Most Popular Trionders: Interview with the Stickman

In this interview, The Stickman, one of the most popular writers on Triond, talks about his experience and share some secrets to succeed. Check his answers:

When and why did you join Triond in the first place?

the stickman: -I started writing with Triond in the 2nd week of July 2008. I had seen numerous pages that seemed to come from a site called “Triond”. Eventually, I checked it out. I joined, uploaded a few hundred images and photographs, got a few hundreds views and made a few dollars. Then, starting to be more confident and having read the FAQs and some archives, I began writing text-based content. That pays better, and it’s easier to do.

How would you describe the experience of being part of this community so far?

the stickman: -I don’t quite see this so much as ‘a community’. It is just me, the keyboard, my words on the page and stoic numbers on the screen at the end of the month. I have a deeply pragmatic view of things. I like comments if they are favorable but they don’t ‘boost me’ too much. 100 good comments can be nullified by one ‘bad’ comment. A negative comment can really wreck my day and I find myself opening my Triond account and checking my inbox whilst standing nervously behind my computer chair looking at the screen through my fingers… I’m a bit of a criticism coward.

When did you start to write and why?

the stickman: I am not a writer and have no training whatsoever. I am a web-page builder so I get to read a lot of varied content from client sites. I do read many articles online.

Which were your most popular articles? Did you expected that?

the stickman: -Some of my popular articles are: LOL, Funny Signs, WTF, and Silly Billboards, Oh No, Not Another Funny Cat Thing!, Seahorse: the Wonderful World of the Miniature Water PoniesCome Laugh with Me: More Funny Pictures. First article (LOL/funny signs, etc.) currently holds over 104,000 views, my best showing yet. The other cited, around 25,000 each or a bit less. All still receive ‘views’ daily and continue to provide residuals. and 

I cannot predict what will be popular. Articles that I pour my heart & soul into, might flop miserably. Articles which are silly, goofy and take me about an hour to throw together have gotten me thousands of views and earned mad-cash. Most of my articles only take an hour or two to write up. It is the follow-up social marketing that takes the most time. Its a crap-shoot, a gamble every time, to make it work. And, it is addictive. What I LOVE about this writing for Triond is that an article that may have been popular and earned a few dollars one month and then falls to obscurity for days, weeks or months can and DOES suddenly experience a second coming… I have had three or four article that, after a few-thousand views run, die off to almost no views, for weeks. Then suddenly, it gets a few thousand views per day again for now apparent reason, earning me some more dollars. Royalties are the best!

Can we find your work in other places else than Triond? (blog, books, etc)

the stickman: -I don’t blog, but I do have a few web sites out there. Mostly hobbies, interests, places I have been on vacations, etc. I could blog. I should blog. When I open my mouth, topics come out. I can’t stop it. I should market that.

Do you remember any article about a friend which have impressed you in particular?

the stickman: -Not really. I do try to imagine the writer writing, throwing himself/herself into what they must feel is a good write. The efforts of them are noted. I have read a few articles which have bad facts in them, I mean bad to the point of be incorrect bad. Like a ‘job interview techniques’ article comes to mind. Several of the recommendations were resume-killers… 100% guaranteed to get the resume tossed into the circular-filing cabinet. Someone got their facts way-wrong…

Can you imagine how could it be if we all meet in a Triond party?

the stickman: -I’d be the one over in the corner trying to look deeply interested in the potted plant centerpiece on the table and probably the first one to excuse himself and leave the party early.

We have already seen your profile. Is there any other personal information you would like to share with the community?

the stickman: -I have a deep loathe of ’spam’ ergo, ‘read my stuff, I’ll read yours’ usually gets the writer ‘blocked.’ or at least, the mail deleted. Show a bit of respect, -not just me but for others and self, -and you will earn my loyalty quite quickly.

Have you ever been interviewed before? How did you feel about it?

the stickman: -A few times. At a science fiction convention in Denver I was interviewed for a radio program. Nothing too big but they chatted me for about 10-minutes… I had all the right answers and was funny too. Back in the late late 80s, something funny happened. In Michigan at a multi-media convention I was in a penned-off section playing with a few dozen white Samoyed puppy dogs while other people were being interviewed ‘on camera.’ A week later, a friend in NYC whom was also at this convention saw me there on television, prominently in the background playing with white puppies, on that week’s showing of “Entertainment Tonight.” They were getting fan reaction to the cancellation of the TV series “The Equalizer.” But yeah, another few seconds of my 15-minutes of fame I guess. I have done security/gofer duties at science fiction conventions for years and have met many, many actors. Its a riot talking with them backstage, being assigned to walk around with them in this, a strange hotel that they are guest to. One of my favorites was Michael Dorn of Star Trek. I had the choice to either drive him to the airport, or help him back his bags and carry them to the parkin lot after the convention. That was cool! I chose the suitcase detail -my car was not as clean and shiny as his status would have warranted what with all those pop-cans and candy wrapper on the floorboards.. I must have met and been photographed with 20 or 30 television actors and actresses over the years. That would make for a good write-up someday too, eh?

More from this series:

• Interview with Lauren Axelrod
• Interview with Chan Lee Peng
• Interview with Liane Schmidt
• Interview with Louie Jerome