Posted by: Elena Grama - 6 December 2010 / 9:51
Welcome to Behind the Blogs, where we take a moment to get to know the bloggers in the Scribnia Community on a more personal level. We’ve read their words, but now it’s time to learn a little bit about the person behind the keyboard.
Today’s interview is with Linda Hedrick who writes for Cerebral Boinkfest. Linda lives in a rural area surrounded by nature and she loves it. She has six rescued cats and three rescued dogs, and loves all animals. She loves them so much, in fact, that she has been a vegetarian for 40 years. She got her B.A. and did some graduate work in Indian art history, and spent three months in India traveling and visiting old temple sites. She respects all religions but follow none because she is not personally interested in organized religions, although she likes studying them. Linda loves art and photography and tries to do something every day. She likes to read, a lot. She grew up as an only child in a dysfunctional family, and reading saved her life. In books she could go anywhere and be anything. Books are still her escape but also a way to inform her life.
1) Why did you start blogging? Why do you blog today?
I’ve always wanted to write. My husband has a blog on collecting books (www.privatelibrary.typepad.com) and I wrote several posts for it. I really liked doing that but wanted to blog about anything that caught my attention with no parameters. In a post on critical theory for his blog I made up the term “cerebral boinkfest”. It got so much positive feedback that I decided to use it for my blog name. I love being able to write about whatever I want. Since I post Monday through Friday it disciplines me and compels me to write and hone my skills. I was also asked to contribute to a blog on books (www.booktryst.com) which I started writing for a few weeks ago.
2) How do you continue to find inspiration and ideas for blog posts?
My posts are about things that interest me or I’m curious about. I love to research, but have a tendency to go off in tangents. A lot of my posts result from these tangents. It is satisfying for me to learn something and share it. I used to be a 7th grade teacher, so I guess this is a way of continuing teaching.
3) How has blogging helped you in your life/career?
It is helping me be a better writer. I am getting better at organizing my thoughts and communicating them. It also has me looking at life differently, seeing different angles and paying more attention to things that catch my interest.
4) What do you have in stock for the future of your blog?
I state on my blog that the rules are there are no rules. As I develop my own “voice” in my writing I hope to be freer in my choice of topics and words. I like to feature people and things that out of the ordinary, that make you use your mind.
5) Have you ever written anything on your blog and then regret it afterwards?
No so far, but I’m sure it will happen!
6) Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Well, getting paid for my writing would be nice. Other than that, I try to stay open to what life has to offer.
7) What advice would you provide for people looking to start a blog?
Just do it!
What is one unique fact that your readers don’t know about you?
In my next life, I plan to be a geophysicist and study plate tectonics. And play the tablas.
9) Who are your biggest inspirations in blogging? Or in life?
Anyone who has followed their dreams or has stretched beyond what was expected of them. I find people who have taken the road less traveled fascinating.
10) How do you define success?
Feeling fulfilled. Leading a life that you love. Money, acclaim, they are nice, but getting up everyday looking forward to whatever it brings – that’s successful living.
11) Where is your favorite place to go to write, read or think?
In my head! But it helps to be somewhere where there are trees, water, and critters.
12) What do you do when you’re not in front of a computer screen?
Read, be outdoors, commune with nature, read, crosswords and puzzles, word games, read, play with my animal companions, read, cook, garden.
13) Have you ever faced a challenge that helped define who you are today?
My childhood!
14) What are 5 things you want to do before you die?
Visit a ryokan in Japan; get published; meet more really offbeat, unique people; get a tattoo (or many); grow up.
15) What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned since you started blogging?
I can do this.
16) What is your idea of the perfect blog?
One that speaks to other people, one that readers enjoy and that they learned from or were amused by.
Thanks so much for sharing your story with us Linda. Your blog may be random but it’s one of the most interesting blogs I’ve read in a while. Keep up the writing.
Again..Make sure to read Linda’s Blog, review her and follow her on Twitter.
If you know of an interesting blogger/author that we should interview for the Behind the Blogs series, or if YOU are that blogger, send me an email at Elena [at] Scribnia.com
Tags: Behind, blog, Boinkfest, Cerebral, Hedrick, Interview, Linda
