Meet AC Contributor Maxine Nelson

Recently, Associated Content Contributor Maxine Nelson allowed to me to do an interview with her. She writes on a wide variety of topics, such as music, eco-friendly beauty, holidays, travel, and more. You'll see that Maxine is very passionate about writing, AC, and music. My favorite article of Maxine's is entitled Is Auto-Tune Ruining Music? Read on to learn more about Ms Nelson and be sure to stop by her AC page afterward.

How Did You First Find Out About Associated Content?
It was through Craigslist under Writers actually. I was looking at some major cities for writing positions, since writers can work from anywhere in the world. When I looked in the Miami Craigslist that is how I found out about Associated Content back in March 2009. The rest is history.

Do You Freelance For a Living or Do Something Else As Well?
Right now I am fortunate enough to devote all of my time to writing for Associated Content. I had worked for my sister for a couple of years, but now I can write full-time.

Tell Us a Little More About Yourself
My father was in the U.S. Air Force, which meant I got to travel with my family to distant lands as a child. It was the adventure of a lifetime living in Japan for three years during my tween/teen years. That experience truly shaped my life from that moment on. During my time in Japan was also the beginning of my love for writing and listening to all kinds of music.

You Mentioned Enjoying Both Music & Writing. Do Those Interests Coexist at Times?
Yes, they certainly do. When I listen to music it always brings back pleasant memories and feelings, which in turn inspires me to write about a topic. Here is an example. Late one night this past summer I was driving on my way home. As I was crossing the bridge, while listening to my favorite oldies radio station, a Barry White song came on. I hadn't heard a Barry White song in a very long time. When I arrived home I got inspired to write an article on the Top 10 Songs by Barry White. I have been a huge fan of his music since my teens.

Does AC Have Unique Benefits For You That Can't Be Found Elsewhere?
Absolutely! I love working at home, thanks to high technology and the internet. There is the glorious independence to write on any topic with little to no restrictions on word count. I love choosing from the Assignment Desk, because you can write on what you know or passionately by sharing your personal experience. Also, there are deadlines imposed which is a great motivator in becoming more disciplined with writing. AC has many more incredible benefits that I could on and on about.

What Lessons Have You Learned From Writing That Carry Over Into Life?
From writing I have gained a lot more information and appreciation for life. When you do something you love it effortlessly carries over into your life.

Which Article in Your AC Library Means the Most to You and Why?

Michael Shrieve: Woodstock, Santana, and Spellbinder

He is the original drummer for the Latin rock group Santana who performed at Woodstock and stayed with the band until 1974. The article opens with the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock TV special on the History Channel, which I then later chronicle his life and music career until it comes full circle with his present band in Seattle, Spellbinder, celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock with family, friends, fans, and other musicians.

Why this article means the most to me has to do with a lot of things. There was a wealth of information about Michael's vast career that covered solo projects, supergroup collaborations, film music compositions, producing, etc. I had to take all of this and break it down into what I could use. Naturally I couldn't use it all. That would literally take a book.

I got to interview him by phone to get more information that wasn't online about his growing up in the San Francisco Bay area and to clarify some information. The most challenging part of all was what to choose and what to leave out. It was a daunting and intimidating experience writing this article, but at the same time it's one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever had as a writer to date. Thankfully, the people involved and others greatly appreciated what I wrote, and for that I am eternally grateful.

List Three More Favorite Articles You've Published on AC

A.) The Best Summer Dresses to Wear to a Wedding

An article that is a surprise to me in every way, because it has the most page views of all the articles I've written. It is a very simple article about summer dresses I felt were appropriate and stylish enough to wear to a wedding. I guess the readers must like what I selected, plus the colors too. It is obviously high up on the search engines.

B.) Top 20 Techno Songs Ever

This is my number one music article, a Top Songs list, with the highest page views. It was a challenge to write and select the songs, because it was a genre of music I knew almost nothing about. It was definitely a very educational experience.

C.) How to Always Look Good Stepping Off the Plane

It is my pride and joy simply because it earned a place in the AC Editor Picks for the week of Tuesday, September 22 through Monday, September 28, 2009 on the Lifestyle/Beauty Category Features Showcase. I was beaming with joy every time I went to that homepage to see the title of my article and the image used. This was a real rush for me.

What is the Best Lesson You've Learned Since Joining AC?
To be more disciplined with my writing, thereby overcoming my insatiable procrastination little by little, and to treat this like a full-time career.

Anything Else You'd like to Add?
Yes, it really pains me to read how people speak negatively about AC when in fact it has been a lifesaver for me in this troubling economy. I realize AC is not perfect, but you have to be committed to see any kind of real income or benefits. It's just frustrating that these people don't understand that. I am truly grateful to AC.