Interview with Blogger Jeffrey Hopkins

By The Pakistani Spectator • Apr 20th, 2009 • Category: Interviews • One Response

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

I founded my site in December of 2008 as a way to showcase my special photography and to publicize my novel “Broken Under Interrogation.” With each photograph I usually write a small posting telling how the photograph was composed as well as a statement about the situation, juxtaposed with larger society or my own opinion about the matter.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?

I am currently working on my second novel. Each time I log onto my MacBook Pro - the instrument I choose to write with, I feel that I grow stronger in my writing abilities. I take more risks and I feel more confident in my ability to express my ideas, which I feel may be important to the wider world. I care first and foremost about making my unique voice heard. I felt growing up that I had talents that lead me to be unsure as to what I wanted to become, or what profession I wanted to take up. So, I decided to become an artist. I am sure the road I take will be long and winding, full of bumps along the way, but I think that I have something important to share with the world, and hopefully my discoveries can help people in their own journies. I will keep writing and publishing novels that I feel are important until the life runs out of my fingertips. I encourage others who share a passion for writing to take time out of their days to engage in that secret and magical craft.

I m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

Each time I share a photograph that people comment on, and say it is beautiful, I feel like I have added something to the world.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

I must regretfully say that I do not keep up much communication with other bloggers. I just hope that they appreciate my art.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

President Barack Obama revolutionized the way that politicians will communicate with their constituents in the future. He delivers a weekly address over the internet, as well as garnered much of his support for the 2008 campaign over the internet. It is a remarkable way to organize massive amounts of people for either good projects, or “bad” projects. I think that the internet will play a huge role in toppling corrupt and illegitimate regimes, when their populaces become educated enough to use the internet in an organizing role in opposition movements.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

The ability to check facts, and check that the words coming from political leaders mouths are actually put into action is unprecedented now. If people do not take up their pens and decry the corruption that they see all around them, shame on them. Someone needs to do it. Someone needs to tell the truth.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

My site is unique in that I present my own opinions, which focus on life all around me, with nothing in particular as its focus. It is much like the photographs that I shoot, which capture daily randomness to demonstrate just how beautiful the world we pass by everyday without stopping is.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

The characteristic in me that has brought me success in life is my unbending will. When I set my mind to something I will not stop at it until I have accomplished my task.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

I do not believe that I have had a happiest moment in my life. All my emotions are relative, that they are viewed in the frame of my total experience. I suppose my happiest moment will come when I have children, but I am still single and that is probably an eventuality that will happen far into the future. My gloomiest moment came when I was about 21 years old, totally lost in myself and depressed….really close to suicide. I was fighting a battle with myself. Finally I decided to join the military and go off to a war, to test myself in the most grotesque, and worst of human conditions. I decided after I survived my battle with myself, and my other battles to never look back, and to become what I had it in me to become.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

I would travel to Greece follow the path of Alexander the Great in his conquest, with my camera in hand. It would take me through dangerous territory and danger is what I love and breathe every day.

What is your favorite book and why?

I do not have a favorite book. Though I quite enjoyed Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude. Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges really blew my mind as well. Right now I am reading far to many books at the same time to choose one favorite. Any writer who is willing to take risks, and take on the monsters of the current age gets my nod.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

There are several critics in my life. They think my style is strange and do not give them the time of day, or even waste my thoughts on them. If they could write, they wouldn’t waste their time being critics. Some constructive criticism never hurt anyone though, especially if it is from a dear friend who tells you that you are not taking enough risks in your writing and it seems tame by any standards. It is best if the person gives you a packet of poems to read that they think are hallmarks of English literature, that will increase your own poetic sensibilities instead of merely criticizing you as having a lack of poetic sensibility.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

I suppose they could put banner adds on their site, or click throughs. I do not profit from my site other than the books I sell. I think if I started having an audience, they would want to see specific pictures, and that would mean that I cannot experiment as much artistically.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

I don’t believe so. I think you can write out a blog post off the top of your head. It depends on the content you are presenting, if it requires alot of research, yes you may have to have alot of time on your hands. My blog doesn’t take me that much time because it is me presenting my photographs and my opinions about the world. I spend most of my free time thinking anyway, so it is not that difficult for me to mine my memories for thoughts, and the language to express them.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?

They can attempt to not spread hate in their blog messages, and they can attempt to debunk official statements from their governments regarding the abuse of human rights. Most of all, bloggers should educate and share themselves and their culture.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

My perception of Pakistan comes through the United States media. So, to me Pakistan seems to be a wild place. I know that there are problems there with insurgencies and Taliban militants, but I have also heard stories telling of the kindness and generosity of the Pakistani people. In other words, I don’t believe everything I see or read.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

The most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country is in the people themselves. In a developed country there is much more personal choice as to the jobs that people have and want to have, than with a developing country. It seems in a developing country, if your parents are wealthy you have a disproportianate ability to “succeed”, and by success I mean taking a larger portion of the countries wealth. I think that developing countries must be careful that they do not only educate the children of the upper classes, but rather spend more time bringing everybody up in the society together.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

My professional and personal life is not very affected by my blogging life. My friends and family enjoy my blog posts. I hope that my blog will continue to expand and influence more people.

What are your future plans?

My future plans are to continue to write my second novel, as well as form my own publishing company. I am making contacts with young and aspiring novelists all across the world, and hope to start a new and fresh literary movement, to brush aside all this dead, boring work that I see lining the bestseller lists.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

Do your best everyday to make sure your talents come to light. Take your time to tell the people that matter to you, that you love them. Life is short and precious.

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