Name: Shauna “WhiskeyChick” Castorena
Employment:
Freelance Writer
Primary website:
http://whiskeychick.rocks
Twitter handle: @WhiskeyChick
How were you first introduced to WordPress? I had been running an underground country music fan site using DNN in 2004 and wanted to build something more accessible to mainstream country music fans. WordPress had just come out, so we gave it a try and launched CountryMusicNewsBlog.com on the platform.
What do you like about it? After years of hacking drag & drop components that would go buggy all the time, and not having a real “magazine” aesthetic to work with, WordPress solved all of those problems. It was easy to use, even easier to customize, and best of all, worked as a real publishing platform and content management system as opposed to a static site builder.
What do you do with WP now? I have a total of 14 entertainment sites built on the WordPress platform that focus on different areas of the music business, but primarily in country and rock & roll. I also use WordPress to teach basic web development skills to friends and colleagues, as well as help bands stretch the platform to its fullest potential by building out their online hubs with it.
How has the WP community (local and beyond) helped you? Being an open-source platform, the WordPress community has been a critical part of my success in publishing and marketing. I have participated in a few Wordcamps, and helped organize one in Phoenix, AZ (now known as TechPHX) several years ago, and have found the community to be open, accepting, and extremely helpful. Other WordPress users always seem excited and engaged in helping each other find new ways to make the platform do amazing things!
Did learning WP lead to any significant professional, personal, creative changes in your life? Tell us how! WordPress provided all the tools I needed to dive into internet publishing head first and without hesitation. I’ve enjoyed a successful career so far, and will continue to use WordPress to help that career grow.
What would you tell a brand new user? Don’t let a lack of knowledge keep you from getting started. Just go. Build. Break things. The community is here to help turn your ideas into action!
Do you use WordPress? Do you live in the Middle Tennessee area? If so, we want to feature you and your story of how WordPress makes your work awesome. Submit your story here.