Meet Christine Bude: Catching up with an AC Content Producer

So you can imagine how tickled I am to finally get this interview with Christine Bude:

DP: Who are you (by that, tell me a little about yourself including personal stats like age, place of birth, etc...)

CB: I have been in the business world for years. For most of my working life I have been in some type of sales. I enjoyed sales, but wanted to do something different.

I am a pretty independent person and enjoyed sales because it takes an independent spirit to get out in the field and represent a product or service. Independence is also an asset in working on the internet, as you have to be self motivated.

I was born in Racine, Wisconsin and lived around southeastern Wisconsin into adulthood. I went to high school in a city named Oconomowoc, which is an Indian word with five syllables. I worked for a company in Milwaukee, until they transferred me to the Chicago area.

While in the Chicago area I married and settled down. Sadly my husband passed away 8 years ago. I have not remarried, but wouldn't rule it out.

Age: Sorry, I don't tell.

I have collected a lot of experiences, crazy and sad, in my lifetime. My friends and family have long been telling me that I should write a book about my experiences. Many of them could offer encouragement to others.

DP: What initially drew you to AC? Or, How did you hear of AC?

CB: I learned about AC on a forum that I used to frequent. At the time I had a broken leg and was pretty housebound. I needed to make some money. A sign up link had been posted in this other forum and I signed up immediately. It was a lucky find, because my leg required two surgeries and I did not walk for a year and a half. I am just now starting to walk without a cane.

Learning to write for the internet has been a lot of trial and error, but I learn more every day. After a year and a half, some things are just starting to click, and I am sure there is a lot more to learn.

DP: What genre are you wanting to publish the most?

CB: The articles I write for AC are short informational service articles. I write on a variety of topics. One of the things I really enjoy about AC is the ability to write about any topic. Since I am writing commercially, I do need to try write about informative topics that other people may be looking for.

DP: What are your favorite titles so far?

CB: Favorite titles. There are a bunch.

My highest PV article is Illinois Lawmakers Pass Smoking Ban, which has over 18,000 PV to date..

Surviving Cancer is an essay about my personal experience and is precious to me.

How to Make Your Own Wedding Veil is another article that recounts my own story about why and how I made my own veil. It has nearly 13,000 PV.

How Not to Cut Down Your Own Christmas Tree is a true story and quite humorous.

DP: How has AC Treated you so far? (Support, that is)

CB: How has AC treated me so far? For the most part, pretty well. AC is not perfect, but I believe they are working on improving the site in a fast-paced industry. For support I look to the forums. There are some knowledgeable and generous CPs who will share information with others. Most questions can be answered quickly. In my opinion, the drawback to the forums is the amount of speculation that goes on, which can spread incorrect information. i would like to see a representative of AC jump into the forum more frequently to dispel incorrect information.

I usually publish here. I also publish frequently on Suite 101 under a different pen name. I have published some articles through Constant Comment, as well.

DP: Please tell us about your favorite pet.

CB: Pets? I love dachshunds, or wiener dogs. At one time I had five female dachshunds, which were nicknamed "the girls." They followed me around in a swarm at my feet. Sadly they have gone to heaven. Right now I have a male long-haired dachshund. He is a beautiful boy and full of pranks.

DP: What would you do with a million dollars?

CB: A million dollars? I would probably travel around the world.

DP: In 100 words or more; where do you want to be when you're 50?

CB: 50 - Hard to say. Maybe in a grass shack on a Hawaiian Island, writing on my laptop. Maybe in a mountain chalet, painting water colors and listening to music. It would be hard to choose. Hopefully, I would have the ability to travel. I would love to spend more time in Europe, exploring the historic sights and culture. I have spent so much of my life in business, denying my creative side. It is time to explore the potential of any creativity that I may be gifted with.

DP: If you had any advice for newbies to get better exposure, what would you say?

CB: Newbies: Spend some time reading the forums and the articles other CPs have written about SEO and getting published. I would venture a guess that just about any question you could think of has already been covered. It may require some searching through the site, but it is worth it.

When I started out, I had no idea what SEO was. I knew a little about writing, but writing on the internet is a different thing. I didn't submit an article for nearly a month because I spent time exploring the site before I actually wrote anything.

Be patient with yourself and take the time to utilize the great educational resources that are available on AC. Just like going to school for training before staring a new job, give yourself the gift of self training that is available to all CPs. Most of the resources have been written by experienced CPs who offer practical advice for getting started and writing for AC. Some excellent informative articles have been written by Paula Mooney, Michelle Devon, Pam Gaulin and many others.

The other piece of advice to to start writing. Understand you will likely make mistakes. Be ready to learn from them. Don't dwell on mistakes, learn from them and move on.

DP: Well, Christine, it's been a pleasure, and I'm honored to have met you! Thanks!