What is the name of your Blog?VampAmber's Clutter
What is your name?
Amber, but you can just call me VampAmber. I even respond to it outside of the computer now. ^_^
Where are you from? (include country, state and/or city)
Ohio, yet for some strange reason, I want to stay here. Even though there's nothing to do.
What is your current age or age range?
Real age: 24, Brain's Age: 45, Mental age: 13
Please describe your blog
Well, it's basically my journal or diary, but I let other people read it. I really don't care that people know about my therapy sessions, or my bad behaviors. I've kinda turned into a role model from all this blogging, and I don't know how to take something like that. I mean, people actually read my blog. Not just friends, either. It's weird, knowing what I write doesn't suck as much as I think it does. Oh, I also like to put up my creative works: poetry, fanfiction, writing, and avatars. I might foray into photography or drawing soon, too. Lucky you... Yeah, they suck that bad.
Describe the main purpose of your blogging, what are you trying to accomplish?
Catharsis. Pure and simple. I love talking, love writing, and this is like doing both at the same time. If I keep all this bottled up, I might explode. If I help a few people out on the way to self-discovery, so be it. I love helping people anyway. But mostly this is my way of not exploding. Cuz exploding is bad. Or so I've heard.
What blogging platform do you do and why?
I have my own domain, and use HostGator for my hosting, but I'm lazy, so I just use WordPress to do the hard work for me. I'm all but technologically illiterate, and it shows. Pre-made layouts, barely any customization. But I'm trying to learn at least a little bit of computer-y stuffs. I want to make WordPress themes someday.
What do you blog the most about?
My everyday life, I guess. I try to instill at least a little humor in my posts, and sometimes it actually works. My writing style is heavily influenced by the writers that I love the most, especially Chuck Palahniuk. I try to put my life up on that screen. Sometimes, though, I think I'm just writing it all now so that I can actually remember it later on. My memory is that bad...
What kind of blogs make you angry?
The ones written by those people so stupid, you want to throw bricks at them. You know the kind. No grammatical skills whatsoever, nothing of interest or importance to say, and just plain annoying. Blogging may not be an art, but it does involve writing, so that means it feels like my territory. If you can't write a sentence without txt spk, you shouldn't be blogging. But I feel that way about all writing.
Give five of your best blogging tips.
Uhh... I hate being put on the spot like this. I guess the first tip is to write for yourself, first and foremost. Who cares that other people are reading it, because YOU are the one spending their time writing it. Secondly, be yourself. It shows through when you try to write like someone else. Thirdly, write about whatever you want. If you like fashion, write about it, even when everybody else is writing about the election. Fourthly, put a little humor in it. It'll keep the readers coming back for more. And finally, enjoy yourself! What's the point of blogging if you're not having fun?
What are some things you would NEVER blog about?
I find politics boring, mostly, so I doubt I'd ever talk much about them. I also hate rap music, so I doubt that topic will ever come up, either. And I'm pretty sure I'll never really go into too much detail about my sex life.
Did you start blogging for the purpose of making money and if so, are you making enough money?
I started blogging for myself, and only found out you could earn money blogging recently. I've written a few articles, but nothing big. Though my earnings from my old blog are paying my hosting and domain costs right now, so I guess I didn't do too badly.
How long have you been blogging?
Since about 2002. I started on DeadJournal, then got a LiveJournal. I finally got a real site back in Nov. '07, but it got deleted in May '08. Now I'm on my own domain. That's pretty much my blogging history. No sordid past, no STDs, just blogs. Lots and lots of blogs. Addictive, ain't it?
About how many hours per day do you spend blogging?
I usually spend about half an hour a day on average. I'm very long-winded, and only have a 38wpm typing speed, so it usually takes me awhile to shut up. Once I start typing sometimes, it's hard to stop. I just want to talk about everything, all at once. Maybe I have ADD?
Do you track RSS feeds and if so, how many do you usually track daily?
Uhh, Amber's still a n00b here. How the heck do you track RSS feeds? Great, yet another websitey thing I need to learn. Oh well, you gotta learn something, might as well be this.
Do you use Digg, and why or why not?
I don't really know what it is yet. I'm starting to learn more about blogging, though, so I guess I'll learn sooner or later.
Do you use Stumbleupon, and why or why not?
Addicted like crazy. I have to stop myself sometimes from pushing that Stumble button, just to see what comes up next. I love finding new and interesting sites, but I never really know what to look for. Now, I can be as lazy as I need to be, and still be entertained.
What promotional techniques work best for you and why?
I get the most visitors from EntreCard. When I'm in the mood to drop, I get a few hundred drop-backs. I also buy ads on other sites through them. As for link-backs, I find SocialSpark's Spark section to be perfect for that. They have a blogUback system that works splendidly.
If you could post a blog on any blog in the world, which one would it be and why?
Uhh... What?
What mistakes have you made that you could warn others about?
4chan sucks. Don't mess with them. They will insult you to make themselves feel better, and attack your blog. So be very careful. I don't want anyone else to go through what I did, cuz that kinda sucked hardcore.
What are your top five blogging site picks and why?
http://nanashi-inc.net/weblog/ http://www.pyrowinter.org/ http://www.velvet-rose.net/ http://msaysrawr.org/ http://www.boscardin.org/
Because they're some of the best friends I've ever had. All of them are wonderful people.
Have you met anyone offline as a result of your blog?
Never because of my blog. I've met a few people from chat rooms, but never because of my blog. Guess I'm boring that way.
So, how big of a geek are you?
I'm an avid anime fangirl. I love reading, writing, tabletop RPGs, and am dating a geek. I love going to gaming stores and looking at the dice. I love Dork Tower, and actually get the jokes. I've been playing D&D since 2002. I'm an absolute bibliophile. I have anime posters all over my walls, and anime plushies on my shelves. I like to sing Weird Al songs, and know all the words to the Ballad of Serenity. I read textbooks for fun. I actually enjoy school. I have a shirt with a d20 on it. And last but not least, I actually know who the Arrogant Worms are, and love their music. Same goes for They Might Be Giants.
What is the url of your blog?
VampAmber's Clutter
