Nathan Exposed » The Gay White Male Oprah of Blogs

The Gay White Male Oprah of Blogs

It’s been awhile since I posted a “Conversations with Myself” segment, an idea I borrowed from Rey. It’s just a two sided discussion with my own inner conscious, mainly for the purpose of presenting a thought process in a way that’s easy to follow.

So I hear you’re working on being the gay white male Oprah of blogs?

Yep, I’ve wanted to for awhile now.

What the heck is the gay white male Oprah of blogs?

Well… I used to say I wanted to be the gay white Oprah. But Ellen Degeneres filled that spot…. well, kind of. Ellen is funny, Oprah really isn’t, at least not on purpose. When Oprah does the deep bull-dyke voice, she is hilarious. Oh, and also when she calls her vagina a “vajayjay.” That never gets old.

But Oprah and Ellen are both on TV. You get mad if you have to put pants on to leave the house. In fact, you wear your pajamas when you do leave the house, and you refuse to go anywhere that doesn’t have a drive through.

This is true. That’s why I added “of blogs” to the end of the title. With the internet, I don’t have to wear pants. Just look at my blog header.

So why do you want to be like Oprah? Or Ellen?

I love both of them. They inspire humanity. They are intelligent, strong willed, and compassionate. They help make the world a better place. And they are both minorities, who would have never made it 50 years ago. I always like a story of triumph.

Mmm-kay… that’s all true. But how are you going to change the world with your pants off?

I’m not sure yet, I just know I am. I’ve always known I would. I want to reach people, and that takes work. But little by little, I think I’m doing it. I think I’m reaching people. Somehow, someway, I think I help make people happier.

So what’s this big news?

Well, it’s big news to me. The publisher of Out & About, Nashville’s GLBT newspaper, has become a friend of mine in recent months. He didn’t know about my blog, because I usually just tell people about my business website. But I finally decided I knew him well enough to share it with him. So he came here and read through it, and really liked my writing. He told me he wanted me to do some writing for the newspaper, but all the sections are already filled with writers. However, the newspaper also has a quickly growing online website, which has unlimited growth potential. He asked if I would like to write a section for the newspaper’s website.

Now I just need to find a topic and a theme. I have a few ideas, but Jerry (that’s his name) suggested I ask the readers of my blog what I should write about. So now I am. I value your opinions.

I want it to be different. The basics are covered- they have news, entertainment, opinions, etc. Jerry suggested I write an advice column, which I’d really enjoy. A sex advice column would be fun, but then I would eternally be pegged as “that sex writer” and I don’t want that. That’s not Oprah worthy.

How about something inspirational? Something that helps people be happier, more successful, more satisfied with life? That’s a broad net to cast. But I also want it to be a little edgy sometimes. Something that people would read and say “Damn, that Nathan is pushing the envelope. I’m going to forward this to all my friends.”

Okay, readers! What are your thoughts? Keep in mind that whenever a new article is published, I’ll be posting something here about it. So it needs to be a topic people enjoy and could stomach on a regular basis.

Hello? Am I even in the room anymore?

Sorry, I got sidetracked talking to the people on my blog. Help me become the gay white male Oprah of blogs! What are my strongest writing abilities???

I’m leaving now…

Thanks for listening.

Tue, Dec 4, 2007 @ 8:52 pm | Filed in Blogs | Permalink

8 Comments

Oh! I also feel like that, like I’m meant to do something great, but just haven’t figured it out yet (I know I will though).

Uhm, what could you write about? Let’s see … Uhm, how about breaking with the gay stereotype? Show the gay/straight people we aren’t all the same, that we can have long-term relationships or don’t need to live inside a club 24/7 to be happy.

Posted by danny on Tue, Dec 4, 2007 @ 10:39 pm

You make us smile, you make us think, you entertain, you even turn us on at times, Oprah has never done that too me, but all other things you do so well.

Posted by Derek on Tue, Dec 4, 2007 @ 10:45 pm

i like what danny said. i also like the general advice column, which could include everything from sex to the ability to walk around with pants around one’s ankles without tripping.

Posted by eliot on Tue, Dec 4, 2007 @ 11:30 pm

I like the mixed concept, advice in life, sex, drugs, and disco…..well I don’t know about the drugs part of that, but it just rolled of the finger tips….let us know the link for sure once you start.

Ciao

Posted by The Bartender on Wed, Dec 5, 2007 @ 9:13 am

Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you. either way I’m sure you’ll be brilliant.

Posted by Tony on Wed, Dec 5, 2007 @ 3:15 pm

I think you should just be you. Write a column about what ever is happening in your life right now. I think you are insightful beyond your years. When you wrote that you were having a birthday and I realized that I was 20 years older than you (almost exactly b/c my birthday is VERY close to yours), I almost fell out of my chair! What I appreciate about this blog is the complete ring of truth in its words. I fell your emotions when I read what you write. It certainly brings me back here everyday. Its nice to know that I’m not the only gay guy that doesn’t fit all of the stereotypical perceptions the mass media portrays.

Posted by James on Wed, Dec 5, 2007 @ 5:52 pm

Congrats!
You are a very good writer, so I see this as the next progression for you.

Not sure of theme, but why not a book of the month, kinda like Oprah does but with a twist. Could send the erotic novel genre to the top of the charts (if they track them).

Posted by Jason on Thu, Dec 6, 2007 @ 11:35 pm

Whatever the topic, I’ve come to believe the most important part of a column in a newspaper is that you be yourself and never lose sight of your original purpose. Yeah, you may read that and say ‘Duh, like I need to be told that!’ But take it from me, who works with and has witnessed the personal evolution of several different types of newspaper columnists: The best columnists are the ones who never take themselves too seriously. Best of luck to you…I wish I was in Nashville again so I could have lunch with my friend Nathan, the gay white male Oprah of blogs!

Posted by Sara on Sun, Dec 9, 2007 @ 4:17 pm