Learn the tricks of the trade and 'tried and true' methods of writing success from seasoned writers!
Sister Site to Writer Gazette and EbooksCafe
Today's Date:

Writers Manual welcomes you!
Learn how to create a successful writing career!

An Interview With Cheryl Wright

Tell us a bit about yourself. What would you like us to know about you?

I'. not a great believer in the horoscopes but that description of my zodiac sign, Virgo is accurate.
Organized, methodical, perceptive, conservative, intuitive and diligent. If you just add the word too before each of these qualities you link my strengths with my weaknesses and you have me.

What are you doing now? (Career? Married? Single? Children? Pets?)

I've been married to a teacher since 1979 and have two children. My daughter is 23years old and works as a tecnologist at a research company. My son,20, is in his last year at university. Since our beloved cat Tilly died in 2004, we have not ben able to muster the courage to bring aother pet into our lives just yet. We still talk about him all the time.

What is your favourite food?

My favorite food is baked potato with anything.

What is your favourite colour?

Give me green any day, any time, in any thing.

What is your favourite sound?

The sound of water soothes and inspires me.

Who is your favourite person?

Oprah Winfrey has done more for me and my self-confidence in the last five years than anyone else.

What is your favourite place?

The beach is my oasis.

What is your favourite memory?

My favorite memory is sitting on the church steps with my first love and his asking me to tell him what kind of life I want to live and that he will do everything he can to make sure that I have that life.

What is your favourite article of clothing?

Orange, gold and rust striped jersey. I wear it with jeans, skirts and under jackets.

What is your favourite word?

Solitude

What is your favourite writers' quote and why?

Do it no matter what. If you believe in it, it is something very honorable. If somebody...does not understand it, then that's their problem. But if you do have a passion, an honest passion, just do it....
- Mario Andretti


You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment.
Seize every second of your life and savor it. Value your present moments. Using them up in any self-defeating ways means you've lost them forever."
- Wayne Dyer.


Begin where you are; work where you are; the hour, which you are now wasting, dreaming of some far off success, may be crowded with grand possibilities.
~ Orison Swett Marden (1906 - 1975)


How do I define why these are some of my favorite quotes? They are simple and self-explanitory.

What is your most favourite quality about yourself?

My organized mind

What is the least favourite quality about yourself?

Procrastination - I procrastinate about something everyday.

If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?

I'd go to Spain. My grandmother was of Spanish descent and I love that part of my heritage. I love anything that's old. I long to walk the streets of the ancient cities of Spain, shop in the markets and live in an old, old spanish home.

What inspires you to write and why?

Seeing people, especially women pursuing and living their dreams. This is so because I know first hand the pain of wanting more for your life and having other people destroy that fire by their words. When someone rises from that background to achieve their heart's desire it always blows my mind and inspires me to write.

What is your favourite book and why?

Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul - because the lives of aspiring and accomplished writers provide me with the motivation I need when I feeling inadequate. I keep it on my desk for quick pick-me-ups.

List your three favourite authors (any genre) and why?

Jenna Glatzer - Jenna shares the low-down on the writing life.

Mark Victor Hanson & Jack Canfield - If their books were the only only books available, they would be enough to inspire and motivate all of humanity to live weel, dream big and love deeply.

Brenda Ueland - She rekindles the fire of creativity when it is just a flicker about to go out. She helps to keep the fire burning brightly with her heart to heart writing.

What do you think makes a writer successful?

The intense drive that manifests itself first in the discipline of the writing process, followed by determined submission of his or her work for publication.

Whta is it that makes you successful as a writer?

My passion to see people break free of emotional shackles and soar as they live the lives they want to live. I lived it, I see it, and I write. Readers see themselves in my writing and are inspired and motivated.

How long have you been writing and how did you start as a freelance writer?

I kept diaries as a teenage and journals perodically through my life, but really began writing in 1998. That's when my frelance career started. A chance meeting with an advertising representative for a magazine inspired me to ask her if her editor would be interested in a column on interior decorating. Well, the rest is history - I still write that column today.

Was it through traditional publishing or online publishing?

I began in traditional publishing and slowly wedged my way into online publishing.

What was the first article you sold and to whom?

My first article was entitled Do-It-Yourself Decorating which I sold to Trinidad Style Magazine a print magazine.

Describe how you felt when you received payment for this article.

The best way to answer this is to say that a photocpy of the check still hangs above my desk along with the first check I received for an online sale.

What are your goals as a writer?

My main goal is to be a fulltime freelance writer. Since I want to work at my fulltime job until my son is out of university and settle in his career I plan to retire and do just that.

In the mean time, I continue to write every chance I get and submit my work for publication (taking rejections in stride).

It gets hectic with short deadlines but I discovered that I work well under pressure.

What is the best tip you can give to fellow writers?

If you're a writer, you'll write regardless of what's going on in your life. Journaling is one of the best ways to discover yourself, your voice and your passion. So, just keep writing.

What do you hope to provide your readers with through your writing?

Inspiration to build their confidence in themselves and they talents. Motivation to pick themselves up, manouver themselves through the naysayers, and work the steps necessary to achieve their dreams.

List your three favourite online writer-resource sites and why (include URLS).

Absolute Write - www.absolutewrite.com
Articles to keep you writing

Writer's Market - www.writersmarket.com
Market news

Writer's Manual - www.writersmanual.com
Great freelance markets that have generated wonderful opportunities for me.

If you have published a book, tell us about your publishing success (title, publishing date and company, where it is available to purcahse).

I'm still writing my books - 3 of them: a murder mystery, an inspirational booklet and my story.

How long did it take you to write your book(s)?

I've been working on them for over one year.

What would you do differently if you could repeat the same publishing experience?

Wow? I have too much self-control for my own good. I tend to spend too much time thinking and planning. I did not recognize great opportunities when they came knocking at my door. If I could do it all again, I would loosen up and grap those opportunites with both hands and hold on for dear life.

What have you learned about the publishing world?

It's tough and you have to keep working, pushing and most of all writing. I'm still learning every day but one vital thing I've latched on to is that as a writer I have to take responsibility for my success as far as promoting myself and marketing my work.

This is your chance to 'Talk Back' to your readers. What would you like to say to them?

Stop thinking about being a writer. Write something in your journal, on the computer, on scraps of paper, anything, anywhere. Write.

What's the one thing that you want them to know about your writing?

I strive to write from my heart, from my life. I entrust not only my words to you but my life. So read my words, see yourself in them, and come away with a resolve to live better, work harder and smarter, write more and write more compelling work that will help to change and improve the lives of others whether it is fiction or non-fiction.

Use of this web site is an indication of your agreement with our Terms of Service. Copyright 2001, 2002 Writers Manual and Topzone Systems Inc. All contents and graphics copyrighted - Do not copy! Contact us at: editor@writersmanual.com Web Design by Krista Barrett.