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Hi everyone! This is our first interview for Frog Writing Solutions and our President Vincent Frogameni will be asking the questions! We will be interviewing a well established and knowledgeable freelance writer, Linda Angér, which I feel will hopefully help all of you writers out there!
Me: So tell me, how did you discover your passion for writing?
Linda: I discovered a passion for reading when I first became aware of the musicality of words – probably listening to nursery rhymes and kiddie songs. As my ability to read grew stronger, I became curious about the HOW of the books I was reading. HOW did the author grab my attention? WHY did she choose one word over another?
By second or third grade, I was copying sentences and paragraphs that intrigued me, and attempting to diagnose their power and use the same “formula” to write stories of my own. It was much later, in high school, that I began to understand the connection between words and music – how the meter and cadence of a paragraph can enliven even the dullest topic – and to see that there are words, and then there are words that sing. That’s when I knew I would be writer for the rest of my life.
I began as a poet. After college, I went into the corporate world, where I gained street cred as a “wordsmith” by editing the letters, papers and marketing collateral used by my superiors. Eventually, I was promoted and transferred, and writing for a living became a reality.
Me: What was your first writing job?
Linda: When I left the corporate world in February 2000, I was introduced to a corporate executive who wanted to publish a book on his leadership training philosophy. He hired me to be his ghostwriter, and I passed the first year of my freelance career researching and writing that book. That project paid me close to a full-time salary, but left me with a day per week to network and build a clientele for other projects, such as writing sales letters and web content, or designing brochures.
Over the years, I have met and interviewed Senior Executives at Fortune 100 companies, helped entrepreneurs develop sensible but effective marketing pieces, and assisted nonprofit organizations raise funds and awareness of their programs. My client list includes international corporations, regional businesses, and some mom-and-pop shops. I love them all and give them great thanks for their business.
Me: Do you love the career you have chosen?
Linda: Most of the time, yes. I love that every day is different, with different things to research and learn or master. I love working long-term with a select group of clients, and filling in with the occasional projects for other clients. There is something wonderfully fulfilling in celebrating the smallest victories my clients realize as a result of the work we have done together.
I do admit, though, that in the early years, there were days in which I questioned my choice. I imagine that is true for any professional, and particularly for those of us who are solopreneurs. So yes, there are days I might grumble about accounting, an exceptionally tight deadline, or a logo idea that won’t come together–but in the end, I know I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else.
Me: Is there any advice that you would like to give to new and veteran writers?
Linda: Believe in yourself but never stop learning and growing.
Practice the Golden Rule in all your business dealings.
Take time for yourself – burnout is a bummer and destroys creativity.
Meet all your commitments – no excuses. Seriously – NO excuses.
Express gratitude for everything – right down to the guys who haul your trash and the pounding rain that forces you to slow down on the freeway.
And, as Eleanor Roosevelt said, “You must do the things that scare you.”
About Linda Angér
Linda Angér is the Founder and President of The Write Concept, Inc., a 12-year-old marketing communications company based in Rochester Hills, Michigan. A published poet and short fiction writer, Linda is currently working on two novels and a non-fiction book in her “spare time.” Her mantra in life is: “Those who say a thing cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”
Business Website: www.thewriteconcept.com
Twitter: @TWCinMI
Facebook Fan Page: The Write Concept
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Thank you Linda for taking the time out of your day and letting Frog Writing Solutions interview you!
[...] Because of my responses in that forum, Vincent asked to interview me—a request to which I quickly, and gladly responded. The interview is posted on his blog. [...]
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