Interview with Margaret Berry / Mighty Girl
Margaret, a freelance editor and writer, lives in the San Francisco area. She is a contributing writer for The Morning News. Her online blog, Mighty Girl, has a tagline that charmed me from the first time I read it: ‘Famous among dozens.’ I thought to myself, ‘Here is a person with no fake ideals of grandeur.’ Although she could. Her writing style is by far one of the best you’ll find online. She is witty and direct. She puts small slices of her day up for the world to view. Reading her is like slipping into your favorite novel where you can get lost and forget all real life problems…and it only takes 30 seconds to get in and out. It’s a breath of fresh air in my stuffy, tired day.
When is your Blog Birthday?
7.5.00
Why do you blog?
I can only think in tiny little spurts. And mostly I think about things I read on Metafilter or what I like to have for lunch, so blogs are a good fit.
What do you usually talk about?
Idiosyncrasies. People are so weird. I love them. The most recurring subject matter is what I overhear or see while I’m riding the bus. My bus line is brilliant, it’s teeming with crazy people.
What don’t you talk about? Why?
I used to try not to be crass, but then I printed up “I fuck like a girl” T-shirts as site merchandise, so that’s out the window.
I do avoid mean-spirited posts. You can get a laugh by being overtly critical, but then you collect a readership of people who respond to negativity. Why put all that energy into attracting nits?
What is the best experience regarding something you wrote in your blog?
Oh! This is a great story. About a year ago, I had someone steal some potted herbs I had just put out in front of my apartment. I posted about it, how upset I was. A reader I had never met or corresponded with sent me all new herbs from a mail-order nursery. I have guilt now because I don’t remember her name, and I never properly expressed how much it meant to me. I hope she’s reading this. Random stranger, you rock it.
What is the best thing about living where you live?
San Francisco is almost fictitiously good. The food is fresh; the wine is cheap; the sky is bright. If you could get a house for under half a mil’, I’d say everyone should pack up and come on over.
What would you do if you were president of the US?
Education is the great equalizer; investing our resources in teachers and schools produces exponentially more valuable benefits for our society. Kids are so easily influenced, for good or bad, and we’re not giving them a purpose. We’re not giving them equal access to the good life.
Also, Pizza Party U.S.A.
What actor would play you in the movie of your life?
Tina Fey. That crap about guys not digging glasses is bunk.
What is your favorite color?
Red, yellow.
What is your favorite food?
Cherries.
(This should totally come with a Tiger Beat foldout of me in a tank top with no bra.)
What are your hobbies?
Seriously? I’m into lindy hop, which is a kind of swing dancing. I know that’s a lot like admitting you’re into Renn Faire at this point, but there it is.
I’m also surprisingly domestic. I enjoy baking and glue-gun-oriented activities. I have a pretty solid apron collection going.
How many and do you give any of them preferential treatment?
I was being silly about the aprons. I do have quite a few, but they don’t
hold a special place in my heart or anything. Now my Kitchen Aid mixer,
that’s another story. I call her Dora.
What do you want to tell other bloggers?
Your readers can tell when you’re thinking too hard about what they want.
Self-conscious posting is the kiss of death. Also, it’s no fun.
What is your next aspiration or goal?
I’m working on a book about charm.
Fascinating facts about you:
I own three red bridesmaid dresses.
I make my own jewelry.
I still have a baby tooth.
I’m taller than you’d expect.
Is the baby tooth still attached in your head or is it like in a jar or something?
The baby tooth is still in my head, right up front. A dentist told me it was about to fall out when I was eleven, and every dentist since has said the same thing. Everyone keeps wanting to pull it, but I’m partial to it. About a year ago, I had the adult tooth removed. (It never grew in, it was just hanging out below some other teeth.) The baby tooth has held its ground; I’m waiting to see how long it can hold on.
Thank you, Maggie!