Christy Kirwan Interviews Alison Graham
Insights from a Talented Housekeeper, Writer, and Marketing Professional
You've been a member of HubPages for over 3 years. How did you hear about us and what made you decide to join?
I decided to learn more about the internet soon after I lost my Dad. I wanted something to keep my mind busy and decided to try building a website of my own. I must confess that I first set up an account with HubPages because I had read it was the easiest way to get AdSense approval. However, I was soon bitten by the 'HubPages Bug' and since participating the the HubPages Apprenticeship Program, I am enjoying my writing even more!
You write on many different subjects including health, housekeeping, pets, and more. Which subject is your favorite and why?
I don't think I have a favorite subject. I am interested in so many things. Often I will get involved in finding out about a new topic after doing keyword research and finding a likely topic for traffic and maybe Amazon sales. I sometimes find myself unexpectedly immersed in something fascinating as a result, and this leads to more ideas for articles.
You mention on your profile that you worked in marketing. How has your marketing experience influenced your Hubs and writing style?
I think that one of the main roles of a marketer is to communicate. My previous marketing role involved creating company literature and explaining products and services as well as teaching other staff. This has definitely influenced my writing on HubPages and I have been really encouraged by comments on my Hubs where readers say that the information I have provided has helped them to understand how to do something or provided just what they were looking for. I think I am developing a conversational, non-technical style of writing and have been working on this because I want to make the information I convey easy to understand.
From your Hubs, it looks like you're awfully handy. Where did you learn all your great cleaning tricks and home remedies?
In our household, my husband Terry is the handy man! But I come from many generations of 'make-do-and-menders.' I love to buy something second-hand for pennies and make it good again. Home remedies largely come from my unwillingness to a) use chemicals on my skin or in my home or take prescription meds if I can possibly avoid it, and b) spend a lot of money on a commercial product when home remedies would do as good a job or better! I love researching remedies and trying them out (although it has to be said that not all of them work!).
Do you have a particular Hub that is especially meaningful to you?
That is a difficult question. There are many Hubbers that I admire hugely and I enjoy reading their work and learning from their writing styles and layouts. I have read personal Hubs that have made me cry and others that have made me laugh aloud but no, I do not have one specific Hub that I have read, or written that is especially meaningful to me.
What advice can you offer to the HubPages Community?
Goodness! I don't think I am qualified to offer advice, but I would definitely recommend that anyone who has time to make the commitment should apply to do the HubPages Apprenticeship - the course has made a phenomenal difference to the way I write and to the way I think about writing. On a personal note, I would say, never publish a Hub and say "that will do." Publish it only when you can truthfully say "that is the very best that I can do." Read other Hubs and use the Learning Center resources available to learn as you go and improve on what you have written previously by editing older Hubs.
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