Meet the Blogger with Carol J. Alexander

      

      
This month's Meet the Blogger features author Carol J. Alexander. You might remember her visit last year for the debut of her latest book, Homestead Cooking with Carol. I met Carol soon after I started blogging. She's a treasure - a great inspiration and encouragement. This talented friend is also a freelance writer, editor, proofreader, and contributor to the anthology for writers, Start Here: 40 Freelance Writers Share....
            

Hi Carol! Thanks for stopping by. Why did you start blogging? How long have you had your 

current blog?

I started blogging in 2007 because I read in Writer’s Digest that that is what writers are supposed to do. I

took a course in platform development, fashioned my blog topic, and everything has been going along

since.

What is your blog about?

I am on my third blog. :/ I am easing out of the homesteading/homeschooling niche and into the writing

niche. My newest blog is Carol’s Blog: Tips, Rants, and Raves. My plan is that every week I will post one

of those three things. My tips are things like how I keep my files, websites I find helpful, ways I cultivate

ideas. Rants are my pet peeves. You know, like when you find the word Internet and it’s not capitalized.

And then Raves are the things about writing that excite me—quotes from books, when a reader emails a

thank you, or a shout out for a friend’s publication success.

What benefits have you gained through blogging? 

Definitely writing when I don’t feel like it. Reaching out to readers and forming friendships is a great

benefit. Also, if you rank in search engines, have folks sharing your content, and generally make your

blog popular, it gets your name in front of those who will be the buyers of your work.

What project/s are you working on right now?

I have created a course called Break into Magazine Writing: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Published.

The pilot class is wrapping up as I type this. After getting the feedback from those first students, I plan to

tweak the content and then offer it again in the fall. The course lasts four weeks and walks the students

through developing niche topics, choosing markets to submit to, creating a list of 30 story ideas, and

finally crafting a killer query letter. The course also includes bonus material that folks would want to pay

for, but I keep it a secret until the final week of class.

What might people be surprised to learn about you?

The fact I like to throw out to shock people is that I was a DJ for a Contemporary Christian radio station

for a short period of time.

Wow, now that is surprising! :) What advice would you share with a newbie blogger?

Don’t let it distract you. If you want to be a writer, write what you want to write. Don’t let the blogging

world suck you in with the “get rich from blogging” hype. Just focus on your writing.

Good advice, Carol. Thank you for stopping by! 

Thanks for having me!   

Carol J. Alexander writes magazine feature articles on alternative farming practices, natural

health, money-saving, parenting, and homeschooling topics. Her work has appeared in Grit,

BackHome, Urban Farm, Hobby Farm, Home Education, and more. Carol is also the

Assistant Editor of Shenandoah Living Magazine. You will find her blog, featured work, and

Break into Magazine Writing course at www.CarolJAlexander.com.


Do you have any questions for Carol? What is your writing focused on this month?

Happy writing,

Karen


Photo credit: Free Images