One American Writer

I could write. There's a novel idea!

Waiting for a call-back on a story for The Alamance News*, making corrections to my book, and talking with an artist about a new cover, I am working.  But am I writing?

My 14-year-old is sick so my 28-year-old wants me to watch my grand-baby at her apartment.  "But, what can I do there with no Internet?" I asked.  "Oh," I answered myself doubtfully, "I could write."

Keeping up with Facebook, LinkedIn, and blogs is important to friendships, careers and book sales, but it is NOT writing.

How much time are you actually writing?  Keep track.  The zeros might scare you into productivity.  Go write something!

* Publisher of The Alamance News in the news!  The Alamance News, the paper I write for, is a weekly newspaper exclusively covering Alamance County, NC, USA.  They/we don't have a Web site yet (time for hard news only) so looking for a reference, I found this story (link above).  Cool.  The media at work.

Writer Regards,
Donna D. Buskirk
One American Writer

King Content says

Content is king, and King Content says:

"My loyal subjects.  I know you are not perfect.  But write.  Post to blogs!  Write your book.  Complete that story.  Design that Web site so there is a place in the world for your content.  And then MONETIZE!"

King Content, in an aside to his assistant:

"MUST I say, 'monetize?'  I don't WANT to say 'monetize.'  I HATE that word.  I want to say, 'Make money.'  You can say 'CONTENT IS KING' as often as you wish, but we all know that MONEY is king.  I, King Content, am only king as long as content brings profit.  But back to my speech:...

"My loyal subjects.  Stop learning and write!  There will always be another blog post, another resource, another free webinar.  WRITE.  Start to PRODUCE and then, as you continue to learn from resourceful blog posts and webinars, you can WRITE about those, and share your learning with others.  Learn as you go, but WRITE.  You must write! Remember, content is king!

If you cannot or will not write, because content is king, you must hire a writer.  Connect with professional writers at MediaBistro.com.  Find Freelance Connect from their menu and describe your project.  Writer's Market judged them on of the top writing sites.  

So, loyal subjects, write!  And now, we must get on over to Media Bistro and complete our own royal profile!  Later!

Dust Off Your Home-based Business

I remember my clean office, my clean, neat office cubicle.  I look around my home-based office and see one big difference -- at the office, we had a cleaning service.  I need every advantage I can get if I'm going to work for myself, and that means keeping the place clean!  But where to find the time???

According to an Ashland City Times article this week, Home-Based Businesses are on the Rise, but we knew that, right?  What I wonder is, how are folks making it work?

This, from the Wall Street Journal, is two years old, but I'm going to read it as soon as I post this entry.  Working for Yourself Can Have Its Challenges.

This article (part of a nine-part series on making the leap to self-employed) from GroundReport.com is also not new, but it still applies.  FEAR.

I'm getting braver day by day, so once I find the time to keep the clutter down, I'll be feeling like a real business person again!

Be brave, stay encouraged and CLEAN YOUR WORK SPACE,
Donna D. Buskirk

Double Duty for your Blog Posts

Doing research for another blog post, I searched (Google) on "confidence booster" and the FIRST result was from 5 years ago.

It is a short article posted on SearchWarp.com, which to me says that SearchWarp.com does a GOOD job of search engine optimization.

So if you're going to write articles (once you get the hang of it, a short article is the SAME as a good blog-post), you might try that site. 

NOTE: Maybe the reason they're effective is that they confirm their writers can write.  You have to submit a sample.  But again, you WILL become effective as you learn to blog.  If you HATED English class in school, change it up.  Make your own English/writing class FUN as you perfect your skill.  It WILL pay off.

When your content is really solid, it can do three jobs for you:

1. Blog post
2. Freelance article
3. Content for your next book.

If you get paid for a freelance article, the publisher will purchase the rights to it, so THAT content cannot be used again.  Carefully read the copyright arrangement at SearchWarp.com (or other article-submission sites).

Back to English 101,
Donna D. Buskirk
Freelance Writer/Producer

Write Like a Writer

Excellent post from the ProBlogger titled How to Blog When You're Not a Writer.  Thanks, ProBlogger.  This blogger does everything right (check out his blog's layout, calls to action) -- and because your business HAS to blog, I recommend that you subscribe to his email newsletter.

I know you're busy, but even if you ignore most of his emails and read one a month, you'll be way ahead of the game.

I wondered how non-writers were dealing with having to blog, and his post (link above) gives VERY good info.  I beg to differ, though -- Darren Rowse might not think of himself as a writer, but the man can WRITE. 

He just didn't know he could.  His solid tips will help YOU get over your "I can't do it" fear, and here are my additional tips to help you write like a writer:

1. Keep a pen & notebook with you at all times.  If you have a long commute, keep a recorder handy so you don't take out an entire lane of traffic trying to jot down a blog-post idea inspired by radio news.
2. When you get to your computer, log into your blog right away.  Write fresh and fast, then edit a bit (not too much or you lose the original energy).
3. Think of your blog post almost as an email to your target audience. You are writing for current and potential customers and the media.
4. Make a point related to your product or service...something to help them solve a problem related to your product or service, or related the field you serve.  Don't JUST write about what YOU offer. If you sell advertising for a newspaper, you CAN blog about how to buy radio time as part of the mix.  Surround the account with your wisdom and they will return to you for advice.  You gain trust by helping them with their broader issues.
5. RELAX.  Blog readers don't expect every blogger to write like a writer, and you will improve as you go. 

