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Interview with Author and full-time freelance writer Donna Sundblad

April 18, 2008

Author and Writer Donna SundbladAuthor and full-time freelance writer, Donna Sundblad, resides in Georgia with her husband, Rick. In her desire to help other writers, she started her Pumping Your Muse Prompts  blog in 2005 to not only challenge and inspire them, but also as an extension to her creative writing book Pumping Your Muse. In like manner, her Anthology News and Reviews blog provides anthology markets for a variety of genres as well as reviews of published anthologies. Donna is the author of a young adult fantasy novel titled Windwalker and has another YA fantasy novel due to be released in 2008 titled Beyond the Fifth Gate. She edits for several online publications and her wish is to assist other writers along the way to publication.

  WJ: How would you describe your profession?

I’m a full time freelance writer and author of three books with another two works in progress. I’m a regular content provider for LoveToKnow.com where I serve as the Business Editor and Diet Editor. I’m also the Fantasy Topic Editor for Inspired Author and the Sr. Non-fiction editor for epress-online. I guess you could say I edit as much as I write, but it’s all part of the same business. When I fill out my tax forms, I list my occupation as “writer” and I love it. All my work is done by telecommuting which is great with the current gas prices.

 WJ: How did you get into New Media/Online publishing/Online communications? Did you see yourself getting into this field early on? What did you used to do “in an earlier life” (prior career, if any)?

Prior to taking the step to full time freelancing, I worked for 12 years on an island in SW Florida as a rental agent on the island of Boca Grande. When I started that job, the office had one computer. By the time I left, everyone had their own computer. That just goes to show you how fast things change in a short amount of time. While still working, I started taking online writing classes and developed my own website. It opened a whole new world of communication. Once my first book came out, I started looking for ways to help other writers that would also promote my books. It’s been a process as I learned the importance of social networking, promotion and marketing.

 WJ: What do you think are the turning points that helped make webmastering/online publishing/online marketing a lucrative business field?

When I decided to seriously write in 2001, I was working full time in real estate rentals so I looked for online classes. I found them at Writer’s Village University where I’ve met people around the world. That online community is more than willing to share what they know with one another, and many of those contacts know much more than I do when it comes to the web. One of those contacts by the name of Shri Henkle led me through the maze of technology, online publishing and marketing with her advice and books. I’ve also learned a lot through my experience with Inspired Author, too, which is run by Suzanne James of Grace Publishing. She’s been the source that’s taken me to a new level, teaching me about things like Page Rank, how to use FeedBurner, Adsense and how to build a following and fans. That may sound like basics to many, but that’s how growth happens — from the foundation up. Information exchange and then putting what you learn into practice.

 WJ: In your opinion, what is the most exciting recent development in online publishing?

RSS advertising; this week I read that the internet has already exceeded television-based advertisements in the number of gross advertising impressions served. I know this isn’t real recent news for many, but I’m just learning about it and am looking into it because it’s another exciting opportunity to build my online presence.

 WJ: What do you think are the essential skills to become a successful webmaster?

Dedication, organization, a willingness to learn and of course the ability to communicate in written form or find others who can write for you. Dedication because you need to religiously update your content even when you don’t feel like it. Organization helps balance the different aspects needed to become successful including time to promote, time to write, and of course Social networking which opens the door to a host of experienced webmasters. You’d be surprised how willing people are to help you once they get to know you.

 WJ: Being a webmaster has gone from being a one-person job to a field that allows specialization. Is that a good thing or a bad thing for your business?

This is a good thing, but you’ve got to learn how to use it. In the past, I tried to be all things to all people. I wanted to help people lose weight, learn to edit, how to write, how to be organized and so on. I’ve learned to narrow my niche. I’m a writer. That scope broadens to help aspiring writers along the way while I continue to build my brand but my sites all have a writing theme.

 WJ: Do you think the industry is regulated enough? Have the authorities or the Net’s relevant governing bodies become too restrictive? Which areas of online activity do you think NEED further regulation?

I’m not one for more regulation. Giving the government power to apply restrictions and regulations can open a real can of worms for internet users. It would give government the power to apply levies and taxes to certain goods. Users of the Internet should control the content they look at and the applications they use. If some of the current legislation being considered right now gets passed, we may be looking at a whole different internet class system, because it promotes creating a two-tiered system. One for those who can pay and the other for those who can’t afford to pay as much.

 WJ: What are the challenges the industry is facing today?

Like I just said, if internet usage becomes regulated, our access to the information highway may be detoured. For those of us who make our living on the web, this can stifle creativity and research, curb originality and take away our free and open marketplace. Other than that, keeping up with the latest technology and tools is always a challenge. That’s why social networking is such a valuable asset. When someone mentions something I don’t know about, I start asking questions. Traveling in social circles on the web is like a treasure hunt. You never know what you’ll find to help you build your online presence.

 WJ: What would your advice be to someone who is just getting his or her feet wet in online business?

Choose something your passionate about and establish yourself as a guru. You’ve got to care about your topic, or it will just become another job. But passion isn’t enough. You’ve got to get out there on the social networking sites. Talk yourself up. Stay current on what’s going on within your market. Read the news. Know what the hot topics are relevant to your business and what the latest tools are to help you build your online business.

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