Creative Swell Blog

Sharp in San Diego is a interesting blog that captures everything a twenty something can do in Southern California. Tara Sharp the “Sharp” in “SharpinSanDiego” uses her life as a platform to discuss fashion, entertainment, shopping, events and even her own personal travel. With a tag-line like “Let my distractions, distract you” she brings the best of the web to her faithful blog readers every week. During my recent trip down to San Diego I got a chance to sit down with Tara and ask a fellow blogger a few questions.Check out the transcripts below and be sure to visit her blog by clicking on here!

1. Why did you start a blog and how did you pick the “theme”?

About a year ago, my friend Andrew was starting up a WordPress blog with music reviews – reviewstacks.com – and he wanted me to write for it. The more I thought about it the more I realized there were other topics I’d prefer to blog about than music. So instead, he helped me set up a personal blog (also through WordPress) so that I could write about what interested me, such as food, travel, fashion, movies and art.

2. Where do you get inspiration for posts?

I am usually inspired by my own experiences. I love finding a blogger with similar likes/dislikes as myself because I can trust her opinion on the best food truck, shopping Web site, iced coffee, etc. I hope that my blog can provide that kind of insight to at least one person out there. If I’m traveling somewhere, I’ll write about what I’m packing for the trip, where I’m staying, maybe what restaurants I go to. If I’m looking for a Halloween costume, I’ll write about costume ideas. If I go to a new restaurant, visit a museum, discover a good nail salon, I’ll write about it. I would also say a majority of my posts relate to fashion, in some way or another.

3. Do you have a blog that you MUST view every day?

I have several that I visit on a daily basis. These include jezebel.com, cupcakesandcashmere.com, stephaniefayblog.com, whowhatwear.com, theluckystone.blogspot.com, salon.com, treatstoshare.wordpress.com, tightenyourbelt.blogspot.com and gofugyourself.celebuzz.com.

4. Where do you see your blog headed in the next year?

I’d like to focus more on what I like to do in San Diego. Up until this point I’ve only really covered the SD restaurant scene, not really the shopping, entertainment, touristy side of the city. Part of the reasoning behind that is I need to get off my butt a little more. Plus, the blog is sharpinSANDIEGO, after all.

5. What’s your background?

My educational and professional background is in journalism, and I’m currently an editor for a weekly business paper. I’ve always had an interest in fashion, so I’ve taken courses in fashion design and written a few freelance fashion articles for a few local magazines. I’m also an artist – acrylic, watercolor, pen and ink, etc. – and I’d love to eventually illustrate for a living.

7. Do you have an archive of post topics or do you post on the fly?

I pretty much post on the fly. Sometimes I’ll think of a few ideas at a time and jot them down in a notebook, just so I don’t forget, but I definitely don’t have a stockpile of posts.

8. Do you believe that blogging is just a trend or is it a substantial media form?

I think blogging is much too big be categorized as a “trend,” in the same way that I wouldn’t call social media a “trend.” The way we interact on the Internet changes, evolves, so quickly I feel like its components are all a part of the process, not fads that peak and then are forgotten. Something like Facebook may, in its current form, have a shelf life, but I wouldn’t be surprised if parts of it are incorporated into the next new form of online communication. We will learn from its mistakes and its successes. So maybe blogging could be called a “phase.” In some ways, I almost feel it is an evolution of the Web site, in that it has overtaken the traditional Web site format as the preferred means of reaching an audience. I’ve noticed a significant shift in my own browsing habits, choosing a person or company’s blog over its Web site. For instance, if I want to see my friend Stephanie Fay’s most recent wedding photo shoot, I’m going straight to her blog, which is in an easy-to-read, no-nonsense format. I don’t have the patience for most Web sites, which are cluttered with slow intros, background music, slideshows, etc.

9. If you were able to make a living from blogging alone would you do it?

A job where I can be creative and write about topics I enjoy writing about? Where I don’t have to commute and I can work at home in sweats and Uggs? Yes, absolutely.

Well there you have it, Thank you Tara!