In the fifth of my new Ask-A-Pro series, I’d like to present you with Dana Cassell, freelance writer, editor, and publisher.

In the Ask-A-Pro format, I’ll tell you a little about the author and how-to-find-your-dream-job expert . . . then via the Comments section to this post, please feel free to ask a specific question about the career or job in question.

Anyone (expert or not) is free to post responses to your query, and I or the author/how-to-find-your-dream-job pro may chime in as well.

This is your chance to get unbiased advice from a real, honest-to-goodness-been-there-done-that dream job professional.

So, over to you, Dana.

Dana K. Cassell has been an independent writer since placing her first freelance article in 1971. Since going full-time in 1976, Dana has had published more than 2,000 articles in nearly 200 publications. In addition to magazine writing, she has provided editorial services to several dozen clients, ranging from individuals to small businesses to corporations to ad agencies – including manual revision, editing, proofreading, newsletter production, and ad copywriting.

Dana has authored several books, including Making Money With Your Home Computer (Dodd, Mead), How To Advertise & Promote Your Retail Store (AMACOM), Encyclopedia of Obesity & Eating Disorders - Third Edition (Facts On File), Food for Thought: The Sourcebook of Obesity and Eating Disorders (Facts On File), Encyclopedia of Autoimmune Diseases, and Encyclopedia of Death & Dying. She has also edited or ghostwritten five books.

As founder and executive director of Florida Freelance Writers Association and Writers-Editors Network, Dana has been helping other independent writers and editors achieve success for 25 years. In addition, Dana is Series Editor for the Dream Jobs To Go series at Intellectua.com

Dream Jobs To Go Title
How to Break into the Freelance Writing Business

Personal Website
http://www.writers-editors.com/

Current Profession
I’m in the information business - as a freelance writer, book author, contract editor, newsletter editor/publisher, writers’ network director, and webmaster.

What Would You Be Doing If You Couldn’t Write Or Edit?
If I could carry a tune, I would switch to singing in an instant.

Life Philosophy
Can’t is a four-letter word.

Favorite Food
Chocolate, the fifth basic food group.

Favorite Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Hurricanes football

Favorite Travel Destination
Ireland

Favorite Music
Very eclectic tastes; have my 670+ CDs arranged by artist (or by title for multiple artists) and play some daily while I work, going from A to Z - everything from opera to classic country to 50s rock to big bands to show tunes to jazz to folk.

Favorite Book
The Thorn Birds
Favorite Authors
John Steinbeck, Colleen McCullough, Tess Gerritsen, Michael Palmer

Favorite Movie
I watch baseball or football games instead of movies.

Favorite City
New York City

Favorite Country
Other than the USA, Ireland.

Your Hobbies
Collecting - books, music CDs, paperweights

Favorite Quotation
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men of talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

Favorite Drink
Diet Coke

Why Do You Live Where You Live?
The mountains, the changing seasons, the villages.

If You Could Live Anywhere You Wanted, Where Would It Be?  Why?
Right here in northern New Hampshire. Why? Well, I actually made that “where do I really want to live” decision in early 1993. After 21 years in Florida, with my kids grown and a profession that lets me live anywhere, I considered seriously where I now wanted to live. Having grown up in Elmira, New York, I missed the hills and valleys, real winter and real autumn, and I had daydreamed about living in a New England village since childhood. So here I am.

The Greatest Things About Freelance Writing
The total independence and control over one’s life, the continual learning about new things, and getting credit (most of the time) for what you produce.

The Worst Thing About Freelance Writing
The feast or famine element.

If A Young Person Approached You About Getting Into Freelance Writing, What Would You Say?
Now is the best time to be a freelance writer, but you absolutely must treat it as a business and produce what the customers want, not what you want to write.

If An Older, Career-Changer Approached You About Getting Into Freelance Writing, What Would You Say?
The very same thing plus use the contacts, experience and knowledge you’ve accumulated to offer targeted editors information their readers want or need that only you can provide.

The Most Important Piece Of Advice Anyone Ever Gave You About Freelance Writing?
The information you gather in your research is your parts inventory; use it to build more articles and books.

Any Other Advice You’d Like To Share With People Who’re Thinking About Getting Into Freelance Writing?
Freelancing to magazines is like being a salesman. Keep knocking on doors until you get inside (receive a go-ahead), then provide the product (manuscript) they can’t keep from buying. Keep track of how many “doors” you have to knock on before getting invited in and how many manuscripts you have to submit before making a sale and how much money you average per sale. That will be your ratios. Now you know what you have to do to reach the dollar goal you’ve set. Then go to work improving your ratios.

How Would You Define Success?
I define success as achieving a goal or objective by following a predefined plan, while successfully dealing with obstacles along the way.

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