Flutter Digs Deep

Once, long ago, I was interviewed by the beauteous Sandra as part of a meme. Now, months later, I opted to go for another interview, and this time the interrogation came from the dark and divine Flutter. Read along as I (finally!) answer her insightful questions.

1) You talk openly about struggles with depression. If you didn't struggle with this, how do you think it would change the way you write?

Wow. You know, after a full year of dealing with depression, it's now hard to imagine life without that particular struggle. I think part of the growth I've experienced because of my depression is learning to be more aware of both myself and the world around me. My most reflective writing comes from that kind of awareness. I've also - for better or worse - pulled back a bit from life and become more of an observer, which can be seen in my increased interest in photography. I couldn't write anything related to my photos, nor could I really write as well as I do about the people around me (kids at school, etc.) if I hadn't become the passive observer I have. Of course, that's not to say I'm never living life anymore; I just pull back more than I used to.

2) Your writing is superb, do you remember what first summoned you to write?

Aw, shucks - thanks, kid. I've loved telling stories my whole life, even as a child. I admit that part of my desire to write came from various teachers telling me that I was good at it. I mean, heck, if you find something you kind of like and a bunch of people keep saying you're good at it, why not keep it up? I also have an irrational love of the power of words - the way that you can say basically the same thing in about a hundred different ways, and each one will elicit a slightly different response. And, to a certain extent, there is something in me that I can't explain, something in my head that is always writing, even when I don't realize it, and it just cries out to be shared.

3) What is beauty?

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty. That is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know." Or so says Keats. I, however, am more of the opinion that beauty is love. I think when you can see love - see it in someone's eyes, or their actions, or just the way they hold someone else in their arms - that's the most beautiful thing in the world.

4) If you were to take a look at yourself from outside your own body, with the eyes of someone else, what do you see?

I see someone strong and slightly distant from others - standoffish and cold. I see someone I'm not too keen to talk to, because she seems uninterested in meeting new people. I guess when I imagine me from the outside, I think I'm kind of scary. Huh.

5) Whose was the first blog you read with regularity and what attracted you?

Ooh, the very first? Well, let's go with the first blog of someone I don't know in person. I'm pretty sure it was Mary P. at It's Not All Mary Poppins. I loved the mix of cute kid stories and great advice for parents and/or caregivers. And I still read it today and still love that mix. :)


If you'd like to participate, leave a comment letting me know you'd like to be interviewed, and I'll email you five questions that you can answer on your own blog. Sounds fun, eh? Yeah, jump on the bandwagon and leave an "Interview me!" comment below.