Writer Spotlight - Alexandra Carter

Published by Kevin O'Connor on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 in Freelance Writers, Alexandra Carter, Interviews, Writer Spotlight.

Alexandra Carter is a former TV News Anchor turned Freelancer. We took some time to talk about balancing freelancing with life, the best tools and why being an anchor isn’t as exciting as it may seem.

Tell us a little about yourself, Alexandra.

My background is in journalism. I was a TV news reporter/anchor for nearly a decade until I became bored and tired of the environment. I love the freedom that freelance writing provides as well as the chance to learn so much about so many different topics every day. I speak English, French, and a bit of Russian.

Wow. Bored of being a TV news reporter? How so?

Reporting wasn’t boring because it was something new every day. When I became an anchor I had to sit at my desk all day and kind of wait around for news to break or the 5/6/10 shows-- it became very monotonous. What I love about freelance writing is I get to go back to my reporter roots of a new subject every day, researching, and learning about such a wide variety of topics.

Where are you from and where are you operating currently?

This question is so hard for me! I was born in Germany, then moved to Canada (where we lived in four provinces). In middle school, my family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and just as we got settled there I left for the University of Colorado. Then, I began my career in TV which took me to Texas, Alabama, and finally Illinois.

I currently live in Quincy, Illinois where I swore I would only stay for my three-year contract. But, I ended up getting engaged to a local, and we are now in the process of buying a house.

How did you become a freelance writer and how long have you been writing for Scripted?

After deciding to leave the news around this time last year, I kind of fell into freelance writing and was planning to do it for a few months until I could find a “real job.” Then the pandemic hit. Now after a little less than a year on Scripted and freelance writing, I cringe at the thought of ever having to go back into an office, and a 9-5 (though in TV, my schedule was more like 2 a.m.-11 a.m.).

Are there any tools you use to keep your quality so high?

Grammarly! A life saver. I also use DupliChecker on top of the Grammarly plagiarism checker.

What advice would you have for new writers on the platform?

At first, the platform and process may seem overwhelming and you may feel as if you will never get the hang of it. But, hang in there! Start slowly and allow yourself some time to learn the platform and your projects will eventually pick up and lead to steady work and repeat clients.

How have you been able to balance your work as a freelancer with the rest of your life and the state of the world?

This is something I struggle with! Especially because now that I work from home, my work is always there-- nights, weekends, holidays, you name it. I’ve recently had to force myself to turn off my computer at a certain time at night and really try hard to not check it or work too much on the weekends. I’m currently planning a wedding and buying a house, so I realized that something had to give.