No one puts Yolander Prinzel in a corner. That’s because she pretty much defines her own space.
And she’s witty, fun, and sweet. It’s why I think you should meet her.
Writers, please meet my friend, Yo Prinzel.
Q: How long have you been freelancing?
Yo: 8 years. I’ve been full-time for just over 7 years.
Q: What’s your area of focus?
Yo: Ghostwriting in the financial industry.
Q: How were those first few years of freelancing?
Yo: They were both amazing and difficult. The adjustment to self-employment was much harder than I expected it to be. And while I embraced a specialty early on, I didn’t really find the place where I was most fulfilled until I started focusing primarily on ghostwriting.
Q: What’s been your toughest challenge? Why?
Yo: Oh, wow … only one? Well, I guess the hardest thing to overcome (which isn’t necessarily the one that has caused the most problems) was the freedom of freelancing. I’ve never had a problem with managing time and holding myself to deadlines, but the freedom in the beginning was hard to manage and I did end up taking on way more personal projects than I should have. I’ve since had to scale back and focus on what I truly love—not just doing everything I’m curious about trying.
Q: What was your a-ha moment – the event or circumstance that shifted your perspective or had you changing the way you do things?
Yo: I think you’re referring to the above question, but I’d rather talk about my shift from byline writing to ghostwriting. AND YOU CAN’T STOP ME, SO THERE!
Initially, I thought I wanted bylines. I had a writing site, I had a finance blog, and I chased financial reporting gigs. But over time, I realized that I was working toward building this career that I didn’t actually want. My work was quoted on some of the most popular finance blogs as well as PBS, on the NYT blog and on Forbes. Magazine editors were pitching articles and columns to me (instead of the other way around). These are things that, I think, would make most freelancers really happy, and while it was all flattering, it wasn’t fulfilling. At some point I realized that I didn’t want—or need—to raise my own profile for any reason. I wanted to do that for others; for financial advisors, firms, and insurance agents who needed the boost a byline could give. Me? I just wanted to write, listen to my cats purr, drink coffee with my husband, and take afternoon naps. Once I figured that out and refocused my career, everything just clicked into place.
Q: If you could tell new freelance writers one thing to help them build a better business, what would that be? Yo: Always keep in mind the value you offer to others beyond your writing ability. That’s what’s going to make or break your writing career—not your mastery over writing.
17 responses to “Writers Worth: Interview with Yolander Prinzel”
I SOUND AMAZING.
It's why they pay you the big bucks. 🙂
Yes, you DO sound amazing. Good to learn more about you, Yo.
I love that you, and some others around here, aren't about chasing bylines. Byline chasers are a reason so many beginning writers fall for the "you'll get exposure" line low- and no-payers use.
Thank you for promoting ghostwriting. Would you be willing to expand a bit on your thought about providing value beyond writing ability? Are you referring to content strategy, or other skills?
Thanks, Sharon!
Paula, exactly. Seeing your name in lights may be thrilling, but it isn't fulfilling for everyone. There's nothing wrong with that if it's your thing–but I think too many people automatically assume that it's a kind of validation and something they should want, too.
Mike, any skill you bring to the table that separates you from other writers and brings value to your clients. This can be experience within your specialty (like the animal niche writer who used to be a vet tech, or the health niche writer who is a registered dietician) or within the writing/blogging/publishing industry. For example, I focus on ghostwriting for agents/advisors who want to self publish. Because I've self-published published close to 60 of my own books, guides, and shorts and I've helped many clients with theirs, I consider that experience an added value I can offer to my clients.
…and as that comment illustrates, proofreading would NOT be a value I consider myself to add, which is why I hire a proofreader 🙂
"I SOUND AMAZING."
And that's why we love you — your modesty. 😉
Like Paula, I'm glad you brought up the issue of byline-chasing. It holds far too many new freelancers back from more lucrative gigs.
Get some clips you're proud to share publicly? Sure. Put your ego over earnings on a permanent basis? That's not smart business.
I'm not sure why some of the newer writers I meet are so against ghostwriting. It's not like you have to do that exclusively either. No reason you can't pursue both. Find some balance.
