'Speaking From the Heart'

There's been so much fear mongering and negativity about teens and the Internet in the media lately, that I was inspired to post an interview I did for the book with a 17-year-old Iranian American blogger named Elaheh who writes at Bluebird Escape. Elaheh will be joining Casey (from Teen Fashionista), Carson (of Welcome to the Home of Carson C) and Kelly Hoffman (CEO of Varsity Media) in Austin for a panel on teens and technology at SXSW Interactive in March. The travel/expenses are being sponsored by Beinggirl.com.

Ypulse: Why did you start blogging?

Elaheh: I started a blog back in July 2002. It was called "my wishes." My older brother had noticed my interest in writing and encouraged me to make one. He was already in the business so he created one for me. Later when my writing improved and I had more to write about, he created a website for me. I called it Bluebirdescape.

YP: Who reads your blog?

Elaheh: I have many readers from all over the world. Most are from the U.S., Iran, and Belgium, where my brother lives. I had many visitors while I was in Iran for vacation in the summer of 2003. I had kept a diary about my first visit to Iran after four years. It was amazing to see how many people read my stuff and commented. My English teacher, friends/cousins, mom, and siblings read it too.

YP: How has your writing and/or sense of identity evolved since you started blogging?

Elaheh: My sense of identity and writing have both evolved tremendously. I'm amazed at how my writing grew; when I look back at the things I wrote three or even two years ago and compare it to what I write now; I realize how much I learned. And I'm not just talking about grammar and punctuation; I'm talking about using my voice, speaking from the heart, and being able to have even one short, but meaningful sentence. Writing is my identity; what I write is essentially who I am. I can express myself better when I write. So yes, blogging encouraged me to write more, dig dipper into myself, and really look and observe the world around me. I get a rush when I write from the inside, when I can hit the point and feel what I wrote, when I can read it over and over and be satisfied.

YP: Do your parents read your blog?

Elaheh: Yes, my mother reads my blog. She enjoys reading it and has always been supportive of my writing. She encourages me to continue; she's my inspiration. I don't think my mom has ever been worried or concerned because she trusts me. She knows writing is what I do and she respects it; when I tell her about the many readers I have, she gets happy.

YP: Do your offline friends read your blog?

Elaheh: My friends read my blog once in a while. I don't expect them to since I've written so much! Sometimes there'd be a particular piece that I might ask my best friend to read and comment on.

YP: Do any of your friends maintain blogs? If so, do you read them? Do you post comments?

Elaheh: One of my friends in Belgium has a blog. Hers is drawings and photos. I do check on it once in a while and leave comments. It's amazing what comments can do for you; the good ones brighten up your whole day and make you want to do better, whether it's art or writing.

YP: What do you see as the difference between keeping a written diary and publishing your blog?

Elaheh: Keeping a diary and publishing a blog are very different things. I used to keep a diary, but it was on and off. Sometimes I'd write in it and sometimes I wouldn't even open it until the next year. I don't think I ever finished one anyway; I always enjoyed typing better. Also with blogging you have readers, you get feed back (if you allow comments) and you take it more seriously. I took it more seriously when I had a blog; I took time with it and wanted it to be perfect. It's nice to have your own page, the color and design you want, the font, and then there's the fact that you know others might read it. That's another encouragement; you know your words matter, you're not speaking to a 'dear diary' anymore, you're speaking to the whole world, to yourself especially, but out loud as opposed to a diary.

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.