I’ve had the pleasure of talking to a lot of bloggers in the past couple of years, but none so far who have used their blogging as a platform for change in gay rights. Not until I met Godwyns that is. Gowdyns is a long time London Bloggers Meetup member who tells me his blog provides a voice to support his campaign – something that has been picking up speed of late.
Now Godwyns is a colourful character. Not only does he blog about gay rights but when I first met him he was writing a poetry blog, featuring his own works such as this one you can read here. Now before you click, I should just warn you that Godwyns writes erotic poetry and this one, written for LBM’ers, is called Coitus Blogging. Now with that warning out of the way go ahead and enjoy.
If you are ever at an LBM and would like to meet Godwyns, just look out for someone with an enormous smile. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll spot him, he’ll be somewhere in the room having a laugh and chatting warmly to another blogger. It’s been a pleasure getting to know Godwyns and more recently about his campaign.
Now without further ramblings, let me hand you over to Godwyns for a peak into his world…
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
My blog is called ‘My Person’ and the url is www.godwyns.com
2. What’s your blog all about ( in 20 words or less)?
Opinions on politics, human rights with a focus on gay rights and liberty issues.
3. When and why did you start blogging?
Started blogging 2003 but set up My Person in 2005. It is a focused on challenging the political frenzy surrounding people’s rights but especially as a platform for my activism as a gay rights campaigner.
4. Which blog platform do you use?
Blogger (blogspot)
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
It has given me an avenue towards reaching the goals I hoped for. Presently, I have diversified from it to set up a gay rights campaign and pressure group which is now playing a very important role in challenging homophobia in black and African countries.
Through this new set up, The Commonwealth is now listening and talking to me and my group on how to improve the life of gay people in its member states. Also, I have become a part of the general gay rights campaign, speaking at events, demonstrations, appearing on panels and giving opinions to the media on issues that affects gay people.
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
a. Peter Tatchell – dedicated to Human Rights, democracy and global justice.
b. LGBT Asylum News – a focus how asylum seeking by gay people is handled
c. Baroque in Hackney – literal intelligence
d. Nick robinson’s newslog – political analysis of current issues in UK politics
e. Murray Newlands – Marketing blog – great for info about blogging and online presence
f. London Underground’s blog – a diary of the London (from the) underground by a London woman
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
- Have a focus and create a niche subject
- Establish and maintain the frequency of update – if current affairs, differentiate between analysis and [live] reporting
- Write in an easy to read style and make it as short as possible [not more than 400 words at a go]
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
Improve the amount of readers.
Andy: I don’t think you’re along with this one Godwyns..!
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
Frequency of update and coverage of real topical issues on Human/Gay rights
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
A great place to meet other bloggers from various background and sector of blogging. Share ideas, create networks and learn new things on how to always improve in blogging. But I must not fail to mention that the socializing bit is incomparable all made possible by the amiable, clever and well-connected organiser, Andy Bargery.
So I will finish with a huge thanks to Andy for the great work he’s done in managing LBM all these years. Many cheers Andy.
Andy: Thanks Godwyns, much appreciated.
It’s Monday morning again which can only mean one thing. Time for another Blogger Interview. This time I’ve been talking to Peter Marshall, a long time London Bloggers Meetup member and the person responsible for most of the photographs you see of our events on the Meetup.com page.
Peter’s an interesting character. If you’ve been to an LBM you’ve probably spoken to him and admired his camera at some point. It was only recently that I learned Peter used to be a teacher and that kind of fits, for he’s the sort of chap you feel knows his subject inside out. Every time I talk to Peter he’s been doing something interesting; whether photographing a demonstration outside an embassy, capturing the colour of a carnival, or more recently when he showed off his new blurb book on the 2012 Olympics site.
I realised when compiling this interview how long it had been since I last checked into Peter’s blogs to admire not only the photography, but the narrative too. Well worth a read if you are looking for commentary on culture, diversity, photography, life and more. Of course all of Peter’s blog posts are stitched together with Peter’s photographs.
I hope you enjoy Peter’s thoughts and make sure you say hello next time you’re at a London Bloggers Meetup. Peter will be there somewhere, probably the guy pointing a camera at you from across the room.