Simply write a few SHORT paragraphs, do the spell check and post the entry.  Write blog posts daily or three times per week. 

If the posts are well planned and not too seasonal, you could repurpose the content later into an e-book or self-published book.  In that case, though, DO pay a professional editor to get the content into shape.  Book readers DO expect you to write like a writer.

IF YOU GET STUCKIf you sit down to write without a notebook full of ideas, and you suffer writer's block, use my favorite tip from Ken Atchity's books.  If you can't think of something to write, write anything.  Type, "Mary had a little lamb, His fleece what white as snow, and everywhere...”  At some point, your brain will say, "OH, OK, IF WE'RE GOING TO WRITE ANYWAY, I'LL GIVE YOU SOMETING TO SAY!"

After you are more confident in this process, or right away if you're brave enough, ask for friends you trust to tell you the truth if you should continue to blog or pay someone else in the company to blog instead.

If it were singing instead of writing we were talking about, I would HAVE to pay someone else to sing for me.  I was wondering how non-writers were handling blogging, and the ProBlogger post is a great answer.  But if you write like I sing, you really should pay a blogger who CAN write. ;)

Writer Regards,
Donna D. Buskirk

P.S. When you are about to write an email or post to a discussion group, make it a blog post instead!  I was about to share this link with fellow students in my online course (U. of San Francisco Master Certificate in Online Marketing), but I realized I need to blog, and this post is the result.  So don't email...make it a bit longer, and post to your blog!  You'll get the hang of it, and the payoff should be more visibility for your company and more sales! -DDB

Write a Book to Promote Your Biz

Write your book to make money, but not from book sales.

Stephen King makes money from book sales (and I recommend his book for novelists, On Writing), but chances are, your book won't make much of a profit.

Guess what -- most books in bookstores don't make much if any profit.  (Read A Broom of One's Own by an author in NC who still cleans houses for a living after having two novels published.)

You can, however, make many more contacts and gain clients when you write a how-to book and use it as your brochure.  

See my Squidoo lens about writing freelance articles (http://squidoo.com/MyFreelanceWriter).

To write your book, I recommend A Writer's Time - A Guide to the Creative Process from Vision through Revision by Kenneth Atchity, and I strongly recommend the services of an industry professional to help you through formatting, editing, illustration and marketing.  Henry Hutton, one of the founders of Lulu and owner of PublishAndSell.com has years of insider knowledge and contacts.  He is local to the Research Triangle Park area in North Carolina, USA and, of course, offers training on-line so he is accessible to you no matter where you are.

In today's climate, your business needs every edge it can get.  Buy a pack of index cards and start that book right away!

See you later, you writer you,
Donna Buskirk
DonnaBuskirk.com

We must work hard for OURSELVES

In my book, How to Make Money While You Look for a Job, I asked the question, and I am still asking the question, Why will we show up for work every day to work at a job we aren't all that crazy about, and NOT show up when we work for ourselves?

I read somewhere recently that we have been forced to work for so long that we have forgotten how to force ourselves.  I know this is a simple lack of self discipline.  I will share tools here to help business owners and independent service providers stay motivated -- stay on task and reap new business as a result.

In many ways, it is MUCH easier to work for someone else, but after being laid off for the third time (most recently by Microsoft), I now consider severance pay to be the paid vacation policy.  And I am enjoying this one.  I'm not scared any more.  If the worst happens (I can't find a job, we lose the house) then I can clean houses while I rent a place or live with relatives.

Even though the job outlook is not good, I am confident I will find contract work or a "permanent" position, yet it is wise for all of us to have more immediate local options.  I think every family should start a side business that can be cranked up when one or both partners loses a job.

Starting a business after you've been laid of is so challenging that I recommend starting while you still have a job if at all possible, but I (and perhaps a few co-authors) will share details and stories here that will encourage all of you, no matter what stage you are in, and especially if you are still thinking about starting a business.

One unique feature of this blog, if I can get people to open up, will be the stories of business failure.  I don't want or need to add to the hype about business success.  For that, readEntrepreneur Magazine.

I wish I had saved the issue of that magazine in which a reader's letter said she wished the magazine would cover more about the failures.  She and her business partner were both losing their homes.  She said that if she had been more aware of the risks, she might have made wiser choices.

I have friends who are risking that and more, and I have known of retail establishments over the years (mom-and-pop shops) that were draining family savings, yet the owners don't close down because it is so hard to admit the enterprise is a failure.

For stories of success and failure, and for tools to help you succeed, check back soon.  Work harder for yourself than you have ever worked for a boss!

-Donna D. Buskirk

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