This post is part of a series of interviews highlighting Fuelmyblog bloggers and their blogs, a great way to find out who are the bloggers part of the Fuelmyblog community. If you would like to feature in this series add your name in the comment box or email sylvie(at)fuelmyblog.com

What’s your name?

Alex L. Though there have been a few other names over the times. Pope Terry, Shecky R. Love, Francis Bandinger. But for the foreseeable future I am remaining Alex L. Each of those names represents a some what failed side project if you will. Shecky R Love was a stupid invention to offset my other stupid invention of Pope Terry, to give me an excuse to post something different. I think he lasted about three posts. Francis Bandinger, was the character for my ‘Procul and Harum’ message board blog, a blog about a fake company and the memos to its employees. It actually lasted a month, it was an alright idea but it just didn’t pan out.

What’s the name of your blog?

Currently it’s called “The Discreet Charm of the Middleclass”, taken form the film ‘The discreet charm of the bourgeojsie’. Why I don’t know I just always like the way it sounded, and a nonsense title kind of fits the nonsense I write.

What’s the URL of your blog?

http://popeterry666.blogspot.com/

How old is your blog?

Two and a half years about, I guess. If it was a child it would walking around screaming a lot, you know those kids in doctors offices with the red faces, coughing and with the drool coming out their mouths… that’s a pretty good description.

If you’re willing to share, how many visitors per day do you have to your blog?

Apparently according to Google Analytics I average 15… but how many people actually stop read and comment… it’s not many, might be enough to fill a car, a small one, with two seats… and something really big on the passenger seat taking up most of the room… and I’m driving. Its one… there you happy now its one person and that person is me! (honestly I dont know its not that many though)

How much time do you spend blogging every week?

Maybe two three hours writing, but there are a bunch of blogs I visit everyday and that takes about an hour a day, or more if they have been updated.

Is it the creative process or the editing process which take you longest when writing a post?

Editing? [flips through dictionary] oh… I should try that one day.

What inspired you to first start writing a blog?

I thought the world could use another idiot telling it how to live. And I wanted to write, and a blog is a good way of getting an idea on how you’re going with whatever you’re writing.

What do you do to get inspired to write?

Anger inspires me… so I just watch TV really. If I’m sitting there and say ‘What an idiot’ to myself, a post about it will usually follow.

How do you market your blog?

Well I guess to the extent where I appear in a few peoples blogrolls or links pages. I tried implanting thoughts into peoples heads using my mind but it didn’t work.

Is there anything that you simply refuse to blog about?

Not particularly. I’ve gotten about 125 posts under my belt so far and I haven’t yet posted a lolcat or a youtube video. Not that there is anything wrong with that! I just don’t like relying on other peoples material, at least write something witty about the video or review it somehow. I actually just did a post about this.

If you went for a job interview and were told that you’d have to close your blog in order to get the job, how would you react/feel about it?

I’d think about it, I mean if the job was awesome like Rocket test pilot or Bikini inspector. But I like doing this, I guess it would depend if I wanted to be able to eat anymore. I’d have to think about it.

Do you talk about your blog with your relatives and friends or do you avoid mentioning it?

As far as my family are concerned I use the internet for piracy and porn… so it would probably be better if they did know I blogged. But just don’t really think they would get it. And its nice having something private from them.

What is the biggest mistake you made when starting your blog?

Assuming once you start people will just come and begin reading. Blogging is very whorish, there’s a read me and I’ll read you school of thought involved. Of course some people say they blog for themselves they dont care if anybody ever reads it, well then why post it online get yourself a typewriter. If you want visitors and commenters, you have to do the dance. If you build it they won’t come, you have to go to their house and beat on their door, offer them a free hotdog or something.

Any tips for aspiring bloggers?

Well as far as encouraging competition goes I don’t really want to. But I guess just blog what you want to, try to be original, and find some similar blogs to yours to read and comment on.

Who are the bloggers that you look up to the most?

RenalFailure , cause he posts almost every day and is just hilariously funny. Diesel is always clever and funny. And Mike at See Mike Draw , they all just weave humor so effortlessly out of the smallest things.

Do you still see yourself blogging in 5 years time?

Providing I’m still sane I don’t see why not. There will always be things to make me angry. And I’ll always be trying to write some sort of story.

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