As a freelance writer, aren’t you always curious about how other writers work?
I know I am.
Read Linda Della Donna’s interview with Yvonne Perry for an insider’s look at how one successful writer lives and works.
Writer Yvonne Perry
Yvonne Perry — A Date With Destiny
by Linda Della Donna
Yvonne Perry, owner of Write On! Creative Writing Services, wears many hats, or should I say writes with many pens — Ghost writer, self-published author of several books, including More Than Meets The Eye, Are you Afraid of Death? and Where Do We Go When We Die?– Perry also facilitates ipod classes, hosts a web site, blogs, and authors a monthly on-line newsletter, Writers In The Sky.
Here is what Yonne Perry has to say:
Yvonne, please explain a typical day of writing.
I rise about 8:30, have coffee and breakfast then pick up my email. That takes about two hours if I have a lot of email that needs a response. Then I work on marketing and maintaining network contacts, updating blogs, etc. After lunch I start my writing for clients and continue until about 5 p.m.
How did you get started as a ghost writer?
I started writing pro-bono copy for some volunteer organizations that needed marketing materials. I was also writing a book while my kids were teenagers that people kept telling me I should publish. Their encouragement helped me see that I had exceptional writing skills that could be put to good use in making money for myself. I was writing a lot as an administrative assistant for a company and started taking on writing assignments through Guru.com where I had to bid for projects. During that year, I managed to build a portfolio, learn to market my skills and define what type of writing I was best at. I started my company in 2003 with a web site and a few writing samples.
How did you determine price–how much to charge your clients?
I learned by trial and error what prices to charge. The jobs I landed through Guru were very low paying. I searched the Internet for other writing services and compared my prices to theirs. After the business grew to where I was not able to help all the clients needing my services, I took on a couple of experienced writers and formed a team. Together we set our prices according to market trends and stayed a little lower than average in order to gain a competitive edge.
Where do your ideas come from?
My clients usually have a project that has a framework we need to work within.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Nope. It’s a matter of choice. If I’m not in the mood to write on a particular project, I do something else and come back to it when I feel more inspired.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated?
I love what I do and it doesn’t take much to keep me at it. I have to remind myself that I need to quit and tend to other things not related to work.
How do you manage your time — Deadlines?
I use a to-do list of things I need to accomplish each day and stick with it as much as possible. Things come up that have to be tended to and I try to take care of them right away instead of letting them sit.
Is your husband, family supportive of your writing?
Absolutely. It was his idea that I start my writing business. He is fully supportive of my endeavors.
When was your first book published? How long did it take you to write it?
My first book was published in 2004. It took five years to write — It started out as an online journal.
Please define the word “podcast” for readers?
Podcasts are pre-recorded teleclasses, seminars or audio workshops which are offered through iTunes.com or other services where people go to find music, movies, audio books, etc. Podcasts can be saved on an mp3 player, an iPod, a computer or any device that plays mp3 files, but unlike music and video downloads most podcasts are free.
Do you have a favorite quote?
I do what I love and I love what I do.
What made you become a writer?
It is my destiny. I followed my heart and it led me to my spiritual path.
Is there one favorite writing tip you would like to share with other writers?
I only take projects that resonate with me. If I am not interested in the genre or the person’s story or don’t feel that I can work with a particular person, I refer the client to another writer that is better matched. If I am excited about the project I’m working on, it comes through in my writing.
Do you have a secret?
Actually our team has a mantra we say on a regular basis that attracts the perfect client. Since it is a secret, I can’t share it.
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Linda Della Donna is a freelance writer who likes to do interviews. She lives 20 miles north of where the World Trade Center used to be with her small dog, Izzy and his little cat, Tux. Contact Della Donna or visit her website and blog for more information about her writing services.
Have you always dreamed of becoming a freelance writer?
The next session of my GROUP coaching program begins in Kansas City this Sunday, November 5th, at 3:00 p.m. 
I get the impression that many writers fear editors. To some extent, this is understandable, from the standpoint that an editor has the power to reject your work (and to many, this translates into a rejection of self, because we pour our heart and souls into our work). However, in my admittedly limited experience in having the pleasure to work with one editor for several years, and meet and listen to several others, I’ve discovered that editors are generally nice people. They aren’t out to make your day miserable, and when they do say “yes,” their part of the equation can mean a much improved final product.
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