An Interview With One of Environmental Graffiti's Top Writers Eve Javier

Photo: jaeWalk

Environmental Graffiti is buzzing. The past weeks saw some incredible articles on everything from Vlad the Impaler, to the Steepest Railways on Earth (and everything in between). We’ve always believed in giving our users a voice and a platform to be heard, where you can inspire and be inspired – whatever it is that floats your boat. We also realize that behind every article is a person bursting with knowledge and experience waiting to be shared with the community. As such, we thought we’d continue our series of community interviews (the last one met with a great response): so step forward Eve, one of Environmental Graffiti’s star writers and avid cat lover. We think you’ll agree, her answers make for interesting reading…

Photo: Eve Javier

First of all, where did you hear about Environmental Graffiti and what initially attracted you to become a writer on the site?

I discovered EG on Twitter when someone reposted a link to one of the articles, and it was love at first sight for me! I couldn't stop reading cool story after cool story. The fresh take on various topics was so enjoyable that when opportunity knocked (when EG launched the revamped site and I was invited to try it out) I was very excited to share something fun with the community. The posting process turned out to be excellent and writing is easy when you've got a great system behind you, as well as encouraging folks who acknowledge your work! Also, I am very grateful to Chris for the kindness :-)

Photo: macronix

You’ve written a number of articles on EG now, what are your impressions of the site? Which aspects do you find most useful?

On the design aspect, the EG site is friendly and easy to navigate, even for first time visitors. Since I saw it before and after the revamp, I could say this is a quality shared by both versions. The design of the layout is interesting and nicely compartmentalized and it is never hard to find what you're looking for. As a site user, I'm happy with all the controls too - and I love web analytics, so I find the stats pretty useful, as well as the peer feedback too!

Photo: US FIsh and Wildlife Service

You’ve written some amazing articles, on a variety of topics, ranging from a cave with a million bats, to the thorniest trees on earth. Where do you find inspiration for your writing?

Natural curiosity about things around us I guess! Take the thorny tree for example: everyday I pass by an eternally busy intersection on my way to work and one day I noticed that amidst all those shiny metal boxes causing traffic and the factories lining up the street and all the concrete making up the highways, stood this tree...with thorns all over its trunk! I got more interested after finding out that it’s a tree I've been seeing around here all my life, but never really seeing it.

Photo: Sophie

You sit down to write an article on EG - what are three things you absolutely must have?

Good music, coffee, a photo of my cat!

Photo: Ana Cotta

You love cats Eve, but the closest thing you’ve written on is the hyena. Do you prefer to stick to what you know when you write, or do you like to push yourself towards new, unknown territory?

I'm discovering that I enjoy writing about things I know about but that surprise me as I learn more about them! EG has reminded me not to take anything for granted, to find awe in everything, because this is how you appreciate life...then you write about it and inspire someone else. And as for cats... cats will always remain a mystery to me, and I'd like to keep it that way.

Photo: appenz

There’s a great community of writers on Environmental Graffiti who all share many overlapping passions. Have you been impressed by the content produced by other users?

I love all the stories by all the cool people on EG! Each one is a blast to read, and even with the overlap, I find their unique take on a subject really refreshing. For sentimental reasons, I'll like to give a shout out to the two writers whose work I read first on EG: Simone Preuss and Karl Fabricius. I'm fond of your articles and the way you enjoy seeing the humor in things and educating us about topics at the same time.

Photo: Trodel

Aside from any of your own, what has been your favorite article on Environmental Graffiti?

What a difficult question...I can't just pick one, can I! :-) My favorites range from ‘The Most Beautiful Yet Precariously Placed Monasteries on Earth’ - which makes me want to travel - to ‘The Mysterious Shadows That Lie Behind Everyday Objects’ - which leaves me in wonder – and ‘The Dancing Forest of Kaliningrad' - which makes me dream!

Photo: Douglas J. McLaughlin

You seem to have a very powerful sense of what makes a good article and the many ways a reader might respond to engaging writing. What would be your ‘dream’ article to write on EG?

Traveling to a yet undiscovered place and then hearing their secret story straight from the quiet voices of the villagers living there; then writing about it, but vaguely so as not to disclose where the place really is, preserving its pristine nature, leaving the readers wondering if it was real or made up... making them dream about it at night.

Photo: Sistak

Some of your articles have become very popular on social media sites and across the internet. How does it make you feel to know that thousands of people around the world have derived pleasure from reading something you’ve written?

Very, very good actually! Warm, tingly and happy! But most of all, thankful. To be able to share my thoughts and stories is a great reward in itself, to have it enjoyed by many is a gift!

Photo: gigijin

How do you envision your writing career progressing with Environmental Graffiti?

I hope to write and share more fun stories as long as I can type and breathe! The world is full of wonderful things; a lifetime cannot even fathom all of it. EG has given me a way to get my voice heard...so I take it quite seriously. That feeling of total wonder has been re-awakened inside me, and I'm definitely seeing so many things around me in a different light. There is so much more to tell though…

Photo: Mike Pedroncelli

Many thanks to Eve for her wonderful answers, and we look forward to seeing more incredible writing from all our users!