Sunday, January 11, 2009

The Sunday Roast

He's All Heart - Literally And Metaphorically


This week's interview is with Rune,
who writes the blog Visual Norway.



The first of the standard questions. Why do you blog?

I started blogging in 2006. My first blog was written in Norwegian - Rune's Tx Blog. Two years before I had gone through a rather serious operation and felt a need for more information about my condition. I had done quite a bit of research on the subject and hoped that I could be of assistance to others in the same position. At the same time I wanted to learn a bit more about what blogging was all about – and I needed a bit of self-therapy. That this blog now has changed dramatically is another matter. I use to say that the blog writes itself – I’m only the observer.

My second blog, Visual Norway, was started soon afterwards. I had renewed my old hobby of photography and needed a place to show off my pictures. I was the only reader for quite some time, but that didn’t matter too much since I had quite a bit of fun making the posts. Luckily for me though, things have changed and I ’m no more alone. On the contrary – I get complaints from the family about the amount of time I spend on this. However, with "the global village" filling my in-basket, I have quite as much fun doing comments as writing posts.

What's the story behind your blog name?

Making up a meaningful name in English for a non-English speaking person is quite a challenge. Since the blog was meant to be a photo blog based in Norway I felt Norway had to come into it somewhere. The same went for the photo bit. I tried various combinations and ended up with Visual Norway. If not all the pictures are from Norway, they have at least been taken by a Norwegian!

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

You get to ”meet” quite a number of people from all over the world. You may not agree with all of them, you may not even like all of them, but you get a chance to learn something from them and see their point of view. In addition, you get to learn about places far away, see what these look like and very often learn some of the history. Since I’m a hobby photographer, I also get to see a lot of pictures (and even post some!) and learn from the others. I have also got some very valuable comments and connections concerning this. I feel that my photography is steadily improving.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

a) Spend some time on the writing on your post – sloppy writing gets you nowhere.
b) The same goes for illustrations. Use your own or follow the rules if you use what you find on the Net
c) Visit other blogs and learn from them
d) Make comments, but make them sincere. "If you don’t write 'em you won’t get 'em".
e) Skip advertising in your blog – especially the kind that leads to another site at some time.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

Not an easy one since there has been so many. I might mention some of Abraham Lincoln stories about growing up in pre- and post-war USA, but since he has removed them I can’t give a link. Concerning photography I could mention many of the post made my Jim Moore, for instance this one called A Few Tips About Sunrise/ Sunset Photos. I have learned a lot from him.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

I think it must be this one from March 2008. Although it was posted on my Norwegian blog, it is bilingual with both an English and a Norwegian text. It was called A Bridge Of Life and was my first post to the monthly "Bridges Between" meme we started at that time. It told something of my own condition and of how crossing the smallest bridge can be a major personal victory.


Today's Sunday Roast with Rune Eide is the 50th in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.

25 comments:

Richard Lawry said...

I enjoyed looking at the Visual Norway blog, and am now following it.
An Arkie's Musings

Maria Verivaki said...

i like rune's blog very much myself
great interview

Maggie May said...

That was a very good interview.
I like the idea that Rune had, crossing the smallest bridges. I like his photography.

i beati said...

I think I'm going to like this guy Sandy

Hccm said...

I like rune's blog.

Tessa said...

Interesting and informative interview - and Rune's photographs are absolutely wonderful.

Hccm said...

David, I don't know if anyone else is having this trouble but the links to rune's blog are not working.

The link to the image of the blog does work.

Anne said...

Yes! Yes! Yes!
To a lot og norwegian female blogers HE is "The King"!
Elvis just gave ous the music, but Rune teach ous a lot.
Thanks to him, I now got a lot of joy and pleasure with taking pictures myself. Thanks to him, my husband (no after christmas) is broke, after he `had to` give me a new camera for a gift :-)) juhu!!!

spacedlaw said...

Thanks for that, I love Rune's pictures.

Rune Eide said...

Thank you David for the honour! I'm starting to feel like a real BLOGGER after this!

PS Stesha had problems wioth the links to my blogs. My main Blog, Visual Norway is here. There you will find links to the others.

Pat - Arkansas said...

Thank you, David, for your Sunday Roast postings. I very much enjoy your interviews.

Rune Eide said...

I forgot to add that everyone ought to visit Anemone and give her a virtual hug from me!

FO - 2 said...

Right now I'm very proud to be a Norwegian and for beeig one of Rune's blog friends! :)))

The Muse said...

oh wow...another wonderful blog to visit!

imac said...

Top Notch David, well done my friend RuneE...
Very enjoyable.

Louise said...

Good choice. Rune, and Visual Norway, are terrific!

GAWO said...

And I am another female blogger from Norway that love Runes blog and are so happy to be his bloggfriend and even know him in real life. He is a great teacher.

Jeni said...

I'm a follower and great admirer of Rune's blog -gorgeous, absolutely awesome gorgeous photos he posts there! I rarely comment on his blog though -mainly because his pictures tend to make me quite spellbound!
Great roast here though of a really terrific blogger and his photos. I'd say his pics and yours, David, a definitely in a league all your own.

ArneA said...

Rune has done it well in Bloglandia.
He has lately been more concerned with photo than text. I think that is god for his interests.
Regarding his norwegian blog (tx-Cor) I think the development is equal to many others who have been through severe situation. You have to go through a "crises management" there finding out more facts and sharing with others these facts is important.
He has lately opened a new blog, but I must confess that too many blogs from one editor make me drop out. I like to visit a persons The ONE blog getting all information at one url.
:)
But congratulation to you for your choice, and to Rune being selected

Merisi said...

Thank you, Rune, for taking the time to share your blog and your thoughts with us! I am looking forward to visiting you.

David, to you congratulations on the 50th Sunday Roast, a real winner series! Thank you so much for the time and energy you gift us bloggers with on a daily basis! :-)

Pappy said...

My compliments to the interviewee and the host for a well done piece. Pappy

katherine. said...

it is great how you connect us all...all over the world...

PERBS said...

It's about time this honor was bestowed on Rune. . . I have enjoyed reading his blogs for some time now. I love his photos of Norway and other places traveled and the flowers he finds too BUT most of all, I like the simple things he pays attention to and how he takes photos at just the right angle to make each photo special. He is most deserving!

Holly Myers said...

Have kept my eye on Visual Norway for awhile now and enjoy the pictures. It's like a new adventure each day. Keep up the great work! Thanks for opening my horizons to a new blog at authorblog! My world keeps expanding.

Anonymous said...

I love viewing Visual Norway, and appreciate reading about Rune's blogging venture. Rune, thanks for sharing this link with me.