I'll speak up in defense of bylines and making a good living from it 🙂 While I have no problem with ghostwriting and and have been happy to do it when I enjoyed the topic and was earning a good rate, I've also been able to write bylined articles for a good rate as well. I wouldn't consider myself a "byline chaser" but I do understand that it can hold some people back if they are settling for crummy clients just to see their name on their writing. The key is to not settle for low rates, no matter what type of writing you do.
I loved reading a little about your journey, Yo, and seeing how you made your career work for you, rather than the other way around!
Agreed, Jenn!
Ashley–WATCH OUT! PITCHFORKS AND TORCHES! Seriously though, you are totally right. No matter what you do–get paid what you're worth to do it. And note that I didn't really mean to attack byline writers–I moreso wanted to point out that it's okay to NOT want that. That it's vital to stop and figure out what YOU want out of your career rather than just following the crowd. I've known some amazing magazine writers, like Catherine Tully, who've been a great inspiration to me over the years. I definitely wouldn't see their career focus in a negative light–just as something that wasn't the right choice for me.
Hey Ashley – probably 85-90% of my income comes from bylined work, so we're in a simialr situation. Nothing wrong with it as long as we're being well compensated, and not going along with the belief that a byline makes it okay for a client to pay less because they're offering you exposure. In some cases you need to ask: Exposure to what?
Yo — I think that's what I found most interesting, that magazine editors were coming to you, rather than you pitching, and it wasn't satisfying to you. You're right, most writers would kill for that! And that brings up a very important point as well. In addition to being paid what we're worth, we need to make the effort to do what we love. That's one of my favorite parts of being a freelancer — freedom!
Paula — precisely. I market myself, so I don't need bylines for exposure!
Ashley – There's certainly nothing wrong with bylined work if, as the others have said, you're being paid fairly for it and you're happy with it (as in reaching your larger business goals).
My concern is more for newer freelancers who are still trying to figure out their value. They're bombarded by messages (from self-proclaimed "experts," coaches, and publications themselves) that there's often more value in a byline than direct pay.
I've even seen some of these so-called "coaches" and "mentors" spout advice that freelancers should never ghostwrite. To them it's all about ego. It's the "look at me!" game, even if it means writing for free, writing for revenue sharing schemes, etc. for a byline when you could be earning much more for your time elsewhere. And "elsewhere" doesn't always mean ghostwriting either. It can be bylined work for less prestigious publications.
And that's what I mean when I say "byline-chasing" — the writers who poo-poo any gig that doesn't give them what they (or their mentor) deem a top-tier byline, regardless of how good a gig might be for their business (and wallet) overall. I wish that kind of bullsh*t advice wasn't so prevalent, but sadly it is.
I've had writers come to me for help because they thought they'd never make a livable income freelancing because they learned from so-and-so that only pitching big publications mattered. Set them straight and point them in the right direction, and it's funny how fast they're suddenly able to support themselves.
Bad coaches, publications, etc. that try to exploit writers for a quick buck of their own are everywhere. And when it comes to newer writers figuring out their value, one of the most important things to me is that they learn to look beyond that nonsense and start thinking like an actual business owner rather than simply a writer looking to get their name on some website or in some magazine.
There's a place for that. The problem is when it becomes your only, or even primary, focus — especially when you're still new.
It's a great position to be in — to have clients and editors coming to you instead of you having to seek them out.
Yo, I'm with you. I have plenty of bylines and I don't really need them. I will get the occasional client who will ask for specific samples, and while a byline would help, it's not necessary. I just point to what I've written for others.
And if the money is there either way, go ahead and put my name on it if you want. 🙂
Jenn — I understand exactly what you mean. My clients are relatively modest, but they pay well, and I think that's where the difference lies. When I first started out, I had no idea how to approach huge publications, but I thought that's how freelancers "made it" for exactly the reasons you describe, coaches and gurus who say that's the way to go. Now that I'm a bit more established, I no longer feel the need to pursue them. I still have tons to learn in every area of freelancing, and I know I could learn a lot from you when it comes to non-bylined work! I wasn't trying to say you're wrong about bylined work, and I'm sure you know that 🙂
Oh, I didn't think that. I just wanted to make sure you didn't think I was trying to put you and others down just because they specifically go after bylined projects. I know I'm sometimes a bit short and come across harsher than intended. 😉
Some of my most rewarding writing has been for-hire, under someone else's name. Plus, I write under multiple names, even when it's my own. I'm a big believer in pseudonyms.