prospectboy, From Texas, 92 Fans, 68 Hubs, Joined 11 months ago
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Redberry Sky Interviews prospectboy
A laid-back guy shares his thoughts on the value of authenticity and a balanced view
To break the ice – can you tell me an anecdote or funny story about yourself?
Hm. Funny story about myself? Not sure that I have one I can think of at this moment. I'll just say that I'm a really silly guy. I come across a lot of people as being somewhat serious, but if you ask anyone who knows me or has talked to me on the phone, they will tell you that I'm a funny guy. I always say some off the wall things in order to make people laugh. Sometimes it works, and then on occasions it doesn't. However, I think it works more often than not (smile).
Can you tell me a little about yourself and your writing – what brought you to HubPages, and what motivates you to write?
Well, I'm 31 years old and live in Texas. I'm a very laid back guy who is pretty much a homebody. Besides writing and blogging, I enjoy playing basketball, jogging, watching movies, and hanging out with my guy friends. My writing is a way for me to express myself to a wider range of people. I find that I often have a hard time getting people to listen to or understand some of my thoughts on a everyday basis, and I'm able to better do that through my writing. I joined HubPages almost a year ago. One of my writing friends from another content writing website, Triond told me about HubPages. I decided to give it a shot. It was definitely rough the first few month being that I didn't know much, but things got better as time has passed on.
You write really cool and interesting Hubs on sports and sports-related themes – where does this passion come from?
Well, I'm a huge sports fan for one. However, my passion for writing about sports-related themes comes from my attempt to attract people to things they may not have heard of, or even thought about being interested in. People who aren't even fans of certain sports may find themselves becoming interested in something that an everyday person like themselve wrote. That's one of the magical things about the Internet. There is always something new we can learn and become interested in learning more about. The knowledge that can be acquired is limitless. We never know who is reading our Hubs, and if awareness can be brought to others about something new to them, then I think we're accomplishing something special through our writing.
Another theme you write on is human nature and the way we interact with each other, and what always strikes me about these Hubs is that you see both (or many!) different sides to a situation and you’re happy to engage with your readers in the comments. What draws you to explore these topics, and can you give any insight on how you remain so balanced and fair?
Wow! That's a well-stated question (smile). I like this one, and I appreciate your acknowledging that. To answer the question, I'm a firm believer in that old saying, "treat others how you want to be treated". I feel that so many people in general are somewhat selfish when it comes to dealing with other people and their feelings. Yes, I do agree that we should always look out for ourselves first. However, I think it's important to try and view things from others perspectives as well. Especially since most of us deal with the same everyday struggles, and any of us can find ourselves in a similar position as the next person. I try to incorporate this into my everday life, and I feel it gives me added balance. Interacting with readers in the comments is important to me as well. It keeps the discussion going on, and lets potential new readers know that I appreciate them taking out the time to read. It also lets them know that I care about their thoughts and feedback. Hearing what others think is very important to me, and allows me to learn as well.
You just completed a group 30 Hubs in 30 Days Challenge, and you managed to write great and really well-researched Hubs during that pressured time! I know that you’re thinking of doing more of these Challenges in the future. Can you tell me what appeals to you about them, and how you deal with the pressure and time limits of a Challenge?
Well for the most part I try to write on things that I'm somewhat familiar with. I think that gives me an added edge when it comes to writing about things that require research. I feel that some people go wrong when they attempt to write on something they may not be familiar with in order to bring more traffic. I think it's important to be ourselves, and be authentic in our writing. I have previously done my own personal "10 hubs in 10 days challenge" a few months back. I felt like if I could accomplish that, then I would be able to do 30 in 30 days. I think that preparation is key when it comes to writing in general. It's always a good thing to write down our thoughts first, and expand upon them. I think that somewhat helps with taking the pressure off when it comes to time limits. At any rate, the time constraints are still there, and they can hinder our writing quite a bit if we don't prepare properly. This is something that I'm going to keep in the back of my head next time I decide to do one of these challenges.
What are your future plans for your writing talents, HubPages, and developing your online presence?
Well if I could get into a situation where I could be writing regularly for a website, or something of that nature, that would be great. Especially if it was a situation where it dealt with health, fitness, and running. I've actually had someone from a website come across one of my articles and express interest in having me write for their site. Unfortunately, I think they wanted someone with a bit more experience, but I thought it was a nice sentiment anyway. Otherwise, I'm happy just being able to write here on HubPages and hopefully inspire others along with myself. The writers on HubPages are so motivating and inspiring. We have a great community of writers here.
You’ve been on HubPages for almost a year now, what are the highlights of your time on HubPages, and do you have any words of wisdom that might help a newbie to HubPages about writing and making the most of the site?
Well, one of the highlights would be what I mentioned in the last question with the website owner contacting me. I thought it was great that someone found one of my articles on a subject they believe in. Also, just being able to read comments from others on my Hubs is a highlight and a joy in itself. I guess what I would say to any newbies would be to be like a sponge and soak up all the information from other writers on HubPages. Read, read, and read others people's works. That can't be stressed enough. Interact and socialize with others, and focus on obtaining as much knowledge as possible. Not only will that help you in your online presence, but it will take your writing to another level. Finally, just have fun and enjoy getting to know others. There have been a few writers that I've corresponded with outside of this site, and became friends with. We're all located in different parts of the world, so we can all learn something from each other's lives and cultures.
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