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
>Re:PHOTO http://re-photo.co.uk
My London Diary http://mylondondiary.co.uk/
2. What’s your blog all about ( in 20 words or less)?
Photography. My London Diary is my own work, >Re:PHOTO looks at wider issues as well as my own work.
3. When and why did you start blogging?
My London Dairy started around 2000- 2002 (it isn’t quite a blog because I don’t think you could do what I wanted as a blog then) and it was intended as an art work that explored how photography could use the web. At the time I was also writing a commercial site on photography, which later included a blog which got over a million hits a month from around the world. After I was sacked for taking photography seriously I wanted to keep on writing about it for an audience, so >Re:PHOTO was born
4. Which blog platform do you use?
WordPress, but I use my ISP provided version of it which limits me. Keep meaning to set it up properly…
My London Diary is simple html used to create a kind of blog.
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
Meeting everyone at LBM!
But it’s also been great to meet readers who’ve really appreciated my work, particularly those photographers that I admire. I first met one of my favourites at a banquet in a castle in Poland and when I was introduced to her she threw her arms around me and hugged me.
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
If you are a photographer Lensculture. Jim Casper is a great guy and finds some really interesting material.
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
- Write on average a post every day
- Always have a point of view – blogging isn’t just listing information or links
- Study your subject, spend a lot of time reading other views on it
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
Find a way to make it pay without compromising my relationship with readers. One thing I’ve just started is bringing out Blurb books, some of which I hope will sell – the latest is ‘Before the Olympics: The Lea Valley 1981-2000‘ with over 240 photographs
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
Content. And word of mouth (also Facebook and Twitter.)
But really it’s the content that brings in the average of well over 3000 page views per day (and growing.)
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
I want to meet other bloggers and find out what they are doing – and hopefully get some new ideas. And the free drinks help!
It’s Monday morning and that can only mean one thing – I need a strong cup of tea to kick start the week. Ok Ok, apart from that, it also means it’s time to post up an interview with another fantastic member of the London Bloggers Meetup community. This time I’ve picked someone who, as far as I can remember, has been coming to the London Bloggers Meetups pretty much since day one and that’s Chris Osburn (correct me if I’m wrong there Chris).
So why should I interview Tikichris then?
The answer actually comes in lots of parts. I’ll start with the fact that he is a Contributing Editor Food and Drink for Londonist which is probably one of the best multi-author blogs about London. Not only that, but Chris takes a mean photograph of London every single day and posts it up on his blog. He’s been doing this every day for a couple of years I believe, no mean feat. He has also featured in the lastminute.com top 50 blogs about good stuff chart (ok, I should point out, I have been involved in compiling this chart in the past, but there is absolutely no bias here).
I have also had the pleasure of working with Chris on various writing assignments and can genuinely say it’s been a pleasure. Anyway, enough of the usual rambling intro, it’s time to hand the post over to the interview. So Mr Tiki Chris, over to you…
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
My blog is Tikichris and the URL is http://tikichris.com
2. What’s your blog all about ( in 20 words or less)?
Basically, tikichris is about my (mis)adventures in London and beyond. Lots of art, food and drink, photography and travel.
3. When and why did you start blogging?
Summer of 2006. I thought it would be a fun way to share my writing and photography with the world. That has proven to be the case time and time again.
4. Which blog platform do you use?
tikichris.com is a WordPress blog. I also have a “tikichris to go” mobile blog via Tumblr. I dabble with Blogger for some projects and use Moveable Type as a contributing editor for Londonist.
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
Blogging has helped me make friends and get work. It has allowed me access to lots of things that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to experience.
Recently, I was invited to the Bushmills Inn and Distillery in Ireland. I wasn’t representing any big name print publications or glossy mags – just my blog and some other websites I write for. I had a blast and was very well looked after. On a number of occasions, I’ve found myself interviewing celebrities, dining in some of London’s best restaurants and staying in hotel rooms that I’d personally never be able to afford. Sometimes I even get paid to have this kind of fun!
