Burst Blog

Recently, our BlogBurst editors interviewed BlogBurst member, Austin blogger, mother and haiku evangelist Kari Anne Roy. You can find her blog here: Haiku of the Day

Q - How did you decide to create Haiku of the Day after working in advertising and marketing? How do you think your writing sets you apart from some other popular ‘mommy blogs’?

A - When I started the blog I had just made the transition from bringing my son to work with me full-time to staying at home and freelancing. I naively thought that once I quit my job I’d have time to do the elusive Other Things you think people who don’t work outside the home do all day. Little did I know that these Other Things included mostly babbling to myself and cleaning spat out carrots from my son’s hair. Haiku of the Day was my panicked SOS to try and elicit some adult contact.

It really began as a way for me to reclaim my pre-mama, writer-ly self. I fully intended to chronicle the trials and tribulations of writing my first novel and trying to get it published. But as I started blogging, I just had so much more to say. And as I realized I could be a mama AND a writer AND myself, it became an outlet for me to do just that.

Q - What are the first blogs you check in the morning? How many blogs do you read during the day?

A - The first blogs I check in the morning are usually mine. Not to read, but to make sure everything is running OK, and to check on the previous day’s traffic… that kind of thing. Then I usually check out the Go Fug Yourself girls to see what snark they’ve come up with. And I read Meg Cabot’s blog, Meg’s Diary because it’s so energetic it’s like reading a cup of coffee. Depending on how riled up I am politically, I’ll read Daily Kos to either placate or further my indignation, and then by the time I’m done with all of that it’s time for Barney.

I don’t always read the same blogs everyday, but I do try to keep up with Wonkette and Snarkspot (author Jennifer Weiner’s blog). I read Marrit Ingman’s blog, Baldo, because she’s a fellow mama from Austin, and she’s a terrific writer. I also read Austin Mama. I don’t think it counts as a blog – it’s more of an online zine. It has tremendous essays about kids and parenting and the chaos of life. Then there’s “television without pity.” It’s not technically a blog, I guess, but I religiously check in everyday because their recaps are just so darn great I can hardly stand it.

Q - In your opinion, what makes a great blogger? Why do you blog?

A - For me, a great blogger is someone who can make me feel like I’m sitting down with them and having a chat; it’s colloquial and fun to read. Though I gravitate towards funny blogs, I don’t think you have to be funny to have a good blog.

Maybe the best way of saying it is that I like relaxed blogs – words that convey insight and personality and make me feel like I want the writer to come over for dinner and keep me enthralled in conversation all night.

When I blog, I try to be that blogger. I want to entertain and be interesting. But I also want people – not just mamas – to be able to drop in, read a post and feel like the time they’ve “wasted” has been worthwhile.

Ultimately, I do use Haiku of the Day as an outlet to keep myself from going crazy, but I try to be mindful that whatever I’m writing will be read by other people (especially now that HAIKU MAMA is out and traffic is picking up). This makes me a better writer, I hope. If I just wanted to write for myself I’d keep a journal. But I’m too much of an attention addict for that.

Q - Did your blog lead to your book deal for ‘Haiku Mama’?

A - Officially, no. The book deal didn’t come from the blog being “discovered” or anything like that. But I think it did help give me some credibility in terms of showing my writing style to editors. And it certainly helped in compiling about 80 bazillion haiku to thrust at my agent as I begged for him to help find me a book deal.

Q - How has your writing grown and matured with your blog?

A - I think the blog has helped me become a little more disciplined as a writer. Not that I feel pressured to write something everyday, but I know that when I have the urge to write something it will have an audience and I should try to craft it reasonably well.

Q - Do you ever experience blog burn-out?

A - I think that sometimes, yes, I need to take a break for a day or two. Mostly because I don’t want to have the kind of blog that’s just “went to the grocery store, fixed lunch, etc.” not that there’s anything wrong with that – I just want to entertain more than chronicle, if that makes sense.

Generally, though, blogging is what keeps me from burning out. It’s where I get to be me in a day full of “mommymommymommymommy!” It keeps me sane.

Q - What advice would you give to other women who blog?

A - It’s hard to say, because blogging is such a personal thing. I don’t know if any advice I have is specific for women or not. I guess I’d tell them to not be intimidated by things like spelling or grammar. Don’t worry about always having a beginning, middle and end. Don’t even worry about having a point. Blog for yourself first, and trust that people will enjoy reading what you have to say. And don’t let labels like “Mom” or “Woman” or “Middle-age” or “technophobe” limit what you feel you can write about. Write what you know, but also write what you want. It’s your blog and it can be as nuanced as you are.