By Suzanne Lieurance

Chances are, you won’t be the next J.K. Rowling. After all, she’s the only children’s writer on the planet who makes over a billion dollars from her work.

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Popularity: 3% [?]

In the 18th of my new Ask-A-Pro series, I’d like to introduce you to Colleen Williams, educational writer.

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.

Okay, over to you Colleen.

Colleen Madonna Flood Williams is a State-Certified elementary teacher in Alaska. She writes and edits on a number of topics including fiction, inspirational nonfiction, children’s picture books, parenting, academic success, art education, and methods of dealing with at-risk children. She is noted for turning out quick, clean, concise copy.

Colleen graduated recently with a Bachelor of Education, art minor. She was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society in 1998. (Her GPA was 3.89.) She also holds liberal arts and sciences, general studies, and associate’s degrees.

Colleen recently battled breast cancer. Having conquered stage 3 breast cancer with nine positive lymph nodes, it’s no wonder Colleen has also been accepting assignments to write and edit inspirational materials for cancer patients.

Colleen recently completed a contract for Harcourt Learning Direct. She edited and revised one of their online educational courses and supplemental text series. She also recently published an Art Teaching Unit with Wintertickle Press of Ontario, Canada. Her Art Unit has been pulled from the website, as it is under consideration for publication from a major educational publisher. She has also written a standardized science exam for Englefield and Arnold Publishing.

Colleen’s first six children’s reference books: The Geography of Mexico, The Festivals of Mexico, The People of Mexico, Native American Family Life, Native American Clothing, and Native American Shelters are being published by OTTN, a New Jersey Educational Publishing Company (January 2002). She is also currently writing for Alaska Business Monthly Magazine and has frequently written for Northwest Baby and Child. In September of 2001, she completed a Science Exam based on the Texas Science Standards for Engelfield and Arnold Publishing.  She also has a story in Chicken Soup for the Grandparent’s Soul.

Colleen has hosted poetry workshops and is the author of over 30 books for Orchard Academy Press’s My Adventure series.
 
Dream Jobs To Go Title
Educational Freelance Writer

Current Profession
Educational Freelance Writer

Websites or Blogs You’d Like Us To Know About
Windstorm Creative

What Would You Be Doing If You Weren’t An Educational Freelance Writer?
I’d be a teacher or a stand-up comedian.

Life Philosophy
What does not kill me makes me stronger.

Favorite Food
King crab or lobster

Favorite Read
The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings trilogy, Little Prince, and The Velveteen Rabbit.

Favorite Authors
Tolkien, St. Antoine D’Exupery

Favorite Travel Destination
Hawaii

Favorite Music
Hip Hop, Rap, Country, Jazz, Rock, Classical . . . I love it all!

Favorite Sports Team
Buffalo Sabres

Favorite Movies
Fried Green Tomatoes, Pulp Fiction, and Hellraiser.

Favorite City
Buffalo, NY

Favorite Country
United States

Favorite Animal
Dragonfly

Your Hobbies
Writing, working out, and surfing the net.

Favorite Quotation
What does not kill me makes me stronger.

Favorite Drink
Nestlé’s bottled strawberry flavored water

Why Do You Live Where You Do?
I live in Kachemak City, Alaska and love it here.

If You Could Live Anywhere You Wanted, Where Would It Be?  Why?
Kachemak City, Alaska or Buffalo, NY . . . in this order . . . the view is amazing, my family is in Buffalo.

The Greatest Things About Being An Educational Freelance Writer
I get to work from home in my pajamas.

The Worst Thing About Being An Educational Freelance Writer
The pay is not steady.

If A Young Person Approached You About Getting Into Educational Freelance Writing, What Would You Say?
Follow your dreams . . . but find a spouse with a steady job!

If An Older, Career-Changer Approach You About Getting Into Educational Freelance Writing, What Would You Say?
Write about what you know most about.

The Most Important Piece Of Advice Anyone Ever Gave You About Life?
My father told me that the stronger you are mentally, the stronger you are in all other areas of your life.  I agree.

Any Other Advice You’d Like To Share With People Who’re Thinking About Getting Into Educational Freelance Writing?
Read my book.

How Would You Define Success?
ISBN Numbers or publications.  Lots and lots of ISBN Numbers or publications!  I have many, as I have written over 20 books for children now.

Any Other Comments About the World Of Work You’d Like To Share?
Do what makes you happy and you will do it well.

Popularity: 8% [?]

In the 14th of my new Ask-A-Pro series, I’d like to present you with Coleen Sykora, an RV-traveling-and-living writer and business woman

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, here goes . . . Coleen on living and working from an RV and all things continent-trekking.

