Interview with Jill Tullo from “The Well-Read Child”

“The Well-Read Child”

http://wellreadchild.blogspot.com

I’ve always loved to read, and when my daughter was born in 2007, I began reading books to her right away. I enjoyed these special moments so much that I decided to start my blog,
I’ve been blogging since November 2007.

At The Well-Read Child, I blog about children’s books, literacy news, and general kid’s lit news. I also give reading tips and links to learning resources for parents and educators.

I subscribe to the feeds of many blogs, but here are some that I make a point to read daily:
5 Minutes for Mom
Jen Robinson’s Book Page
dkMommy Spot
Breeni Books
Wizard’s Wireless

1. Write about what matters to you, and your writing will come alive.
2. Try to update as much as you can so your readers will know what to expect from you, but sticking with tip #1, don’t write dull filler posts just to be writing something.
3. Don’t punish yourself if you have to neglect your blog a little when life gets busy. Do write a short post letting your readers know that you’re taking a short break so they won’t worry.
4. Dedicate some time each week to comment on other blog posts you find meaningful and relevant to your life. This lets other people know that you’re out there and also helps you become a part of the blogging community.
5. Above all, have fun!

Absolutely. I love to hear what my readers think and enjoy chatting with them through comments.

My mom reads every day. She’s my biggest fan, and if I haven’t posted in a day or two, she’ll give me a call to make sure that everything is okay.

Also, many of my friends with children subscribe to my blog via email.

I belong to the Kidlitosphere forum, a forum for people who blog about children’s literature.

I work full time, so I mostly blog in the evenings after my daughter goes to bed and on the weekends.

I normally spend about 2 hours a day writing posts for my blog and reading and commenting on other blogs.

Wow…many things inspire me: a good book, a kind comment or act, the beauty of nature. Since my daughter was born, little things have started to inspire me like her laughter, her babble that’s begun turning into words, and little milestones. She keeps me grounded and reminds me of what’s really important in life.

Blogging has impacted my life in a number of ways. First, it gives me an outlet to be creative and to let my voice be heard. Second, I sometimes surprise myself by the things I write. By this I mean that I sit down to write about one thing, and suddenly something completely different comes out of my brain and onto the screen. Finally, I’ve gotten to know a lot of new people through blogging and have learned so much. It’s amazing that there are so many people out there who blog and who have great things to say.