Homesteadbound Interviews Movie Master
A mother, movie maker, and writer shares more about her HubPages experience
Your profile states you gave up a career in banking to start your own business producing films on DVDs. How did this come about and have you ever regretted it?
I chose a career in banking after I had been widowed. Suddenly, becoming the main breadwinner of the family, I needed a job with stability and prospects to support my family. A decent salary was priority for me, although it would never have been my choice to otherwise pursue this career. I stuck with it for 20 years and during that time the banking industry changed a great deal. The emphasis was more and more on “selling” - pressure I certainly didn’t need, and gradually I began to dread going to work.
As a hobby I was producing films on DVD of my family and friends; a colleague at work asked me to produce a film for her husband’s birthday, she was delighted with it and paid me! Wow! Getting paid for something I enjoyed doing! It was a huge decision to make and risky, giving up a regular salary to start my own business. With my family’s support that’s exactly what I did. Have I ever regretted it? Never! To all of you out there unhappy in your work, I say take the plunge. Work is a big part of your life and life is so short. Even if it means a reduction in income, quit it and do something that makes you happy!
Share with us how instrumental you were in getting Cloverleaf to begin writing on HubPages, and share with us your feelings about mother and daughter both writing.
It was actually Cloverleaf who introduced me to HubPages and it took a fair bit of persuading! Her enthusiasm was quite contagious and when she told me that she had written several Hubs (when she had previously never shown any interest in writing at all) I was gob-smacked! Initially, I agreed to write a Hub about Photo Restoration: Scanning and Restoring Photos at Home - a subject I was comfortable and confident with. I was delighted to receive a HubNuggets award for my first article. Cloverleaf lives in Canada now and I am in the UK. I can’t remember what we use to talk about before HP, but telephone conversations and emails seem to revolve around HP these days. This new-found love for writing and the HubPages community has become important in our lives; it’s new and exciting for us and sharing the experience somehow shortens the thousands of miles between us.
What do you find most rewarding about writing Hubs?
I love the interaction between Hubbers. Comments and feedback - they feed the writers soul!
What have you discovered about yourself as a writer since joining HubPages, have there been any surprises?
The biggest surprise is - it appears that I can write! Initially when I joined HubPages, I set myself a goal of writing 5 Hubs on a subject I was confident with: restoring photos and Adobe tutorials. I have now written 60 Hubs on numerous different subjects. I have always been a very private person and have surprised myself by writing so openly about my personal life.
Is there any one Hub that you have enjoyed reading more than any other? Which one and why?
The Hub is written by marcoujor and is called Poem: Strong Scent of My Mother Still. It is a personal tribute to marcoujor’s mother written from her heart. This was an inspirational introduction to her writing. She’s a wonderful writer who still inspires me, and is so supportive to my writings. Thank you, marcoujor!
If you could give one piece of advice to a new Hubber, what would that be?
Embrace the whole HubPages experience! It offers more than a platform to write your own work. There’s a lot to discover in the community here and you will be pleasantly surprised when you discover the support and loyalty from fellow Hubbers. In the beginning you may be reticent regarding commenting on other Hubs, but go for it! Your comments are so important to the writer. I remember my excitement on my first comment on my first Hub; it was made by Dexter Yarbrough. He became my first follower and has been a loyal follower ever since. I immediately read some of his work and found we had a mutual interest in photography. His work is inspirational.
You write both prose and poetry. Which do you prefer to write and why?
This subject is still a whole new experience for me and very much a learning curve. As prose is more identified to a free flowing speech, I would say I am more confident with this style, as I feel no inhibitions as I write.
What might we expect from your future Hubs?
There will be plenty more gardening, nature and photography Hubs. Also more prose and poetry, writing about my family and love. These are the subjects that inspire me the most. I have set myself a challenge and it’s a big one! I am determined to write a short story. Six months ago I would have said that was impossible, but that would have been before HubPages!
What are your thoughts about the HubPages community and do you have any messages for your fellow Hubbers?
Firstly, I would like to say a big thank you to fellow Hubbers for following me, reading my Hubs and being so supportive. I have been completely blown away recently by their reaction to a Hub I wrote about my Father’s illness. Initially, I was dubious about publishing something so personal and was a little concerned how readers would react, if at all. Readers’ comments have been so compassionate, offering words of comfort and kindness. They have written about their own experiences and could understand my feelings. I am grateful for all of those comments because they have given me such great comfort. One Hubber in particular summed up for me what the HubPages community is all about. His name is Mike, better known as mckbirdbks. His first comment read “I am so sorry to hear about your Dad. Now that we know, we are all there with you in spirit”. Mike returned with a second comment “Here, I've brought you a cup of coffee, nice and strong as you like it. Think I'll just sit a few moments”. It was as if he was sat in the same room as me; his words were so sincere.
Tell us something that we'd never guess about you - surprise us!
Well it’s hardly a claim to fame, but you may be surprised to know I was: “Miss Lovely Legs of Prestatyn” in 1982 and Runner-Up of the National Whitbread ‘Barmaid of the Year’ competition back in 1976! Two more Hubs in the making maybe….?
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