Coleen Sykora began full-time RV living in early 1992 with her husband, a dog, and a cat.  Her RVs have been old and new, large and small, travel trailers, and motor homes.

She is a freelance writer and lifestyle consultant.  She believes positive actions yield positive results.  She writes what she lives.

Coleen publishes the Workers on Wheels website and the RV Life and Travel website.  She also publishes two RVing ezines, Workers on Wheels for RVers needing to earn a living while traveling, and Life As We Live It . . . On the Road with Coleen and Bob, a personal travelogue with lifestyle information.

She is a regular contributor to numerous print and online RVing and travel publications.

In addition to RV and travel topics, Coleen writers about her other interests.  She is the content manager of Relax, Refresh, Recharge, a website with practical solutions for feeling better mentally and physically.  She is also editor of the Hot Spicy Foods website.

Dream Jobs To Go Titles
Get a Life by Living Full-Time in a Recreational Vehicle
Make a Living in a Recreational Vehicle
Get Started as a Property Caretaker
Get Started as a Flea Market Vendor

Current Profession
I combine travel and food writing with property caretaking and selling new and used merchandise. When we’re RVing, we sell at flea markets and farm shows. When we’re taking a break from RVing, we sell at our second-hand store.

Websites or Blogs You’d Like Us To Know About
Workers On Wheels
RV Life and Travel

What Would You Be Doing If You Weren’t An RVing Writer and Vendor?
Dying. Seriously, I love what I do and if I weren’t doing these things, it would probably be because I was lying on my deathbed.

Life Philosophy
It’s not what I intend to do, but what I actually do, that matters. The easiest way to finish a task is to start it.

Favorite Food
Shellfish and Cajun food

Favorite Read
Regional cookbooks, especially those put together by churches and community groups. They are cultural goldmines.

Favorite Author
Nick Russell

Favorite Travel Destination
The Gulf Coast – southern Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana

Favorite Music
Classic country

Favorite Sports Team
J-Bar-B Hill’s Ice Racing Team

Favorite Movie
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Favorite City
Tampa, Florida

Favorite Country
U.S.A.

Favorite Animals
Dogs and cats

Your Hobbies
Reading, writing, traveling, and ferreting out oddball things to buy and sell.

Favorite Websites (Other Than Your Own)
Merriam-Webster Online

Favorite Quotation
You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.  Beverly Sills

Favorite Drink
Milk

Why Do You Live Where You Do?
We have a home base in Alaska because my husband fell in love with the state and wanted to own a piece of it. We alternate between living in our cabin and in the RV.

If You Could Live Anywhere You Wanted, Where Would It Be?  Why?
In my RV, traveling the U.S.A. Because of the freedom, flexibility, great scenery, great foods, new people, and new experiences.

The Greatest Things About Being An RVing Writer, Caretaker, and Market Vendor?
The flexibility and variety. I never have to worry about life being the “same old, same old.”

The Worst Thing About Being An RVing Writer, Caretaker, and Market Vendor?
I come across so many great opportunities and I just don’t have time to pursue as many of them as I’d like to.

If A Young Person Approached You About Getting Into Full-time RVing, Writing, Caretaking, and Market Vending, What Would You Say?
The two things you need most to succeed are desire and determination.

If An Older, Career-Changer Approached You About Getting Into Full-time RVing, Writing, Caretaking, and Market Vending, What Would You Say?
What are you waiting for? The time will never be exactly right. Get going!

The Most Important Piece Of Advice Anyone Ever Gave You About Life?
Strive for excellence — not perfection.

Any Other Advice You’d Like To Share With People Who’re Thinking About Getting Into The Full-time RVing Lifestyle?
The saddest thing is when people write me telling me how they dreamed of traveling and full-time RVing, but were waiting for something or another, and their spouse — and consequently their dream — died while they were waiting. Don’t wait. Don’t let your dream die.

Any Other Comments About Full-time RVing, Writing, Caretaking, or Vending You’d Like To Share?
You can do these individually, but they all work fabulously together. They’re all adaptable to many situations. Pursue them and make your life what you want it to be.

Popularity: 11% [?]

In the ninth of my new Ask-A-Pro series, I’d like to present you with Chris King, storyteller extraordinaire.

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, Chris King, and your take on storytelling.

Chris King has what she calls a Portfolio Career — many different part-time careers, including writing, website design, storytelling, speaking, desktop publishing, and waiting tables, to name a few — but admits that storytelling is her true passion.

When asked about her storytelling, Chris replies, “I tell traditional stories — with a modern day twist; original stories — both personal and believable, and business stories — with a meaningful message.  My mission is to tell stories that are so compelling that listeners of all ages fall in love with the art of storytelling and want to tell their own.”

