Wrangler Dani

Hi, I’m Joey from The Young Oak.  Dani is on vacation right now and asked me to be a guest blogger on her site.  She beat me up once in college, so I said yes without hesitating.  I also said yes because Dani and I have been friends for a long time, and I wanted a chance to sit down and chat with her about the current goings-on in her life.  I’m in bold, Dani’s normal type.

Dani, thanks for talking with me!
I’m always excited to talk to you, Sir Joseph.

Let’s just jump right in.  You’ve been consistently blogging for a long time. Why do you do that?
Because if I didn’t blog, I’d just talk all the time and that would be irritating. [Laughs] No, really, I would go crazy if I didn’t. It’s a way to process my life and hopefully share something cool with somebody else.

So you write because you need to?
Basically. Over the years it’s grown to have some ambition in it as well, although I’m a part-time freelance writer now, I’d love to make my living at it full-time someday… but only because I love it.

I want to talk about freelancing. I know you write for local websites, and that you were recently published in print as well. That seems to be a big goal for lots of amateur and semi-pro writers. Any advice or observations?
It’s cliché, but you just have to go for it. I’m actually talking to myself more than anyone, because my own fears and perfectionism has kept me from some successes. I do feel that I’ve been learning how to get out of my own way.

Why part time?
The biggest bar to freelancing full-time is the uncertainty of it. It’s really hard to go from getting a bi-weekly paycheck to a really big check every three months and $20 here and there the rest of the time. But, it’s worth it. There have been so many times that I’ve wanted to quit. Every time I think I’ll be writing for $5 a blog forever, I get a big break and I run on that high for weeks.  I’m looking for the next one. Currently I’m writing a book, which is probably the hardest creative thing I’ve ever done because you don’t get the instant gratification. I still feel like I’m in the sandbox, in many ways.

What do you want to write? Is a book the end goal?
Yeah, I would say so. I want to be able to legitimately introduce myself as an author/writer

Why?
I guess it sounds trite, but I feel like I have something unique to say. And just like I can’t imagine my life without a horse in it, I can’t imagine my life without writing.

So you want to be who you’re meant to be. That sounds valid to me.
[Laughs] Yeah, I guess so.

I think you’re right about just having to do it. I was recently talking with a comedian and he asked me what I wanted to do. I said that I wanted to be a writer. He asked me if I had a working keyboard. When I said yes, he asked me why I wasn’t writing.
Ouch.

He was basically reverse-heckling. His point, though, was that if you want to do something, start working at it.  Eventually, you’ll be in the right place and the right time. I’ve read so many interviews with authors, comics, actors, businessmen, and they all say the same thing.  They don’t all publically call me out, but maybe that’s why that comedian’s words stand out.  He threw some water on my face and woke me up.
[Laughs] Adam often heckles me about it. It’s good for me.  I think what you’re saying is true. Even if you’re writing for pennies, as long as you’re inspired by it, do it!

Can I ask about the book?  Is it a story or non-fiction? Will there be 3D glasses or anything?
[Laughs] It’s creative non-fiction. Non-fiction as I see it, with licenses to protect people or exceptions made for my ailing memory. I’m writing about all the mistakes I made pre-Adam, and the things that I wrote to girlfriends about the dumb things we all did.  It’s a Blue Like Jazz approach to relationships – wisdom from my life, intended to be read with a cup of coffee and a grain of salt.

Unfortunately, no 3-D glasses, although I think we should keep that in the wings for the movie version.

How do you decide how transparent to be in your online presence?
Eeeesh.  I really don’t know. I have had times when I’ve thought, “Maybe that was an overshare.” Those are always the posts that get the most reaction and people are most moved by.  Not that I’m writing for applause, but I’ve never been good at being fake or fluffy, so I guess I just roll with honesty most of the time and hope people don’t mind.

Why do you think those posts are the most popular?
I guess we’ve gotten used to personas. Everybody has their script and follows it religiously. We love reading People because it’s proof that sometimes the script is wrong or a fake, and I guess maybe my blog is an itty-bitty People magazine of my life for the internet. Minus pictures of me in Juicy sweats at Starbucks.

Do you find that the blog helps you connect with people in real life? Either older friends or new ones?
Yes, absolutely. Several of my students’ parents read it and have become more open and personable with me for it.  Of course, its a great way to keep in touch with old and new friends: You, Val, Jules, Annie. There are countless people who I know in real life who blog and our relationships are stronger for it.

I cry at the sweet or sad blogs of people I don’t actually know. Amalah and Annie Blogs, I’m looking at you.

What’s the most unexpected thing that has come out of your blog?
Probably the response. I started blogging for me, and I still can’t believe it when people like what I write.

What are you reading, listening to, watching lately? Do you have career role models?
I just finished Good Enough to Eat by Stacey Ballis.  It was good and inspired me to just do it.  Again.

I’m listening to Tyrone Wells’ Metal and Wood and anything Ben Harper. It’s been rainy lately, and he’s my go-to guy for that.

I’m watching Community, Outsourced, and unfortunately some Real Time with Bill Maher and other political things to keep the noggin fresh.

Career models? I love Jen Lancaster and would love to be her.  I enjoy writing in the style of Living the Questions by Carolyn Arends and anything by Donald Miller.

What are the three most important things to remember in marriage?
1. Women – be respectful. Men – be loving.
2. Remember that’s your each other’s partner, hero, champion.
3. Get yo’ hankypanky on.

You grew up surrounded by nature, and you obviously still love it. Can you sum that up in a sentence or two? Also, do you have any advice for a novice camper about how to handle giant spiders and compost toilets?
[Laughs] The great outdoors has always been where I feel closest to God and where I enjoy being. I do appreciate working showers, though, having spent quite a long period of my adolescence without them. I’m not nearly as worried about spiders as I am about mice and stuff. Ick. Also, compost toilets? You’re on your own.

Who’s your writing career model, btw? And can I interview you when I get back from vacation?
I don’t know if I have a writing role model. It might be Felicia Day. She is kind of a one-woman tour-de-force in the nerd world. She writes and stars in the web series The Guild, she’s writing a comic, she was on a few Joss Whedon projects. The Apatow clan is pretty cool. Everything they do looks like so much fun, and it has so much heart, especially Freaks and Geeks.

Musically, I would say Pete Yorn and Jon Foreman.

I don’t know if there’s a common theme there. I think all of them all kind of do exactly what they want. That might be it.

Just do it.

I’ve been really into standup comedy lately. I’m interested in how comedians get their point across through humor. The idea isn’t just to say something funny, but to get your ideas out in a funny way.  It’s naturally subversive. I also think there is a lot of really good story-telling in video games now. That’s part of why it’s a bigger industry than movies. I don’t think of myself as a writer anymore as much as somebody who likes to make things.

Like Community! Some of the best social commentary in a funny way.

That’s my favorite comedy by far. By a mile. Did you know Donald Glover started with a sketch group on the internet and then became a writer on 30 Rock?  That goes back to the idea that you just have to do it.

Wow, enough about me.  We’ll get to me later.  What’s your current drink of choice?
Sam Adams Pumpkin Ale. It’s like a Pumpkin Spice latte with hops.

What’s the dream?  Live on a ranch with horses and write in a cabin?
[Laughs] Nailed it. Adam and I both love the idea of being our own bosses, and we love the country. So, a ranch and such would be ideal.

Thanks, Dani. We’ll wrap it up because I know you’ve gotta go.  I just interviewed my first published writer! In a way, that makes me published. Isn’t that how it works?
[Laughs] YES! I’m making it!

(Dani’s note – for the Interview with a Young Oak – politics and religion edition, click here.)