Current home of helping under-appreciated blogs.

Kristin has done a great job, and I know she’s very thankful for your readership and support. If you haven’t already, make sure to visit and check out her new design done by our previous featured blogger, Oktober5. So really, go look at the design–it’s really nice.

For the next two weeks, we are going to be following a blog with multiple authors engaged in a competition with each other. I think they do some great stuff, and I look forward to introducing it to all of you!

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Kristin writes at Halfway to Normal. Visit her site and subscribe to her RSS to continue participating in our group!

Hi everyone.

From the moment I first heard about Chuck’s project, I thought “Blogs with great content and no readers? That’s me!” (At least the “no readers” part.) I never thought I’d actually be featured, though, so this is a huge honor (one that also seems to be triggering some insomnia, but that’s a small price to pay in exchange for meeting so many new people and hearing your thoughts).

1. Who are you?
I live in what meteorologists like to refer to as East-Central Illinois. Roughly, that translates to “a couple hours south of Chicago in the middle of a cornfield.” It’s a university town, which is fun, but I have nothing to do with the university. This inevitably leads to people asking me how I ended up here, which is a messy, complicated story.

I have been making a living as a copywriter for 15 years, first in design and branding firms, and then as a freelancer since 2002. My clients are based in Chicago, St. Louis, Grand Rapids and New York (that’s right—lots of different places, but not the one I live in). A few times a year I also teach copywriting seminars for Media Bistro in Chicago. http://www.mediabistro.com/courses/cache/crs4472.asp Although I specialize in branding, I am loathe to brand myself. Funny how that works.

My husband Jason and I got married in 2007. His daughter and my two girls—ages 12, 10 and 8—look as biologically related as any three sisters could. It’s at once amazing and creepy. Jason and I are a great match for many reasons, but one of my favorites is that we both love to cook and invite people over.

2. How would you describe your blog?

My blog is a collection of stories and observations from a life that hasn’t turned out like I thought it would. I didn’t expect to go through a divorce when my girls were three and five. I didn’t expect to end up stuck in a small town in Illinois. I didn’t expect to really like my ex-husband’s new wife, or to be good friends with my new husband’s ex-wife. I didn’t expect to be seriously questioning my faith upon discovering that a lot of Christians suck, nor did I expect to embrace it again in completely new ways.

That’s where the name Halfway to Normal comes in. There’s a town called Normal, Illinois, about an hour West of here, and the whole concept has become a metaphor for me. Every day I learn more about being comfortable and content with who I am in this less than “normal” state. My hope is that anyone who relates to that struggle will enjoy my blog.

3. Why do you blog?

I blog because I have been compelled to write for as long as I can remember, and because I have stories to tell—the kind of stories I wish someone was telling me as I muddle along through life.

Writing keeps me thinking; blogging has the added benefit of satisfying the extrovert in me. Just think—by becoming a part of the conversation, you’re all helping to relieve my husband, family and friends from some of their duties.

Finally, I blog because life is messy and complicated, and a blog is a great format for sorting it out together.

4. What blogs do you love?

This is, for some reason, a scary question for me. (That probably explains why I still don’t have a blog roll on Halfway to Normal.) Besides the fact that it always feels political, and I know I’m going to mess it up somehow, I also know there are so many great blogs out there that I have yet to discover.

So I’ll start my list with all the blogs I haven’t yet discovered, but will some day surely love. And then I’ll add these:

BERNTHIS.COM makes me laugh.

Blue Duck Copy’s blog makes me feel less alone in the world.

Brazen Careerist gets me all worked up.

Levite Chronicles inspires me as a writer, thinker and observer.

Magpie Girl feels like a long-lost friend.

Oktober5 demonstrates how work, parenting, humor and everything else comes together.

The Fluent Self manages somehow to be both practical and engaging.

Tumbling Blocks is written by a crafty friend who knows how to cheer me with her photos and entertaining stories.

Writer Dad gives me doses of beautiful prose and storytelling.

Stuff Christians Like demonstrates good humor in a population segment that’s often far too serious.

5. What’s something interesting about you that has nothing to do with blogging?

I don’t come from a family of writers, I come from a family of musicians. Which is why I chose writing at an early age. I still love music, though. My husband and I go to lots of live shows, and from time to time I even “rock out” on my viola with local bands. (I’m even going to be on a couple of Cds in 2009.)

6. Which 5 of your posts would you recommend for new readers to start with?

* A turning point with a street address

* God, irony and rain

* Life imitates craft, in six stages

* When alone becomes lonely

* Politics, religion and sex

Alternates:

* Striving to be less intentional in 2009

* Yes, even “real” writers say it wrong

My stories might be mine, but ultimately I hope my blog is about all of you. Let’s be honest—you aren’t reading my blog because you really want to know everything about me. How dull. No, you’re hoping you might find out something about yourself. Reading personal narratives is like going to the therapist, but it’s free, and you don’t have to worry about parking. Reading your comments and feedback will be therapy for me. If it goes according to plan, we’ll all be better off in the end.

