As I mentioned sometime ago, I’m a big fan of WaiterRant.Net, the blog that launched a thousand eyebrows with its sometimes too painfully honest depiction of the restaurant business. Despite the “rant” in the title, the blog doesn’t devolve into some “I will either slash your neck or my wrists” sort of emo thing. It’s funny, truthful and always entertaining.

So you could probably imagine just how many cartwheels I did when I got a reply from Waiter. I sent an email asking to interview him, and he said yes! *faint* It’s like getting an email from Mick Jagger himself. Okay, so maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but you get my point.

Anyway, enough with the fangirl drooling. Here’s my brief interview with the Waiter himself.

Let’s get on with the program shall we?

What got you started on blogging?
I was frustrated with my lot in life and needed to vent. Opening an account on Blogger was cheaper than psychotherapy so………….

Did you have any background as a writer prior to the blog?
Other than writing brochures as a marketing rep, I had no prior writing experience.

Most bloggers get writer’s block or bored after some time. What keeps you going?
The fans, first and foremost. When you find yourself with an online following, you feel like you’re no longer writing for yourself but for other people. If it was just about me, I would have stopped long ago. Also the feedback from the fans and the attention helps. It’d be awful to write all these stories if no one was reading them! I’d have to be some kind of delusional egomaniac to do that.

Professional bloggers usually think that SEO and keywords are the key to online writing success, but your blog succeeded mostly because of your great writing style and interesting content. Anything you’d like to say to pro-bloggers who’d like to emulate you?
I have no advice to give. I have some ability, found my niche, and got lucky.

Now that you’re famous, you have to deal with as much criticism as praise. Your metaphor on “tables as prostitutes” elicited particularly scathing comments. Has this somehow cramped your writing style or choice of allegories?
When I first started writing my blog I liked being provocative. It got attention and caused some buzz. Now, however, if saying things like saying “tables are prostitutes” distracts the reader from the story I’m trying to tell, I won’t go down that road. That’s part of my maturation process as a writer.

But I won’t censor myself for PC reasons. Screw that. Sometimes the restaurant world is down and dirty and writing about it will shock people. If people can’t handle that, they’re free to read something else. And yes, when you’re a waiter, you look at tables like your own personal stable of whores. Make Daddy some money!

Also, contrary to opinion, I like honest criticism about my writing. When that criticism, however, is just some shrill internet brat trying to whine the loudest and get the most attention, I tune them out.

How does it feel, now that you’re a published writer?
It feels great. Then you start wondering about what’s next. The writer’s angst never ends I guess.

Future plans? A movie deal perhaps?
I do have a film agent. There’s interest in a Waiter Rant Film/TV project but beyond that I can’t say much. Of course, any deal will fall apart if Brad Pitt doesn’t play me.

I’m also assembling a book proposal for a second memoir type book and I’ve got about fifty pages of a crime novel under my belt.

Your message to aspiring bloggers who want to be as successful as you are?
Find a niche, keep writing, and don’t worry too much about what other people think.

More of Waiter on WaiterRant.Net.

XOXO,
Fainting Fangirl, aka