neat (I’ve been journaling in some form since I was seven), but then it grew into a way for me to advance as a writer.

I’ve never claimed to have started blogging for the money–I still don’t–but rather as a way to better myself. And let me tell you, there is nothing quite like learning how to puke your heart out for an audience. There is definitely a fine line between sharing and over-sharing, between honesty and so-much-personal-crap-you-make-your-audience-uncomfortable. I like being on the good side of that line, and I like connecting to my readers through the words I jumble together.

What were some of your biggest challenges when you first started blogging?

The biggest challenge for me in blogging has always been the technology. I don’t do too poorly with computer stuff (and am often considered an “expert” by my less well-versed friends) but then I meet these people on the interwebz who are like, “CSS Your Life with the HTML and Your Favicon and Insert Your Facebook Page Code Right onto Your Face in Three Easy Steps!”

And that makes me feel real dumb. I have to ask a TON of questions. Or sometimes I try to do things myself and I somehow manage to copy and paste an entire post into the actual coding for my site, so that NOT ONLY do you see my site, but you also get the extra bonus of a random post tattooed all over it (true story).

So yeah, you kids and your computers and your new fangled gadgets. Also, get off my lawn.

How did you overcome these challenges?

At first, I asked my ex husband a lot of questions (he’s a computer guy) but then he seemed to want to be less than helpful with a blog that detailed the down and dirty of our failed marriage.

So then, I had to find a platform that held my wee little hand and talked to me like a five-year-old and gave me candy. So I signed up with Squarespace. And yes, it’s a limited platform, and yes, it’s NOT THESIS (the horror) but hey, I screw up way less and can focus on my writing more. One day when I’m the next blogging Oprah (you can jump on my couch), I’ll be sure to hire a team of professionals who can spiff me up, but for now, I need all the technical pats on the head I can get.

What is a recent milestone that you have accomplished with your blog? How were you able to achieve this milestone?

The most recent milestone was my blog’s rebrand. I mentioned before that I mostly started writing just to write, but quickly found that many of my readers didn’t stick around for the sheer randomness of my post topics. So I had to sit down and really figure out what my passion is in life. After journaling a bit (the paper kind), talking to some friends and family, and purchasing several small goats (don’t ask), I figured out that my passion can be boiled down into a simple statement: Life is fun(nier) when you’re naked.

When I came up with those six little words, it’s like my whole world clicked into place. Sure, I was now bound by the “confines” of my motto (boo, no more writing about squirrels! Or can I…) but I literally found a new freedom within my passion. It’s easier to think of things to write, it’s easier to connect and interact with my audience…it’s just good. Good, good stuff.

What is your next goal that you want to achieve with your blog?

My next big goal is instituting a regular video post and inter-blog video discussion with some of the other bloggers in my niche. My video post day is Friday right now, and I’ve found that I really, really enjoy that particular medium of connecting with my readers. Plus, it gives me a chance to show a little more of who I am, connect a face with my words, and to be a total goon.

The inter-blog video discussion will be a way for several blogs to not only share traffic, but also to build a community of writers and personalities. For now, the main contributors will be women, but eventually I’d like to add as many different voices as we can to the conversation. It’ll be pretty awesome, and launches this spring, so be prepared to be hit with summadat awesomeness. (I’d suggest bringing an umbrella and some hand sanitizer.)

What is your best tip for other people out there who might be new or struggling with their blogging?

My best tip for noobs and those who are struggling is: STOP TRYING SO HARD. Sure, we all know that a lot of work goes in to building a blog and an audience. However, don’t let your desire to be the next dooce or Darren or Seth or The Naked Redhead (yes, I realize that including my blog here is a little like putting a pig at the dinner table. Good thing I’m a vegetarian) to ruin the fun of blogging. Because blogging really is fun. Meeting new people on the internet is fun. Collaborating and connecting with perfect strangers is fun. And hey, you don’t want to be the next dooce, Darren, Seth or TNR…you want to be the next YOU, and the best YOU is the one that doesn’t sound pushy or desperate to their audience.

So yeah, relax and enjoy the ride. It’s good times.

The Naked Redhead writes under the assumption that “Life is fun(nier) when you’re naked.” She helps others learn to be emotionally naked (honest), to find the funny in life, and to come together as communities to do the Right Thing. Follow her on Twitter at @thenakedredhead.