Between 30-50 people visit my blog daily, about a dozen of whom I’m related to or otherwise know me in real life. When I get more than four comments on a post I’m ecstatic. You can imagine how being a part of Chuck’s great experiment for the next couple of weeks is going to feel.

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I want to say thanks to Ryan for inviting us into his world for these past two weeks and to the readers for engaging with him and his content.

I’m still waiting on a couple of things out of my control to determine which blogger we visit next, but rest assured that it’s been narrowed down to a few choices that would all do a good job.

Have a great weekend, and check in Monday for something new!

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This has come later than usual due to the holidays, but here is what Kathryn has to say about her time as the featured blogger.

I cannot thank you enough for your support during my two weeks in the spotlight as part of the under-appreciated blogs project.  It was such a fantastic opportunity, and I’m very grateful to Chuck for giving me the chance to be heard by more than my mother and boyfriend, who are relationally bound to my blog and forced to read regularly and comment often.

It was so refreshing to know that people (strangers!  who had no maternal or boyfriendal obligations!) were actually stopping by to take a peek into my daily ramblings.  I can’t thank you enough for all of your feedback as well as your sweet, funny, and insightful comments.  You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear from readers.

I think my favorite aspect of the increased readership was finally having the chance to ask questions, and knowing I’d get some great answers.  I adored hearing about where you’d like to live , who you have a lifestyle crush on , what CD you put on repeat and who you’d smooch .

And, of course, there was the all important debate about why I should join Twitter .  As you know, I did finally succumb , and must admit I’m officially convinced now that I got a little mini-writing gig out of it!  Who would have thought?  So hip hip hooray for Twitter!

It’s been great “meeting” you.  Don’t be a (virtual) stranger.

All the best in 2009!
Kathryn

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Ryan is the author of Oktober5, the blog we’ll be reading for the next two weeks. Make sure to visit his site and subscribe to his RSS. And now, let’s hear from Ryan.

First of all, I would like to thank the academy . . . .

Just kidding. I’d like to thank Chuck for being crazy kind enough to feature me. He’s a genuine guy who wants to help other people, and I don’t want his efforts to be without reciprocating gratitude.

1. Who are you?

My name is Ryan and I live in New Mexico (formerly known as Mexico) with my family, which includes my wife, Sarah (a regular contributor to Oktober5), and my son, Dad-gum-kid (a regular contributor to Pampers).

I work framing pictures one day a week and spend the rest of the time pretending to look for a job, but really I’m just hocking all my valuables on Craigslist in an effort to satisfy my son’s insatiable need for more Pampers. I have six brothers and one sister and the scars to prove it. I’m Mormon, red-headed, freckled, scrawny and shy–the perfect target for school-yard bullies. And I like long walks on the beach.

2. How would you describe your blog?

My blog is yet another blog about nothing. I figure if Seinfeld can do it, so can I. He made a show about nothing and now stars in Microsoft commercials and is insanely rich; I blog about nothing and . . . .

I have four main categories on my blog: writing, technologies, photography, and miscellaneous. It should be no surprise that miscellaneous holds the most posts by far. In a sea of how-to guides on starring in Microsoft commercials, my blog is more of a web log or online journal of personal thoughts and interests. Revolutionary, no?

3. Why do you blog?

You mean besides wanting to star in a Microsoft commercial? I blog because it feels good to get out what I’m thinking. I enjoy the process of creating organized words from the mass of random ideas, experiences and words that make up my life. It’s also encouraging to get the occasional comment that reminds me I’m not the only weirdo in the world. And if that weren’t enough, I blog to entertain. I love making people laugh and think at the same time.

4. What blogs do you love?

Okay, here we go: Scribblous because it’s written by my favorite wife; Remo Savisaar’s photoblog because he takes awesome photos and I don’t understand a word he says; The Art of Garth for his creativity; Catatonic Kid for her insight into depression and unbeatable, almost poetic writing; Garfield Minus Garfield for its resemblance to how I feel almost all the time; Pun Intended because it makes me laugh and think simultaneously; The Ever-changing Thought because of his spiritual quest for self-mastery; Illuminated Mind for his often backwards approach to self-improvement; A Cricket in a Garden for the feeling and emotion she puts into her words; Blogging Without A Blog for not being a typical (i.e. boring and lame) blog about blogging; and last but not least, TJ Hirst for her great writing and the inspiration she gives me to be better.

5. What’s something interesting about you that has nothing to do with blogging?

I’ve moved five times in the last two years, my favorite color is white, I don’t like peas, I strongly dislike stray pieces of my wife’s hair getting stuck between my toes, and I’ve nearly achieved the rank of Lance Corporal Gold in Battlefield 2142.

