Bloody Disgusting features horror movie, music, video game, dvd, indie, and comic news along with reviews, interviews, and a community of over 200,000 users.
Tell us a little about yourself and your experience.
I'm born and raised in Southeast Michigan. I've always been into the horror genre while at the same time there's always been this fascination I've held with music. They actually melded very well together as I always paid attention to scores and soundtracks as well as sound design.
What drove you to choose your career path?
I actually started doing it for fun and very quickly realized that it was my passion. Every day since has been a privilege and there isn't a day where I don't love what I do.
How did you go about getting your job? What kind of education and experience did you need?
I actually pestered the Bloody-Disgusting owners until they let me onboard. I had no experience blogging or interacting as a writer with the music industry. However, I did have a Certificate In Music Production And Engineering and was in several bands prior. On top of that, I've been a lifelong fan of horror, so my knowledge of the genre was pretty strong.
What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing?
A lot of emailing, a lot of writing, and a ton of scheduling. It's all about communication, which is a skill I learned very quickly to hone.
What misconceptions do people often have about your job?
That I write a post and that's all I do. There's so much that goes on behind-the-scenes that it's amazing I can even get any posts up, let alone 4-5 per day.
What are your average work hours?
I get up at 8 every morning and I'm usually in bed around 2am. Basically, if I'm awake then I'm working.
What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?
Making sure my web browser is up-to-date and that I have extensions that make life easier, such as Popchrom. Additionally, having a specific editorial format that I follow means I have patterns to rely upon. Also, learning basic HTML to format my posts was one of the smartest things I could've ever done.
What do you do differently from your coworkers or peers in the same profession?
I honestly don't know. I just do my best to stay honest. Everything comes from that.
Do you have any advice for people who need to enlist your services?
Just talk with me. I'm always open to hearing out ideas and seeing if there are opportunities to work with people. One of the best parts of the job is meeting and talking with new people.
What's the worst part of the job and how do you deal with it?
There isn't really anything that is too terribly awful. Troll commenters are jerks, but they're easily ignored. Annoying PR reps can simply be blocked or their emails deleted. Friends/family who don't understand the job will never learn if they don't have the honest intentions to do so, so why waste time trying to explain things? Overall, there's nothing so bad that it can't be ignored or dealt with in a mature manner.
What's the most enjoyable part of the job?
As I said earlier, meeting and talking with new people. The connections and friendships that can be made are unreal. It's such a warm, wonderful community and I'm proud to be a part of it.
What kind of money can one expect to make at your job?
Each publication is different and it all depends on how hard you work.
How do you move up in your field?
Prove yourself and show your worth. If your name holds power, carry that with you.
What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession?
Make sure you're really passionate about it because it can wear you down very quickly. Nothing worse than being burnt out and hating something that used to bring you joy.