Interview with Scott from Paved Paradise

BenSpark

Today’s interview is with Scott from Paved Paradise. He told me that he doesn’t mind answering any questions so I’m looking forward to getting into this with him. So Scott please tell the readers about yourself.

Scott

I’m a 20-year Navy man originally from Mississippi and now I work at the National Security Agency. I’m divorced, have two kids and a cute lil wiener dog named Sloppy Joe. I live downtown in Baltimore, and I love that I can walk everywhere I need to go, even to baseball games!

BenSpark

I loved visiting Baltimore, Inner Harbor is fantastic. I got to see a Red Sox game in Camden Yards, it is one of my favorite stadiums ever. You must have a ton of stories after being in the Navy and then with the National Security agency, but can you talk about them? So I wonder what you blog about. Could you tell us about your blogs?

Scott

I do a little of everything in my blogs. While a lot of writers tend to stick with one thing, I go with a lot of different things, ranging from silly pictures that caught my eye to social commentary. In my “Paved Paradise” blog, I focus on social issues and cutting through the media propaganda and political rhetoric. In my reading.writing.revolution blog, I do a little of the same, but I also just talk about things that are important to me or that I like. In my Tumblr blog, it’s mostly just silly pictures and things that I think people will enjoy seeing or reading. So, it ranges from silly to serious.

I also started a blog to document the progress of my novels, a blog that is hosting a serialized, collaborative novel called “Dorothey: Locked & Loaded“, and another about a project I’m going to put together this year called “Baltimore: Locked & Loved“. So, there’s a lot going on.

BenSpark

You certainly have a ton of blogs, keeping up with all of them must be a labor of love. Why did you start blogging?

Scott

I started blogging as a way of dealing with my divorce and the loss of my kids (they moved away). It was a terribly emotionally trying time, and I had to deal with it somehow, get everything out somehow. I wrote about how I felt, then added some poetry, too. Then I moved into short stories, often to illustrate my anger and sadness — lots of blood and murder in the stories then. And then I moved into social commentary — my perspective on life had changed, and I underwent this transformation, if you will, from a suburban husband kind of oblivious to what’s happening in this country to this urban semi-activist. And thus, I started writing about that.

BenSpark

Seeing that you’ve grown through your blogs it seems that it has helped you deal with the situation. You really put your heart out there and are very real. Speaking of being real what is your stance on Disclosure?

Scott

Not sure what you are going for here, but if you mean being real and being yourself online, in your blogs, etc. — that is, letting it all hang out. I do. I see no reason to pretend to be someone else or to hide things. I am who I am, and after all is said and done, I’m pretty happy with me.

BenSpark

Sorry Scott that was a leftover question from my interviews pertaining to making money online and working with SocialSpark. Let’s switch gears for a moment, could you share a Blogging Tip with the world?

Scott

When people talk about novels, they say “write what you know”. I would say the same about blogs, too. I would add “write what you love”, too. But maybe most importantly, stretch yourself and write things you don’t think you can handle. That is, do the work. People get too comfy, and they don’t grow that way. Write a review of a book you loved. Write flash fiction — always hard. Write a short story on three random items/subjects. Stretch.

BenSpark

That is some great advice. I love the challenge aspect to it. What do you wish you knew when you started blogging?

Scott

I’d like to say “what the hell I was doing”, but that wasn’t and kinda still isn’t the point. I wrote like I write now, for the same reason — because it’s what I do. This is me now. I am a teacher during the day, and at night I’m a writer.

BenSpark

Here is another left over question for blogs focused on making money. Here goes: If you monetize what are you favorite advertisers? Who would you want to work with?

Scott

I’m not really interested in monetizing, but if I did “work with” someone, it would be with a charity. In fact, on the “Paved Paradise” blog, I activated this social charity widget to the American Cancer Society. I’m not sure how it works yet, but I still have to get people to the blog first.

BenSpark

May be this would be a more apt question: What is the Ultimate Goal for a blogger, in your opinion?

Scott

The ultimate goal? Well, there are probably several at the top of anyone’s list, but I think the ultimate goal, whether or not one knows it, is to communicate with an audience, whether it be an audience of 11 or of 456. I had over 400 readers when I was blogging on Myspace way back when, and I just loved the interaction. It drove me to create and draw people in so there could be more interaction and sharing of ideas. I think that’s essentially what every blogger wants.

BenSpark

I agree, communication with an audience is key. Let’s talk a little about your process. What is the first thing you do when you fire up your browser?

Scott

Check Facebook. I use it so extensively and have my novel fan page there, my philanthropy group page there, and a page for Congressional term limits, etc. It’s the first place I check in, then I check my Gmail.

BenSpark

If you could spend one year blogging about a particular thing what would it be and why? How would you keep it fresh?

Scott

I would focus on all the bullshit (if I may) going on in this country. It would never get old. I think I am the voice of common sense, the one who sees through all the bullshit and doesn’t get swayed by the media or politicians. We have so much going on here, and I think most of America has lost its way and doesn’t know, to use a title from a Richard Pryor film, “Which Way is Up?’. I want to do that with “Paved Paradise” (WordPress blog), but it’s so hard right now with all I have going on personally. I wouldn’t have to worry about keeping it fresh though — BP, politics, Arizona’s law, the economy, two wars, etc. — easy!!!

BenSpark

It sounds like you’d have no shortage of topics. Out of all those topics and all your blogs what is your best blog post ever?

Scott

Favorite? I’d have to say the “I am the Messiah” one, in which I play Jesus and rewrite the 10 Commandments. I didn’t go all hog wild with it, but I did have fun and cut the commandments down to seven, I think. It was a totally spontaneous Sunday morning thing to write, and I think it’s funny.

BenSpark

Pirates or Ninjas?

Scott

Yes!

BenSpark

Favorite Movie? TV Show? Book?

Scott

Fight Club/don’t really watch TV/Count of Monte Cristo

BenSpark

Do you play Facebook games?

Scott

No, unless you call goofing off and commenting and posting tons of stuff “games”.

BenSpark

Favorite Blogs?

Scott

http://dorothylockedandloaded.blogspot.com/
http://www.theipu.com/
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/
http://improveverywhere.com/

BenSpark

Favorite Podcasts?

Scott

Gotta admit, I just don’t have time to do the podcast thing. I just read like crazy.

BenSpark

How does someone connect with you online?

Scott

dsmeek36 on Twitter
scottmeek on Facebook

BenSpark

Scott, thank you very much for the insightful interview. I appreciate you taking the time to chat with me and wish you success in your fictional writing and blogging.

Tagged as: Blogger, Novel, reading, revolution, teacher, writer, Writing