Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Gonzalez.
Alex, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always had a passion for writing. I started blogging when I was 21 years old, which landed me my first PR internship at Culture Hype. The following summer, I interned with Do214 and became more knowledgeable of Dallas’s art and nightlife scene. I graduated from the University of North Texas in May 0f 2017 with a degree in Marketing and Psychology. I wasn’t exactly loving the job, I ended up with when I got out of school, but during a press night for that company, I met Tammany Stern, the founder of Best of Guide. I emailed her my samples, and the next day, she brought me on to write articles for her blog. It was my first “grown-up” writing gig, which allowed me to try new restaurants for free and review them.
I also wrote a story for Plano Profile (now Local Profile) in January 2018, which resulted in me later being brought on as a freelancer.
My work later caught the attention of Steven Doyle, founder of Crave DFW, who then brought me on as a freelance writer as well.
I currently freelance for Local Profile, Crave DFW, Best of Guide, Medium, Mix 24/7 EDM, Dallas Observer, and Dallas Voice. It sounds a bit daunting wearing so many hats, but I genuinely am passionate about what I do.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Admittedly, it hasn’t been a smooth road. There have been people I’ve worked with who weren’t willing to compensate me for my hard work, as well as editors who would flat-out just not even look at my pitches. I know it sounds cliche, but you really just have to keep going no matter how hard it gets.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am the writer making the rounds in Dallas. Although most of my articles are food and restaurant related, I’m knowledgeable in a wide range of topics, including sports, art, business, and contemporary world issues. As a journalist, I am most proud whenever my article is shared on the outlet’s social handles and I see complete strangers commenting on how much they enjoyed my piece. Your friends and family kind of have to say nice things about your work, simply out of courtesy, but it’s an entirely different feeling of hearing and seeing positive feedback from a stranger.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My goal is to eventually write for GQ, Vox, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, or Bon Appetit. I hope to always continue to learn and to never stop honing my skills as a journalist.
Contact Info:
- Website: alexgonzalez.contently.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/alexgwriter
- Facebook: facebook.com/alexgonzalezwriter
- Twitter: twitter.com/alexgwriter
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