Interview with Blogger Kirby Rice

By The Pakistani Spectator • Jul 15th, 2008 • Category: Interviews • No Responses

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

For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to be a writer, and for awhile I felt like that passion and that dream was slipping away from me. That’s why I began my blog, as a way to focus my energy and try to jumpstart my creative voice again. That’s what makes my blog so spastic and random. It really does resemble a scrapbook of my everyday life, varying from character sketches and poetry, to quirky stories of day to day life.

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

The most important aspect of any hobby, career or artistic endeavor is practice. If you don’t write and write and write, how do you expect to be a good writer. I wouldn’t expect to be an Olympic athlete without training. Would you?

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

I’m still very new to this world of blogging and I think that it of itself is a memorable experience. It’s amazing how you can grow so close and accustomed to the words of people you’ve never met in real life. It’s truly amazing.

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

I try to blog daily, comment frequently, comment back to those who comment me and constantly browse for new blogs. You never know what gems you will find by hitting the next button in the top right corner.

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

I wouldn’t say blogging specifically but I do believe the internet is a major contributor to politics and the views of people.

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

Not necessarily. I think it makes people a little more aware.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

I have a very unique voice, and I am not afraid to bare all. There are no censors on my blog, that’s different.

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

My stubbornness. I’m ruthless sometimes.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

It’s really difficult to depict one moment as the happiest or the gloomiest of your existence. I mean, I still have many more to come. I guess I would say the happiest was skinny dipping with my friends because it was the night that Charlotte finally felt like home to me. And the gloomiest, without a doubt, was when my stepfather passed away in 07. It will forever be my darkest day.

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?

Ireland, Greece and Egypt.

What is your favorite book and why?

Happiness TM by William Ferguson. And I can never explain why I love a book, I just do.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

Normally in person it is their eyes. I am not a superstitious person but I believe you can get a true reading at first glance when you look someone in the eyes. Before they mask or cloak or change there persona, it’s very telling.

Via the blog world, I would say their grammar. I HATE it when someone spells you as u or are as r. Can you not type the other two letters please? It will make your IQ appear to be 100 points higher.

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

A teacher once told me my fiction was horrific and I would never be a writer. Three weeks later when we did poetry in class she apologized. She explained, “I didn’t realize you were a poet.”

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

Other then using it as a means of communication and advertisement for aspects of their career, I have no idea. When you figure it out please fill me in. J

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

I don’t think so. I read blogs everyday of people who hold down important full time jobs, are maintaining families, marriages, planning weddings even. I think you just have to have a creative mind and a drive so that you don’t quit.

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

Blogs should work the same way books, tv, and art should. It should just make people realize no matter how different we are, there is a point of common knowledge or interest in us all, even if that common interest is nothing more then survival.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

Moonbeam McQueen, veggiemacabre, stolich, bloggingbarbie and lauriekendrick

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

My entry, “Letter of Disappointment” which I wrote to a friend who let me down gets the most response. I don’t know why though.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

It’s a country like ours, trying to survive and maintain. And they are people like me, just trying to find their way through life.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

Not yet, everyone has their own voices but they feel familiar so it’s hard to say I’ve been stunned with uniqueness.

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

I truly have no idea.

What is the future of blogging?

I think it will maintain an important factor in many different elements of life.