Gotta say? I love doing interviews.

So, in an effort to do a few more around here at Pajamas and Coffee, I am pleased to present the following interview with Jenny, The Bloggess.

marymac: When you agreed to let me interview you, I Googled “Interview With the Bloggess” so I could like steal, I mean be inspired by question ideas, and there were 11,300 results.

Bloggess:  You probably accidentally looked up “Interview With the Vampire”.  That was a kick-ass movie.  I’m surprised there aren’t more results.

marymac: Most interviews with you involve people telling you how awesome you are and then you like thanking them, so instead, I’ll tell you that the most DISTURBING Google search result (and perhaps most disturbing thing I’ve ever seen) is a youtube video called “Bloggess vs. Dooce” in which you are portrayed as a bespectacled blonde schoolgirl and Dooce is a cardboard box robot.  Why do you think the mythical yet admirably-recycled Dooce box has a British accent?

Bloggess:  I have absolutely no idea.  But I’m a bit jealous because people with British accents automatically sound smarter and more charming than everyone else so I think she wins by default.

marymac: I read a quote in one of the 11,300 interviews with you in which you said “The thing that holds me back the most is the doubt I have that I’m a good enough writer.” Gotta say? I think this every day, too, as I’m sure many writers do. How do you fight this demon?

Bloggess:  I don’t.  I’ve just decided that whether I’m a good writer or not I’m going to write anyway because I’m driven to.  If I don’t get these thoughts out of my head I’ll go mad.  I think it was Ray Bradbury who said “Writers write always” and I have to agree because I have journals in every room of my house overflowing with ridiculous nonsense.  It’s like an addiction.  I’m always surprised at how many people tell that they’re a fan of my writing.  I can’t even use apostrophe’s correctly.  I do think, however, that it should give people encouragement that if someone like me can find readers then basically anyone can.

marymac: Let’s settle something once and for all, and maybe your future video interviewers will read this and not have like awkward pronunciation issues. Is it “The BLOG-ess” or “The Blog-ESS” because I feel like you pronounce it the first way, emphasis on the ‘blog’ but that your video interviewers and conference introducers are always saying ‘Blog-ESS’ but maybe the whole thing is just a misunderstanding on account of your Texas accent.

Bloggess:  I accent the first syllable.  A lot of people are under the mistaken impression that “bloggess” is short for blog-goddess but really it’s just the feminine version of “blogger”.  You know…actor/actress, mister/mistress, blogger/bloggess,  jogger/joggess.  That last one never really caught one but you get the picture.

marymac: Um, ok, but you are a goddess to many of us D-list bloggers! You’ve been fantastic to me and I’m grateful. So what’s your best advice for bloggers dealing with douchetastic comment troll haters?

Bloggess:  I think they’re hysterical and you should enjoy them.  They’re always so inappropriately angry and are constantly misspelling simple words and honestly, I can’t stop laughing at them.  My favorite one was “Your retarded”.  Your. I can’t even make that shit up.

marymac: LOL on ‘inappropriately angry!’

You have inspired many people with your writing about anxiety attacks. Are there ever days when it’s just tough to be funny, and you wish you could write something whiny and bitchy?

Bloggess: Yes, and usually I end up writing something whiny and bitchy those days.  I just don’t usually publish it.  My draft folder is filled with crap that is better left unpublished.  I think having a good self-editor is essential and I think people look at the weird stuff I write and assume that I must just publish everything that comes out of my head but honestly there’s a ton of horrible stuff in my head that I protect you from.  You’re welcome.

marymac: I just starting writing about (hushed whisper) *sex* a few weeks ago even though I am vastly underqualified to do so. You are a famous sex blogger. Any words of wisdom on writing about The Nasty?

Bloggess: My personal mantra is that I never write anything that I wouldn’t allow my kid to read.  And also that I’ll never allow anyone teach my kid how to read.

marymac: Um, yeah…my oldest is in high school, so I’m thinking of having a t-shirt made for her that reads “Everything I Learned About Sex Was From A Link on My Mom’s Blog.”

The Shorty Awards are something you’ve discussed recently on your blog. You are nominated in five categories, with your second runner up to Humor being “Customer Service.” So my question is:  did you know there is a Bacon category?

Bloggess: No, but it sounds delicious.  Unless it’s Canadian bacon which should not be called “bacon” at all.

marymac: Which Disney princess would you choose to portray and why?

Bloggess: Ariel from the Little Mermaid because I once had to brush my hair with a fork in an emergency situation.

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Wow. I feel like Pajamas and Coffee has been visited by a blogosphere celebrity! Jenny has been so kind to me- I appreciate any time she’s stopped by here. Please go check out her blog (The Bloggess) if you haven’t already. And here’s the more journalistic-y interview I did with Jenny over at Suite101.com.

Jenny- I can’t wait to meet you in NYC at BlogHer ’10!