Meet Scott. Scott (he goes by Robert, too ) started writing for the site not long after its inception. I’m always amazed at how easily we all can connect through the written word. If you’ve read his blog over at County Seat Living, you likely feel it, too. He’s personable, funny and a true treasure to have in rural Nebraska!

 

1. Tell us a little about yourself. When did you start blogging?  

 

I started a blog (Willard’s Bluff) at the beginning of 2010 while living in LA. After the economy tanked in 2008, I found that I had to rethink they way I did business. The interior design world had come to a screeching halt and clients were cautious about doing big projects. However, they were willing to hire me to do more “lifestyle” design work such as event planning, catering and floral design. One holiday season, a woman actually hired me to wrap all of her Christmas gifts and I never knew my secret love of wrapping paper and ribbon would generate income. My blog was a fun way to highlight my work and acquire new business. I continue to blog (County Seat Living) with the same intentions yet instead of promoting work, I get to showcase all of the cool things about living life in rural Nebraska!

 

 

With the exception of Her View From Home (wink, wink), I have three sites I check in on every day. Although my interest in other websites and blogs have shifted over time, I find these three are the sites that continue to put out consistent content: 

 

Design Sponge – This is a great source for inspiration on living a fabulous life. And even if your life isn’t fabulous (like me), you can still check out the website and pretend.

 

The Kitchn – A practical food site! Go figure. They post recipes and culinary ideas that are within my wheelhouse. Sorry Martha, I love you but I don’t have that kind of time or those type of resources. Not everyone has creme brulee torch. I’m just saying.

 

Brit + Co – It’s described as a “community for creative living, making, and doing in the digital age”. They have super cool DIY online classes and you leave this website honestly thinking you can make the world a better looking place. Well, as long as you have a glue gun, that is.

 

 

Since I divide my time between rural Nebraska and Los Angeles (I know, who does that, right?), I don’t have a regular schedule. The two things I do consistently within my day is I write out at least one piece of correspondence to send out into the world and I have a journal in which I write down ten things a day that bring me happiness. Other than that, when I’m in LA I am working with clients on interior design projects. In rural Nebraska, I explore and seek out people and stories that prove this part of the world is worth knowing. If I hear of something interesting, I grab my camera and my Moleskine and hit the road. 

 

 

 

To someone considering starting a blog or guest writing for an existing site, I would encourage them to write from the heart and have fun. Whenever a person chooses to share a personal story or idea, no matter how significant or silly, it’s a gift to the reader. We are living in a world where social media has abbreviated so much of our communication. This is why I love blogs. It continues to be a platform where people expand upon stories that cannot be limited to a few characters. I like that idea.

 

 

 

I’m not going to lie. When a particular post hits big numbers with viewership, I like to think it’s my favorite. Does that make me shallow? That being said, the posts I am most proud of are stories I get to write about my family. I get worried in this digital age that the way we archive our lives is being compromised. People aren’t writing down their stories anymore and seriously, when was the last time you actually printed a photo? I’m beginning to think that our human experience will be lost with time if we don’t write about our past and share what we remember. Even if that story is shared digitally, at least it has a chance to reach a new generation. Plus, writing about your family on a blog is cheaper that paying a therapist. Just kidding Mom and Dad!

 

 

People can follow me on Facebook. I can be followed on Pinterest. Heck, they can even follow me around town if they want. FYI: Chances are high I’m at the Dairy Queen.