So, Mr. Kindt, I have a question. To what extent has Tumblr and other social media websites assisted with/detracted from your success as a writer? I see you have links to your FB on your blog, and that your FB links to your other blog/column, so it would

Well, no one knew who I was before Tumblr. I got a job as a columnist because of Tumblr. My experience has been positive and Tumblr is my main blogging platform. I write all kinds of random shit on Tumblr and it's become my sketch-pad, kinda. I just ramble, play around. I used to write everything out in notebooks. Not so much anymore. Anyone in the publishing industry will tell you self-publication is bad, bad, bad. If you have skill and talent, and serious drive, it can be good, good, good. And patience. Mucho patience. My literary agent once told me that "if it's controversial, it's better to leave it out." I fired him on the spot. The vast majority of self-published works are shit, but so are those published traditionally—they're just better edited and formatted. Distribution is better traditionally, but that's changing.