6. Which 5 of your posts would you recommend for new readers to start with?

Going out in a chariot of fire
Why do dreams go fizzle pop?
A spoon full of gratitude makes the madness go down
Five collages for you - A sampling of photographs
Writing Life Cycle - One of my wife’s best, I think.

I hope you come and read Oktober5 and enjoy it. The best compliment I’ve ever received from someone after they read my blog was that they enjoyed it. That’s all I hope for.

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Our next blogger is easily the one that has been most frequently requested for me to feature by the members of our group. It’s a beautiful site, the content is interesting, and the writing is very good. I think most people will find our next site interesting, and I’m glad to finally get a chance to display it.

Hope everyone had a nice holiday season, got some time off from work, and that you’re all starving for a new blog to read.

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Rather than debut a new blogger during this week where many would-be readers are on vacation and doing very little blog reading, I’m going to postpone the next featured blog until next Monday.

I’ll try to get the exit interview with The Sassy Kathy up this week, and otherwise, I hope you continue to enjoy The Economy Isn’t Happening.

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Johnny writes at the “The Economy Isn’t Happening” and has a whole lot of stuff going on there. Visit the site and subscribe to his RSS, but you might also want to sign up for his newsletter or take a look at his book too.

Greetings, all,

I’d appreciate it if someone could tell Chuck that I’ll have my cop buddy release the boot on his car as soon as I can verify that this text has actually appeared on his site, and that he can have his dog back two weeks after that. Thank you for your cooperation. I’d also like to offer free cars* to all readers who visit my site and stick around for ongoing merriment.

-JT

* Cars may be imaginary

1. Who are you?

   Well, no matter what anyone tells you, I am no longer Robert Goulet. I am a 32-year-old guy living in semi-rural northeastern Ohio with my wife and two kids. By day, I write about human resources (which is typically less funny than my blog) and build websites. By night I am a crimefighter whose weaknesses include deep water and nylon. I also write a blog which you may or may not have read about on this page. I wrote a book and would really appreciate it if someone would get me on Oprah to plug it. I’d totally do it for you.

2. How would you describe your blog?

   I’m going to go out on the pretentiousness limb a bit and describe it as "awesome."

   But if you’re looking for a category, I’d say "humor." I talk about current events, the dumb things that happen in my life, and anything else that occurs to me. I’m a bit strange. My initial following seems to cover a wide spectrum, so maybe I’m universally appealing. YOU HEAR THAT, OPRAH? UNIVERSAL APPEAL! But I do think you need to be at least a tad warped to get my sense of humor. I don’t think I’m offensive, but I’m a bit irreverant and offbeat. Really the only person I don’t want reading it is my grandmother. And luckily, Oprah isn’t my grandmother. YOU HEAR THAT, OPRAH! YOU’RE NOT MY GRANDMOTHER!

3. Why do you blog?

   It’s fun. It’s fun as hell.

   But also to get on Oprah.

   And to make money, eventually. But that’s mainly so that I can quit "real work" and spend all my time on Oprah.

4. What blogs do you love?

   I have strong opinions on this. First of all, hands-down the funniest stuff I have ever read online is The Bloggess. She’s definitely offensive, but I may possibly have soiled myself several times reading her blog. I also really like Mattress Police and The Wind in Your Vagina.

   For non-humor, I absolutely love Havi Brooks (and her duck Selma) at Fluent Self. And of course, I read Chuck Westbrook’s blog. I’m too lazy to look up the URL for that last one so you’ll need to find it yourself.

5. What’s something interesting about you that has nothing to do with blogging?

   I’m a pretty serious weightlifter. You’d never guess that, so I’m tossing it out there. Actually broke my arm early this year when I caught a clean wrong. (The link is to a video of a clean, not of me breaking my arm.)

   I also started learning gymnastics at age 30, weighing 205 pounds and standing\
   6 feet tall. Not exactly a gymnast’s build. The instructor was frightened of me, but I showed her. I can do aerials and flips now.

6. Which 5 of your posts would you recommend for new readers to start with?

   I’ll pick these based on the ones that got the best reader response:

   • Unfortunately, Pants: My trials and tribulations learning German. Interesting fact: "David Bowie’s Hairdo" in German is "David Bowie’s Hairdo."
   • Nerdvana: All my friends are digital. Wanna fight about it?
   • The 2008 Election Results Are In!: A bit dated now, but I did successfully predict the winner before the big day, based on John McCain’s tongue.
   • Christmas is Gay: Because it is. But saying "that’s gay" is too.
   • Roommate from the Black Lagoon: Who says blowing your nose in the shower is wrong or that you can’t electrocute a pickle?

You know, Chuck didn’t ask, but I should probably mention that I’d like to get on Oprah. I can probably sell a lot of books if I do that. Or even if I don’t get on Oprah, I could just sell a lot of books. Did I mention that I have a book for sale?

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