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My mind on my money and money on my mind: an interview with Cibbuano

April 27th 2008 22:45
Little Green Frog sitting on a finger

I participated in an online interview with Neerav Bhatt, Sydney's hardest working blogger, about being a paid blogger. While I'm not on the same level of celebrity of the Hiltons and Spears of the world, there are still plenty of pictures of me wearing a dress with no panties.

Read the article: Making Money from Blogging

A little taste:

Neerav Bhatt: Both of you obviously enjoy writing about your chosen topics, do you agree that it’s much easier to be a professional blogger writing about a topic you’re passionate about?

Cibbuano: I’d say that there’s no point writing about something that you’re NOT passionate about. I’ve been reviewing movies for two years now and it’s only my love of cinema that keeps me from developing a serious aversion to posting yet another trailer.

I suppose the healthiest way to approach blogging is: would you do it anyway, even if no one paid you? If the answer is yes, you’re probably cut out for it. If Orble decided to kick me out into the street, leftover Ramen noodles dangling from my clothes, I’d probably wander around town until I found a net cafe and just post my reviews on Craigslist.

There's plenty more where that came from, too.

My only concern about the interview is that Neerav neglected to ask me about my raw animal magnetism. Yes, it is a heavy responsibility, and, yes, it is tiresome being the subject of throbbing adulation.

I recommend checking out Neerav's blogs - they're well-constructed and offer real information, like the picture of the frog, which I took from this post (picture taken by Cameron Galipo)

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Comments
28 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Joanne Fedler

April 27th 2008 23:03
Hi Cib
Fascinating interview - you touched on some excellent points. I especially relate to the fatigue that comes from blogging. Coming up with something to post two or three times a week is a real challenge, especially something other people will be interested in reading. I am finding blogging takes away from the energy and resources I have to apply to my actual (as opposed to virtual) writing, but at the same time, being part of a community like Orble makes me feel 'connected' to other writers which I don't have when I'm working on my books.
Btw, I saw No Country for Old Men this weekend. Have you seen it? I don't think I've ever been as terrified of a character in a movie as I was in this one. Coen Brothers seldom disappoint.
Jo

Comment by Cibbuano

April 27th 2008 23:11
joanne, thanks for reading the interview! Yes, the orble community is a terrific resource, and being part of it helps with the fatigue, I think.

Here's my review of No Country for Old Men

Comment by Damo

April 27th 2008 23:33
Good stuff Cibbuano.
Reading the full text now.



Comment by AmyHuang

April 28th 2008 01:24
What you said is true - asking yourself if you would do it anyway - blogging purely for money and not for wanting to blog is a hard thing!

Comment by Cibbuano

April 28th 2008 01:26
Damo, thanks for reading!

Amy, I can't think of anything worse than not wanting to blog and having to do it. Occasionally, I'm not in the mood to write anything and it'll be quite painful...

Comment by postmoderncritic

April 28th 2008 03:30
If it helps, Cibby, I always come over to your blog for the content - call it a bizarre porn*graphy of choice!

I agree with Joanne, sometimes I should be writing my book instead of writing on Orble, but the feedback is gratifying, and the network keeps me informed about a range of topics in an interesting way.

Comment by Cibbuano

April 28th 2008 03:56
thanks pomo, it does help. I know quite a few bloggers have left Orble with bad vibes, thinking that this is a breeding ground for bad writing, like the rest of the internet. Sure, it might be true, but at least you'll be writing often!


Comment by Louie

April 28th 2008 04:02
great interview, see you in the hallowed halls of USyd one of these days I guess. Tho this semester I only run my dogs through there in the mornings, having a break till July.

Comment by Michaelie

April 28th 2008 04:28
Nice work, Cibb. Your candid answers should provide plenty of inspiration for bloggers everywhere!

Michaelie

Comment by Cibbuano

April 28th 2008 04:59
thanks Louie - it's a great place for a run with the dogs...

Michaelie, yeah, a little bit of honesty is appreciated by new and old bloggers alike, I think...

Comment by Tracy

April 28th 2008 05:29
That was great, Cib. Very inspiring and informative!

Tracy

Comment by StephenP

April 28th 2008 10:08
Thanks for posting that Cib - I think you described the art of blogging perfectly!

I totally agree on two particular points though, and advise all new bloggers to take note -

1 - Definately blog about one of your passions - if I didnt like rugby league, then there is no way that my NRL News blog would be around today.

2- Definately have another source of income - I am lucky that through my other Freelance work, I receive regular media releases from the NRL clubs - this helps me update my site daily, and I dont have to use my brain as much for my blog!!

