Interview with Blogger Jonathan Coburn

By The Pakistani Spectator • Jul 17th, 2008 • Category: Interviews • (3,341 views) • No Responses

I’m a 25 year old stay at home father of 2 wonderful children with a third due this August. My wife and I have been together for four years now, married just over two of those. We currently live in Hewitt Texas, a family friendly suburb of Waco. She grew up mostly in San Antonio where as I spent most of my life before her in Central Florida. We’re proof a relationship that starts in online chatrooms has a chance to work. Though I’m young I’ve held a number of jobs from construction to automotive repair as well as retail management and nursing, so I feel very well rounded despite the limited number of years I’ve experienced.

Would you please tell us something about you and your site? http://jlcoburn.wordpress.comhas become a home for some of my unpublished and unrefined writings as well as my thoughts on writing in general. In truth its more about accountability than getting my work and my writing voice out there, as raising two children can wreck someones attempt to write regularly at times.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you? The longer you do any job the more you grow in it, but that is the very foundation of writing. Sure, there are rules to learn when you start writing, but in the end even they can be broken by a skilled wordsmith. Writing is also one of the true great arts that you honestly do not need to get an education in to become well versed, though I’ll admit I would take classes given the chance.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging? Aside from this unexpected interview gaining a regular reader that comments with every story is something I love, as are the couple times I’ve surpassed 25 views in a day. Small accomplishments I know, but its a young blog.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers? Right now aside from the typical feed burner [Google Reader in my case] to follow some of my favorite blogs I also chat on http://twitter.com with fellow bloggers daily.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now? Politics is depending more and more on the internet and the huge social networks on it to try and influence their citizens. Sure, its been playing a part in politics for the past decade or more, but not nearly as big a part as it does now.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive? Just like any tool it’s double edged. News and information about important events can be accessed from anywhere in the world now, but it also gives people a forum to spread slander to further their own goals.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others? Me. Right now it’s ‘just another writing blog’ floating out there but I know as I work on it and on my writing it will eventually stand out among it’s peers.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be? Adaptation. I’m a jack-of-all-trades, and though that may limit some of my choices in life thanks to the wide range of skills I can handle almost any problem that comes up.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life? The happiest moment, or should I say moments, is the birth of all my children. As for the gloomiest its just as hard to choose one above others as I’ve seen several close friends and family die.

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? First and foremost would be Japan, then Eastern Europe, and finally the Caribbean

What is your favorite book and why? The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Not only was it one of my first truly memorable introductions into literature it sparked my love of mythology and even speculative fiction.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)? I’m somewhat on the odd side in that I tend to notice tattoos and piercings first or the absence of any visible ones.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write? Other than myself a few times [who doesn’t have a bit of self-doubt?] no not really. Then again until recently the number of people that have seen my writing has been a very small select group.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially? Most I know tend to sell advertisement space on their blog or sell their own products. I’ve seen a few that get paid to review books or other products. As a writer all I can hope is that it gets me exposure and possibly someone interested in publishing my work.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands? It takes more than just time, if what you post isn’t useful and interesting no one is going to visit or recommend your site to others.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile? Despite the hostility that can be shown in words a little respect and patience go a long way. More people would lose the need to fight if they were just listened too.

Who are your top five favorite bloggers? Mur Lafferty [ http://isbw.murlafferty.com ] is definitely at the top of that list now for the writing inspiration, Topless Robot [ http://www.toplessrobot.com ] is comical and keeps me up to date on a few of the geeky things I love, Lifehacker [ http://lifehacker.com ] has great tips on making life a bit more efficient, my friend Jake van Sunder [ http://millionaireorbust.com/ ] has a good number of frugal tips, and Parenthacks [ http://parenthacks.com/ ] has given me more than one tip to dealing with those minor issues that come up when raising kids.

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people? I don’t think it could ever be limited to just one. There are so many issues in the world at large and so many opinions it would be impossible to determine what was the most talked about or life changing.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people? I’ll admit to having a limited world view lately as I focus instead on my family and what affects them. Leo Tolstoy once said “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” This is just as true for government as it is for the individual. Not to say that the years of civil unrest and political corruption isn’t heartbreaking it just takes most of my energy to insure my family is provided for.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger? Not in general, though I have been stunned at some of the unique viewpoints people express from time to time.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country? I don’t think any country is every fully developed, there are always problems and new developments. I do think everyone would be better off if we could learn from each others mistakes instead of repeating them.

What is the future of blogging? Its definitely here to stay, and its effects on daily life are easily seen. As for the future all I can think to say is to tread lightly, as it seems we have a hard enough time unplugging as it is.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life? As my personal and professional life center around staying home it doesn’t have a significant affect on how I go about my day. To me its the same as taking a half hour or so to write in a journal to clear my head of a few thoughts.

What are your future plans? As for blogging, to develop my writing as much as I can. In my personal life its simply to be the best father I can and to hopefully head back to college in the near future.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator? In the end our hobbies and passions, like writing or crafts, are our stable sanctuary in the chaos that is the world. Find one you enjoy and always make time for it, it makes life a bit more bearable.