Welcome back to our writer interview series where we give readers a closer look at the background of the writers that work with iNeedArticles.com.
Our third interview is with Janelle C., who has worked with iNeedArticles for around three years now. Janelle has written more than 1,400 articles for INA – she’s part of the writer team that has been with INA since the time the original owner started the company. You could say she’s seen a lot in the world of online writing, she has a lot of direct internet marketing experience via her own published blog (see below for details), and we’re very proud to have her as part of our INA writer team.
Without further ado, we hope you enjoy this latest writer interview:
1. Q: Janelle, what’s your professional background?
A: My first introduction to the working world was after training in aesthetics. I worked in a spa located in Allen, Texas as an esthetician, which I enjoyed for one year.
For seven years, I worked for Jonathan Leger and Prosperative, LLC. These days, I work on my blog, www.sewmuchcraftiness.com, and INA.
2. Q: Tell us about your writing experience.
A: I have always enjoyed writing. I began writing poetry as an adolescent, and at the age of 14, I wrote a fiction book in my spare time, which I named, “Miragia.” To this day, I enjoy writing poetry, and I have several ideas for books that I would like to write and have published.
My blog will be celebrating its fifth birthday this November, and apart from writing about arts and crafts there, I enjoy freelance article writing. I have written for INA for nearly three years and Textbroker for nearly two.
3. Q: Tell us about the best book you’ve read recently.
A: A habit of mine is to re-read books from my collection, and one of my resolutions for the year 2019 is to read at least one book each month. The latest book I have re-read is “Between, Georgia” by Joshilyn Jackson. This book is near and dear to my heart, as I have not only read it several times throughout my youth, I picked it up by special circumstances.
When I was 15, my family and I made a special trip to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. It just so happened that at that time, Joshilyn Jackson was there promoting her new book, “Between, Georgia.” I was able to meet her (she is a lovely person) and pick up a copy of the book, which she signed for me. Since then, I have read and re-read the book, gleaning more and more from it each time.
4. Q: Which blogs do you read?
A: I enjoy keeping up with the blog, Delightfully Tacky, as well as Prosperative LLC’s blog featured on their website.
5. Q: What do you enjoy most about writing?
A: Words, in and of themselves, are free from emotion. They tell a story, but it is the writer that gives words feeling. But it doesn’t stop there – the reader must use their imagination to picture the story in their mind that is being told, flesh it out, give it life. In that way, writing a story, an article, even one sentence is like painting a picture that appears differently for each pair of eyes that gazes upon it, and I really enjoy that.
6. Q: How would you describe your writing style?
A: In a nutshell, I like to write in a clear and concise way, being factual where facts are necessary but still striving to keep things interesting.
7. Q: How do you perform research for writing assignments?
A: I visit two or three credible sources and compare information given by each one, to make sure that what I am writing is accurate.
8. Q: How do you proofread or edit your work?
A: After I finish a paragraph, I read it before beginning work on the next paragraph to make sure it flows well while checking for spelling/grammar mistakes. Once the whole article is finished, I re-read it and then, if I am happy with the result, I send it through.
9. Q: What makes good content? How do you know if a piece of content will perform well?
A: I like to keep things simple. In my mind, good content is accurate, free of mistakes when it comes to grammar and spelling, and flows well from one sentence to the next.
10. Q: How do you talk about a dry or technical subject without relying on industry jargon?
A: When I complete my research, I try not to just copy and paste the information. I try to understand what the research is telling me. That way, I can write about it using my own words. At times, you have to stay true to the vocabulary of a technical subject. But you can still convey the information in a conversational way that is enjoyable for the reader.
11. Q: What do you do to create SEO-Friendly content?
A: I use keywords that are relevant to what I am writing about that have lots of searches but little competition. Also, I keep the information accurate and correct. Content must be useful to the reader in order to be SEO-friendly! When working on my blog, I also make use of high-quality images to accompany the articles themselves.
12. Q: How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing?
A: My default tone is professional yet conversational. If the instructions of a piece ask for a more informal tone, I write as if I am speaking with a friend.
13. Q: How do you determine whether a source is credible?
A: First, I like to consider the source itself. Is it known for being credible in most, if not all, respects? If so, that is a plus. I try not to stop there, however. I like to check with several credible sources and compare the information. If several reputable sources are stating the same thing, it’s safe to say the information is correct. Common sense is also a good guide. If after careful research it doesn’t feel right, perhaps it’s time to do a little more digging.
14. Q: What experience do you have with non-text content?
A: Apart from writing, I am an amateur photographer. I feature my photographs on Bigstock Photo and Shutterstock. Also, when writing a tutorial article on my blog, I take step-by-step pictures and add them to the written content so that those following along can see what I am writing about as well as read the instructions.
15. Q: Which style guide do you prefer to follow?
A: You know, that is an excellent question. I haven’t actually adopted a particular style for my writing, but I like to be descriptive, as well as write in a way that would be acceptable for journalism.
16. Q: How did you find INA?
A: Jonathan Leger, who is familiar with my writing, recommended that I start writing with INA. I accepted.
17. Q: Why do you want to write for INA?
A: INA is the best platform for freelance article writing, in my opinion. Also, I am a mom to two girls, and I want to be able to work from home so that I can stay with them and not miss any part of their lives.
18. Q: What are your favorite writing assignments?
A: I love writing about subjects I am familiar with. I find that I write faster as well as receive higher ratings when I write about home decor ideas and other creative topics.
19. Q: What experiences do you have with e-commerce or internet marketing?
A: While running a blog, I have learned a few things about getting my content out to my ideal audience and building a following. I employ that knowledge to keep growing and having more individuals come across my work.
20. Q: Are you a published author? How do we find your content?
A: While I do not yet have any fiction published, I plan to start writing some of the stories I have had ideas for for some time this year. I really hope to get published once they are finished. Apart from that, you can find my blog at www.sewmuchcraftiness.com. I love arts and crafts, and my blog is dedicated to that. Please feel free to take a look sometime!