Interview 2: Tina Morris

Back in January of 2010, I ran an interview on this blog with local poet and blogger Tina Morris. I decided that a followup “where are you one year later” type of interview would be fun; and she was gracious enough to agree. So here you go, ladies and gentlemen (and the odd lurking alien lifeform)–Tina Morris!

Leona: Last time I spoke to you, you were working on two different blogs: once a week for the Rappahannock Independent Film Festival, and a personal blog, 365 To Inner Peace. How have those blogs been working out over the past year? Did they get easier with practice? What was the hardest thing about writing each one? The most fun? Which of your own blog posts are your favorites?

Tina: I am still the staff blogger for the Rappahannock Independent Film Festival and posting once a week. That experience has been tremendous, both as a writer and a fan of independent film. Looking back from where I began in 2009, I can see the positive progression. Through this experience I have learned that I am good at and enjoy conducting interviews. Many of the people I interviewed were just getting started in the business or had just won their first award. On the other end of the scale, I was invited to the movie set of The Preacher’s Daughter Movie and was fortunate to interview the lead actress, Andrea Bowen of Desperate Housewives fame.

Of the many directors, producers, and actors I interviewed, Producer Colleen Keane of Seven Cees in L.A. was especially helpful and generous. Everyone, from first year film students to the award winning comedian Jonathan Katz, made my job fun. Most importantly, I hope my work helps our film festival grow and fans enjoy it. There is a lot of fabulous talent out there writing, directing, and fueling the Indie spirit. My work has definitely gotten easier as I plan, schedule, and compose the postings. Experience is the greatest teacher.

As for my personal blog, that was a different but beneficial experience. Not every day demonstrated a degree of talent. Some posts dominated two hours while others seem to have written themselves as fast as I could type. From the latter category, my on-the-fly post I liked best was “Jesus Jeans“, which is about the ongoing battle with weight.

Leona: How would you say your writing has changed over the past year’s work? How has blogging affected your poetry? Your prose?

Tina:  365toinnerpeace began as a diet and exercise endeavor and morphed into postings reflecting the dominant theme-of-the-day in my life. It was an exercise in discipline. My first posts for 2010 sometimes took four hours to compose, and that could not last. So, I learned to make a decision, stick with it, and just write.

My blogging murdered my poetry! Seriously. Poetry needs time, space, and quiet reflection. Mine does, at least, and my commitments stretched writing time pretty thin. However, poetry is something I love and will get back to. I have continued to work on my prose, though, and submitted a contest entry to the Christopher Newport University Writer’s Conference contest this year.

Leona: How well did you achieve your goals over the past year?

Tina:  I am happy that I did not give up the ship. The last 60 days began to wear on me as I felt I needed my life back a little. 365toinnerpeace was not as successful as intended because I did not learn how to market the blog and work the gizmos. It is still out there, however, and I am working to add photos, learn the gizmos, and plan my next personal blog.

Leona: What are your goals for the coming year?

Tina:  Right now a prospective agent has my book proposal in hand. It is a non-fiction work and I would rather keep the particulars private right now. I hope to have something exciting to report next year. I had a piece published in the December issue of DC Life Magazine titled “Hot Men Help Save Lives” about an entreprenuer’s pinup calendar and why  part of the profits will benefit domestic violence causes. This was my breakthrough to print and I plan to have more follow.

Leona:  Do you have any new favorite poets/writers “discovered” since the last time we spoke? Ditto favorite writing/poetry web sites and resources? How about hobbies and activities?

Tina: Reading and watching independent films are my primary hobbies. What I need is a bicycle that powers the television as I watch independent film. David Taylor is a writer and documentarian whom I admire. Reading his short stories reminds me how much work is involved in every piece. Whittling away the excess and getting to the bone takes time. His collection of short stories Success: Stories is full of gems.

Leona: If you could go back and tell your “self” of a year ago one thing, what would it be?

Tina:  Spend at least a weekend learning the gizmos that propel a blog to readership. There is some great stuff in my blog that should have had more visibility. On the other hand, the not-so-great was read only by my friends. Ha!

Leona: What question do you wish that I had asked but that I didn’t get around to?

Tina:  None. All your questions were good.

Thank you for your time and thoughtful answers, Tina; we’ll talk to you again next year!