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
Photoshop Disasters, LAZERTITS and Murder Burger are always good for a chuckle. My friend (and contributing editor at Londonist) Hazel Tsoi-Wiles recently turned my attentions to Hungover Owls. Hilarious.
Check the links in my blog’s sidebar for a lengthy list of blogs that I regularly read.
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
- Don’t do it as an end in itself but as a means to an end.
- Meet other bloggers (LBM is an ideal way to network).
- Make sure you have a singular voice and that you’re not just doing the same old thing.
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
I wish I had the time to post more. I use WordPress.com (not .org), which is free and for the most part awesome, but it would be great if I were able to tweak it just a little more.
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
- Longevity
- Lots of posts
- Quality content and
- Great images.
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
To see old friends and to network. The free food and drink that accompany many of the meetups doesn’t hurt either.
OK OK OK, so today is Tuesday and there hasn’t been an update to the weekly Blogger Interviews, but for those who aren’t aware it was a Bank Holiday yesterday in the UK. Anyway, I’m back up and running today with another cracking interview for you. This time we are taking a look into the world of blogging and PR with internet troublemaker Laurence Borel (known to most as Lolly).
Lolly’s an interesting character who I’ve got to know and like over a couple of years at the London Bloggers Meetup. I also worked with Lolly on freelance PR assignment we took on in late 2009 where Lolly taught me a great deal about digital PR, for which I am extremely grateful.
If you’re looking for some insight into digital PR it’s worth keeping tabs on Lolly’s blog. You might even be able to convince her to put up a guest post if you have something interesting to add to the conversation. It’s pretty clear Lolly has a passion for the internet and all things digital PR related, but if this isn’t really your thing, you might still get a few ideas about how to setup a great looking and working blog.
Well, enough of the rambling intro, let’s hear from Laurence herself. Enjoy…
1. What’s your blog called and what’s the URL?
My blog is called blog till you drop! and can be found at www.laurenceborel.com
2. What’s your blog all about (in 20 words or less)?
blog till you drop is a blog about internet culture in the UK and around the world
3. When and why did you start blogging?
I started blogging in February 2006 on MSN Live Space (back in the days when hotmail was very trendy!) where I kept a blog / diary of my expat life. It was all fun, very light in terms of the subjects I was covering but I quickly became addicted to blogging!
A few months later, a friend of mine suggested I start a ‘proper blog’ to enhance my career prospects and I created ‘blog till you drop’ in August 2006.
I can’t believe my blog is almost 4 years old!
4. Which blog platform do you use?
WordPress
5. Can you give an example of how blogging has enriched your life?
Blogging has changed my life in many ways. It has helped me and awful lot with my career as I now work in the digital space, but I’ve also been very lucky to meet some amazing bloggers from around the world (France, Italy, Switzerland USA…) and ended up creating myself a brand new network of friends!
6. Are there any blogs you recommend reading and why?
There are a handful of Social Media blogs which I read on a daily basis to keep up with the latest social media trends including the Viral Garden, Digital Buzz Blog, Social Mouths, Social Media Explorer, and our very own Matt Churchill’s Seldom seen Kid but I also enjoy reading The Business Of Fashion, and I absolutely love street art blog Art of the State.
7. What three tips would you give to someone just starting out in blogging?
A. Enjoy yourself – if you don’t feel like writing for a week, then don’t!
B. Engage with your community – always reply to comments, send thank you Tweets, engage in conversations with your readers – it’ll keep them coming back for more. And don’t forget to comment on other people’s blogs too!
C. Don’t be afraid to show some personality!
8. If you could change one thing about your blog what would it be?
It took me 3 years to self-host my blog, and I lost all of my hard-earned back links. If you like blogging, then self-host as soon as you can! A friend of mine is designing my logo, and I can’t wait to get that too!
9. What is the key to getting readers to your blog?
- Engage with your community,
- Create new fresh content, and
- Connect with people with similar interests on Twitter. Twitter is great tool (used in moderation) for sending traffic onto a site.
10. And finally, why do you come to the London Bloggers Meetups?
I’ve been coming to LBM for over 2 years now and some of the bloggers who attend have become close friends and I regularly meet new people too. Great choice of venues, great people. Love it!
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