"What, you mean somebody actually reads this thing?" Scott Schrantz on AroundCarson

Scott Schrantz lives on the outskirts of Carson City, Nevada, and is the creator and host of AroundCarson.com. Here's what he has to say about his placeblog:

When did you start your placeblog?

May of 2005, although I had been writing about local issues on my personal blog for years before that.

What software do you use to run your placeblog?

A homegrown system I've cobbled together myself in PHP. As a geek first and writer second, it was the only way to go.

What inspired you to start your placeblog, and what are your future plans for it?

I had been writing about local news and issues on my personal site for a long time, and it reached a point where I thought those posts could be spun off into their own site. At the same time I had been watching the rise of "hyperlocal" websites around the country, and got inspired by those.

I envisioned my site as a home for Carson City on the web, one that isn't owned by the newspaper or the state or city government. And so beyond just being a blog, I built the site to have photo galleries, a dining guide, info on the town's historic buildings, and articles of interest to visitors and locals alike. I also planned it from the start to be a community blog, where anyone could post to the front page, so the site would be made up of a variety of voices, not just my own. That never really materialized, though, probably through me not getting the word out enough. So now, for better or worse, the site is seen as my site and not one belonging to the community.

I'd like to try to turn that around in the future, not only to get a more interesting blend of writers involved, but also because I tend to procrastinate. Right now the site will lay dormant for days, sometimes even weeks, at a time when I hit one of my dry spells, and a community of other writers picking up the slack would help to keep the site alive.

Best moment as a placeblogger?

The first time someone else posted a story to the front page. Actually, it's still a thrill every time it happens.

Getting featured in the newspaper was nice too, even if it was on page 16.

Worst moment as a placeblogger?

Whenever I criticize someone, and then get an e-mail or comment from that person taking me to task. What, you mean people actually read this thing?