Dream Jobs To Go Titles
How to Get Started as a Fitness Instructor
How to Get Started as a Professional Storyteller

Current Profession
Portfolio Career — Storyteller, fitness instructor, writer, speaker, web site designer, trainer, artist, and waitress.

Personal Website
Creative Keys

Favorite Food
All Vegetables

Favorite Read
I read and like everything, even the junk. My latest favorite book, Refuse to Choose by Barbara Sher

Life Philosophy
Whatever you believe and conceive, you can achieve.

Favorite Authors
Natalie Goldberg, Julia Cameron, and Anne La Mott.

Favorite Sports
Aerobics, ice skating, and tennis.

Favorite Travel Destination
Cities: New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

Favorite Music
Classical

Favorite Movie
The Long, Hot Summer with Paul Newman

Favorite City
Cleveland, Ohio

Favorite Country
United States

Your Hobbies
Reading, writing, attending workshops, surfing the web, and taking classes.

Favorite Website
Dream Jobs To Go (well, aw shucks, and thanks, Chris!)

Favorite Quotation
The mind once stretched to a new idea, never goes back to its original dimensions.

Favorite Drink
Coffee

Why Do You Live Where You Live?
I live in Cleveland, Ohio because it not only offers culture, great affordable living, and easy access to everywhere, it is a big small town where I have a huge network of friendly people I know and who know me.

If You Could Live Anywhere You Wanted, Where Would It Be?  Why?
I love where I live now. If I had to move, it would probably be to Washington, D.C. for the culture and warmer weather. The museums and Library of Congress are incredible.

The Greatest Things About Being A Professional Storyteller Are:
It is an incredible amount of FUN! And, people of all ages and walks of life love listening to and learning from stories. You experience the thrill of seeing their eyes light up.

The Worst Thing About Being A Professional Storyteller:
As a profession, it can be a “hard sell” because a lot of organizations don’t have any idea of what storytelling entails. Also, so many storytellers are passionate about what they do, they do not charge enough. The good news is that this is changing as the art is spread.

If A Young Person Approached You About Getting Into Storytelling, What Would You Say?
Do it! Start by getting involved with a storytelling group, finding and telling stories and attend any and all storytelling events near - and far - that you can.

If An Older, Career-Changer Approached You About Getting Into Storytelling, What Would You Say?
I would really encourage them, because they have the advantage of years of experiences. I would also echo exactly what I told the young person in the previous question.

The Most Important Piece Of Advice Anyone Ever Gave You About Being A Storyteller?
Start collecting stories you absolutely LOVE! Then make them part of your repertoire and practice, practice, practice.

Any Other Advice You’d Like To Share With People Who’re Thinking About Getting Into Professional Storytelling?
It is a Dream Job but, like everything else, it takes work and dedication. Get going, and I don’t suggest immediately quitting your day job. You can easily be a part-time storyteller for the time being.

How Would You Define Success?
Living the good life where you get up in the morning and can’t wait to start all over again. And, that is how I feel about my life and Portfolio Career.
 

Popularity: 9% [?]

A friend and book-writer wannabe asked me the other day whether she should go the traditional publisher route or try her hand at self-publishing.

Whew! That’s a tough question. Traditional publishing is filled with the pitfalls that have always been associated with that business.

Unless you are a known name in your field, on the road doing tours and speaking/seminars or other public presentations, it’s unlikely your book will attract a publisher’s attention or, even if it does, it’s nearly impossible to get the publisher to put any dough or interest behind your book.

Self-publishing is easy (technically — there are sooooo many good services/choices these days), but harder than hell from a marketing standpoint.

Let me repeat that — self-publishing is eazy-peezy from a technical standpoint (if you can write a Word or other word-processed file, you can self-publish a book), but you’ll need to market the bejezus out of same if you’re looking to sell more than just a handful of copies.

Most people don’t realize that book selling (even for just one book) is a full-time business. Unfortunately, a lot of newbie authors think all they have to do is put a book online and the world will beat a path to its door.

If your objective is to gain notoriety for yourself/business/cause and you don’t care too much about the revenue from the book, I’d go with a traditional publisher. They can add a little glitz to you and your book that a self-published volumn can’t provide. 

A “real” publisher also carries a bit of snob appeal to the whole process, so you’ll get to drop cocktail-party comments such as “Oh, well, my last book was published by Random House,” of course leaving off the fact that it only sold 423 copies.

However, if you view the book as a real money-maker or if it’s part of your overall business model, I would try self-publishing. That said, you’d better be prepared for months of real, heavy-duty marketing.

