Creators are the heart and soul of Tealfeed. As they continuously work towards feeding us more information every day, it's only fitting to bring out their journey for the world to know.

In this Creators Spotlight series, we interview our Creators about their journey. Be sure to check them out as they share their journey and speak candidly with us. Today we have Rui Alves with us. Rui Alves talks about spending his childhood in Portuguese countryside and shares an important piece of advice for the budding content creators.

Continue reading to find out more!

Who has been the biggest influence in your life? What lessons did that person or those people teach you?

My mother has always been my role model. She has always been there for me, even when she was two thousand miles away. My mother nurtured the child I was and the man I have become at every turn.

Tell us about your childhood; what was the best part? Is there any specific incident that has largely influenced the kind of person you are today?

As a child growing up in the countryside of Portugal, I had a typical childhood. I had the opportunity to play with simple things from a time when there were no smartphones or even computers.

My thriving imagination drove me to read novels and play with Lego, even if I did not follow the instructions, as I loved to build my own models.

Where is your hometown, and what was it like when you were young?

I am from the north of Portugal and grew up in a small town near Porto. When I look back, it seems as if my childhood took place in a time long gone.

Everything was more uncomplicated, and we had much more freedom to play outside and be adventurous. I knew every other kid on my street, and we had that camaraderie growing up that seems to be disappearing these days.

How important a role does content play in your life? Are you a full-time content creator? Why did you start creating content?

I am so versatile that sometimes I can't even keep track of the full scope of my projects. If you follow my writing journey, especially via my newsletter: “The Surrogate Writer,” you know how I write to find the surrogate writer in me. One of my mantras comes from the Bible, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 

Newsletter link

Although content creation takes up a large portion of my daily work time, I am always looking for new ways to connect with others and improve my knowledge of the world. This journey began more than a decade ago when I was invited to become the editor of an alternative music webzine called Rock n’ Heavy (www.rocknheavy.net).

What’s that one aspect of being a content creator no one talks about?

Well, that’s a trick question and my answer to it as a full metal jacket content creator should be: — Heck, if no one is talking about it, why bother :) 

However, this is a question we should all try to answer. I read all these meta-writing articles about content creation. Yet I rarely see writers expose themselves to a meta-analytical approach.

What’s the most satisfying part of being a content creator?

This right here is the best part. Answering questions, making connections, creating synergy, and building more relationships in the blogosphere.

Content creators need to become more like digital cohorts and build these solid systemic online communities.

What are you up to currently and what are your long-term career goals?

I do not have long-term career goals because I focus on achieving great things every step of the way.

What drives you to create content regularly?

My ultimate driving force is the reader, and for me, every line is a chance to develop the writer/reader relationship model I envision.

What’s the most challenging part of being a content creator?

Trying to understand the heuristics behind AI algorithms.

How do you make sure that you aren’t affected by nasty comments and negative things said about you?

After a decade of work as a writer and editor, I have developed a highly effective immune system and am vaccinated against trolling.

Anything else you would like our audience to know about you!

That should be the last question, and I have a few more to go. Let us see what comes next :) Meanwhile, please follow my journey here on Tealfeed.

https://tealfeed.com/ruialves

Why did you start creating content on Tealfeed?

Tealfeed’s Community Manager invited me to become a Featured Creator and I have been sharing my thoughts with this awesome guild ever since.

How would you want people to remember you?

I will quote my favorite Portuguese poet, Fernando Pessoa, on this one: 

“If, after I die, you want to write my biography, there is nothing simpler. It has only two dates - the date of my birth and the date of my death. Between one and the other, every day is mine.”

What’s success for you and when you would consider yourself to be successful?

I measure my success by the unfathomable, so I can think of no measurable limits to success.

My success is made of the same substance as dreams, and the only thing I know is that I am more successful now than I was a minute ago, because you are reading my answer to this question.

Who’s your favorite creator? Why?

You know by now that I have a kaleidoscopic view of myself and others. As a result, I can not commit myself. My favorite creators are voices from the past.

True disruptors like Fernando Pessoa, Vergílio Ferreira, Raúl Brandão, Baudelaire, T.S. Eliot, Hemingway. Speaking of contemporary authors, on my bedside table you’ll find books by Arundhati Roy, Haruki Murakami, Colson Whitehead, and currently, I am engaged with the work of Louise Erdrich and her rather unique literary voice.

To every individual who’s planning to start out as a content creator, what would you like to advise them?

Having role models to follow is excellent and makes the journey so much easier because you can follow the breadcrumbs left by others.

At some point, you need to build on what you have learned and leave your mark to add value to the chain. Write without fear! This is the best advice I can give you. Fear is the way to the dark side of your writer’s heart.

Do not go in alone, learn from your companions by reading their work. Strive to be an unyielding link in the writing chain and you will achieve the ultimate goal of being a writer.