Interview with stephhicks68

1. Tell us a little about yourself. I'm 39 years old, and have been practicing law for 14 years. My area of focus is land use and real estate, and I primarily help developers get permits to help them construct new projects. I also work closely with local and state permitting agencies to mitigate environmental and other impacts of proposed new development (traffic, etc.) Its not always easy. I have an intense desire to write, which I have been pursuing more seriously the past 2-3 years. Other than that, I am a very busy mom of 4 kids, ages 10, 8, 5 and 5, and happily married to another lawyer, so you can imagine how arguments in our household must go!
2. What brought you to HubPages? Interestingly, I was perusing Craig's List postings for writers. Not in Bend, Oregon. Not even in Portland, Oregon. I saw the listing in Seattle, and logged on. I was pleasantly surprised, signed up that day, and here I am just about 2 months later (boy, time flies when you're having fun!)
3. What do you like Hubbing on, with respect to topics? I like to follow the old adage... write what you know. So, I can write very easily about parenting, twins, diabetes, and related topics. I have surprised myself, however, with the HubLove contest, by broadening my horizons on topics that I would not have thought could have interested me, or on which I could have written quality Hubs. On many occasions, I ended up in the top 5, which was quite a suprise and an honor, considering the very high caliber competition involved! Who knew I could write about business, technology, and games?
4. What has been your best Hub so far (in your opinion)? Why? That is like asking who is your favorite child? But seriously, with over 90 hubs under my belt now (mostly thanks to the contest), it may be a tie: Gary Larson's Far Side Cartoons, or Dr. Seuss's Children's Books. Both are among my top visited hubs, and I would not have written them, if it hadn't been for HubLove contest. At the same time, they show my playful, joking side. I really love both Larson and Seuss, so maybe I am overstating it a bit when I say those hubs wouldn't otherwise exist. In fact, I'm thinking of a Calvin and Hobbs one, as we speak.
5. What is your favorite Hub by another Hubber? This is so hard to answer! I think I will just go with my gut and say that it is one to which I related the second I read it, which is The Perfect Mom Next Door, by amy jane. As moms, it is so hard when we compare ourselves with other moms (or even caregivers). We never measure up! And for Amy Jane to put this topic forth in such a heartwarming, touching way - from her own daughter's mouth no less! - was really amazing. I signed up to be her fan immediately.
6. What is one nice thing about HubPages (the site) that many might not know? The community as a whole is very helpful. People like Darkside have particularly great hubs for those starting out, and the HubPages staff are very responsive with respect to troubleshooting. Overall, I think the participants are receptive to newbies, if you play by the rules. It is a great place to polish writing skills and have some fun with the competitions—more to come in the upcoming months!
7. Name one thing you learned about from another Hubber's Hub that you didn't know about before. I can't narrow it down to one thing, from one Hubber. I learn new things every day. I particularly like Patty Inglish's scholarly hubs. So well put together, researched and organized. I just know that I'm getting some good stuff there. Peter Lopez makes me think, and laugh at the same time! I know that I can depend on Bob Ewing for great gardening tips. Whitney05 always has super pet advice! I have been really impressed with PenmanZee's writing and views on life. So, I wish I could say there was just one thing that I didn't know before, but each day the answer changes.
8. What kind of Hubber do you typically join the Fan Club of? If someone joins my Fan Club, I will check out their writing. If they have done a good job with their own hubs, and have solid scores, I will join theirs as well. I like to reward those who join my club. But I also go through the Forums and Hubs to see about new authors. Typically, I enjoy people who write from the heart, who display a knowledge of the topic on which they are writing, give me more resources to follow - if I want to learn more, and who are entertaining! I will always be a fan of these types of hubbers.
9. If you could impart one piece of advice to a new Hubber, what would that be? Probably the same advice that others have given... be patient. And be realistic. Don't expect to log in one day, write 5 hubs and make $50. It simply does not happen. Go to the Forums, read the advice, and make some new friends. It's really a super network!
10. Tell us something that we'd never guess about you—surprise us! I used to be a concert pianist. From the age of 5, when I started taking lessons, through my sophomore year in college at the University of Washington, I studied piano. I was pretty good. I had a wonderful teacher on Mercer Island, Washington (where I grew up), who sadly died of cancer when I was a sophomore in high school. She really pushed me to work hard and do well in local competitions. I practiced 1.5 hours a day (45 minutes in the morning before school and 45 minutes after school). When I went to UW, I declared a music major so I could continue with a professor. Eventually, I realized that I was going to do something with my life beyond music. I miss it quite a bit, but had the honor of playing at my grandfather's funeral (his request) last fall.