You’ll need a website devoted to your topic, a blog, an electronic newsletter, and a PR campaign (print) to hit the off-Web sites and publications. And, you’ll need to do work on these things day after day after day.  Yes, day after day.

Neither route is easy, but both are rewarding — if you have a passion for your topic and for writing.

For me, I can’t imagine a life without writing and publishing.

Hey, you published writers out there, what’s your take on this?

Popularity: 4% [?]

Mary Harwell Sayler, a Dream Jobs To Go author, has offered any of my readers a free poem evaluation.

Mary is a poet, writer, editor, poetry instructor, and workshop leader.

Check out Mary’s site at Poetry of Course, then send her an email with your best poem and tell her you found out about her here.

Mary is the author of two Dream Jobs To Go books, How to Get Started Earning Money as a Poet and How to Get Started as a Financial Advisor.

Check ‘em out.

Popularity: 6% [?]

In the sixth of my new Ask-A-Pro series, I’d like to present you with Marcia Yudkin, syndicated columnist, freelance writer, and marketing consultant.

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.

Over to you, Marcia.

Marcia Yudkin broke into print in 1981 with an article in the very first Education Life supplement of the Sunday New York Times. She has published ten books, including Freelance Writing for Magazines & Newspapers (HarperCollins), Six Steps to Free Publicity, (Plume/Penguin) and Internet Marketing for Less than $500/Year (Maximum Press) as well as articles in magazines ranging from the New York Times Magazine and Psychology Today to Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, and New Age. She has also delivered commentaries on National Public Radio, and since 1999 has had a weekly syndicated column on marketing distributed by Paradigm News.

Marcia’s entrepreneurial streak has led her to publish her own audiotapes, one of which was picked up by the Writers Digest Book Club and the Sounds True catalog and booklets. She is soon releasing a software program that makes it easy to distribute self-syndicated content on the Web.

Marcia Yudkin has spoken at more than 50 writers conferences over the years and has a coaching program in which she’s guided aspiring writers in the U.S., Switzerland, and Japan.

Dream Jobs To Go Title
How to Break in as a Syndicated Columnist

Current Profession
Writer and Marketing Consultant

Websites or Blogs You’d Like Us To Know About
http://www.yudkin.com/ – Discusses a lot of ways to make a living as a writer

Life Philosophy
Life is too short not to spend it doing what you most enjoy.

Favorite Read
The Lost Steps by Alejo Carpentier

Favorite Travel Destination
Vancouver Island, BC

Favorite Author
Henry David Thoreau

Favorite Music
Bach

Favorite City
Boston

Favorite Animal
Black bears and moose

Your Hobbies
Hiking and geocaching

Why Do You Live Where You Do?
It’s quiet and peaceful, surrounded by trees and wildlife.

The Most Important Piece Of Advice Anyone Ever Gave You About Life?
You only live once.

Popularity: 4% [?]

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.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Annie Jennings PR (haven’t tested this out yet, so not vouching — but will report back soon) is offering a free three-session teleseminar on how to build your own blog, focusing on promoting, marketing, and selling your book.

I suspect, by the way, that this seminar should appeal to anyone who wants to blog for promotion, not just book peddlers.

In addition, Annie will select one attendee to be the demo blogger for the session, so you’ll get a free blog created by an industry pro. Others will follow along as they build the blog.

The sessions will be conducted by blogging expert, Stephanie Diamond, who has over 25 years of experience, including eight years as Marketing Director at AOL.

The three blogging sessions take place:

Thursdays, August 3rd, 10th and 17th
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. EST

Sessions include blog strategy and book development, how to promote your book and drive sales, and how to keep the blog going.  Some of the topics include:

**  How to create a blog strategy for your book

**  How to develop content for your blog

**  How to promote your blog

**  How to promote and sell your book from your blog

**  How to grow your book community

Stephanie starts with a solid marketing approach to e-commerce and brings her years of experience in online marketing and e-commerce to show you how to build a blog especially for the marketing, promotion, and sales of your book.

Sign up at by clicking here.

Happy blogging, friends.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Ever dreamed of chucking it all to move to a small village to run a craft business or bed and breakfast?

Well, Dream Jobs To Go author Kim LaPolla and her husband Mark have done just that.  Last year they moved from California to the tiny hamlet of Greenville, New York where they run an inn and Kim offers art workshops.

Check out their inn-running adventures at InnSane, their blog about running the inn and offering workshops.

Kim is the author of two Dream Jobs To Go ebooks, How to Get Started as a Quilt Artist and How to Get Started as a Technical Writer.

Check ‘em out.

Popularity: 15% [?]