Cheers,

StephenP

Comment by Morgan Bell

April 28th 2008 10:10
hey that interview was a really interesting read, i didnt realise anyone got paid anything for blogging, you were a bit more talkative than the other blogger interviewed! haha

reminded me of my terrible attempt to watch russian ark!

Comment by D. Armenta

April 28th 2008 21:44
Hi Cibby, long time!!

Funny thing; pics of treefrogs attract my eye more than naked men holding mixing bowls...I noticed your pic right away.

I'm a bit disappointed though..no candid photos, no "turn-ons" and "turn-offs", no mini-bio? What kind of interview is this??!

Say, just what is it with you hosers and your Kraft dinner, eh??

Comment by Cibbuano

April 28th 2008 22:34
whoa D - you mean Americans don't eat Kraft dinner regularly? It's a Canadian thing?

I direct you to this Canadian song:
Really Long Link

Yeah, no turn-ons, turn-offs. You can interview me about that, if you want.

Morgan - thanks! Yes, this is a paid gig for me, which is why I post very, very often.

Steve - great way to tie in two jobs. Hope it's working out for you!


Comment by Anne Tootill

April 28th 2008 23:10
Thanks for the opportunity of getting to know you, I'm totally impressed. A fabulous read, it answered a lot of questions for me. Best of luck with your studies, cheers Anne

Comment by D. Armenta

April 29th 2008 21:18

Comment by Cibbuano

May 1st 2008 00:27

Comment by KylieW

May 1st 2008 08:58
Cib,

Great interview. I can't believe that no mention was made of your raw animal magnetism????? weird.

Kylie

Comment by D. Armenta

May 1st 2008 16:04
Hahahaha!! Stompin Tom cracks me up!!! You just can't get any campier than ol' Stompin' Tom.

Comment by Cibbuano

May 1st 2008 23:13
kylie, I know. It's perplexing, isn't it?

D, it is pretty camp - more than Super Dave?


Comment by Joanne Fedler

May 1st 2008 23:40
Yeah Cib, I want to know why there are no photos of you - is this a modesty thing, do you have a radio face, or is it just your fear of being hunted down by adoring female fans because of your raw animal magnetism? This is, by the way, a serious question. Which leads me to my next one - and I'd really like your opinion on this - I've been asked to blog for a parenting online magazine (for money) but they want a photo of me and my kids as the blog header. My husband and I have NEVER allowed photos of our kids on the web for privacy as well as their protection - not to mention the fact that until they're old enough to consent, we feel we shouldn't make these decisions for them.
Are we being neurotic?
Jo

Comment by Cibbuano

May 1st 2008 23:45
Joanne, the reason why I didn't use a photo is that I don't have any decent photos on my computer at the moment.

I don't really mind posting my photo, but I'm happy to keep some things for myself. The image I use is pretty accurate, anyway.

I don't think you're being neurotic. If you're not comfortable posting their pictures, don't post them. Or, use a photo with your kids, but from behind, or at an angle that makes them hard to identify?




Comment by Joanne Fedler

May 2nd 2008 00:03
Ok fair enough.

I agree with you, about keeping some things to ourselves and if I could get away without any photos of me on the web, I would too. Unfortunately when I finally succumbed to the pressure of having my own website, I was told I HAD to have a photo up. And publishers insist on them as a rule.

I've tried negotiating with this site about the picture with my kids, (I asked if we could all be wearing Groucho Marx moustaches) but they've said no. It's a pretty conservative parenting magazine, and I've just done a draft of an email saying, no deal.

So its back to blogging for no money on Orble.

Comment by Cibbuano

May 2nd 2008 00:09
I would still recommend my suggestion: take a picture of you on a beach, but with your kids running to the water. With their backs turned, they're safely hidden.

Or frame the shot so that the light turns their figure into a silhouette. hmmm, that's a great idea.


Comment by D. Armenta

May 5th 2008 23:29
Hum, well--at least in the same ballpark as Super Dave.

Joanne F., why don't you do like Cibby did and convert a photo to a drawing? Very easy on Photoshop.

Comment by Miswanderlust

May 18th 2008 01:17
Cib
First of all: Loved the name of this post. (HAHA...love the Gourds version of this Snoop classic)
Secondly: Wonderful interview. I really enjoyed it
Lastly: Thanks for turning us onto the Neerav's blog.

Mis
PS. This cracked me up:
Neerav neglected to ask me about my raw animal magnetism

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