10 Questions with Jamin of WondR.net

1. Describe your blog in five sentences or less.
WondR.net is a blog devoted to a variety of topics including personal finance, cooking tips, online tools, tips, and how to guides. The common denominator is it’s all stuff I’m passionate about. And I hope my readers are, too.

2. Link us to one post from your blog that best defines who you are.
How to Manage Your Finances with a Spreadsheet was an article I wrote describing my struggles to teach myself money management skills that I wasn’t taught growing up or in school. I think it’s a common problem in America. It’s just too easy to get a credit card and not exercise self-control. So I spent some time reading books on the subject and coming up with my own ideas and tools and set out towards financial freedom!

3. What sets you apart from other bloggers?
My eclectic tastes. All the blogs about blogging seem to tell you to find a niche and stick to it. And maybe that is the best advice for someone seeking to maximize readership or RSS subscriptions. But I think we humans have a lot of commonality. We share our struggles and our desire to overcome them with creative solutions. So my blog is really about all facets of life. And I’m sure it will evolve over time.

4. When and how did you first discover blogging?
I started blogging in 2002 simply as a way to keep a personal journal and let my friends know what I was up to. I’ve always enjoyed writing and when blogging began to explode in popularity I couldn’t help but jump right in.

5. What is your biggest pet peeve related to blogging or the internet?
Lazy bloggers. Everyone seems to want to try their hand at getting rich by throwing a blog up really quick and without much thought and then slapping a bunch of adsense on top. Nothing’s wrong with monetizing your blog. I think we all would love to get paid to do what we enjoy, and I certainly enjoy blogging. But the blogs to which I subscribe and enjoy reading the most are the ones in which the author really gives thought to what he or she is writing about and is passionate about the subject matter.

6. Name one plugin, blogging widget, or service that you can’t live without.
The MyBlogLog community and widget are fantastic tools for social networking with other bloggers and connecting with your readers.

7. If you could choose anyone, living or dead, to write a guest post for your blog,who would it be and why?
Brilliant question. I think I would pick Emily Dickinson. I have no idea what she would come up with for a blog entry, but I would kill to see it and it would certainly be in keeping with the varied nature of my posts.

8. How has blogging made you a better person?
I think it’s forced me to think less about myself and more about my readers which is always a good thing. I find myself trying to read my posts as if I were someone just reading the blog for the first time.

9. What are your tips for becoming a better blogger?
Keep a notebook. Either a physical one or a digital one. Jot down ideas as they come to you throughout the day. At first this practice may come as a struggle–it may seem very forced. But soon, I think you’ll find that you start seeing ideas for blog entries everywhere you go.

10. Name one great blog that you read on a regular basis. What makes it unique?
CopyBlogger because it’s packed with terrific advice on blogging, usability, understanding your readers, and writing in general.

Categories: Blogging, Finances, Food, Personal, Ten Questions