Paradigm of Success
for Writers
Follow Passion
A successful businessperson loves what they do. They believe
in their business. They did not go into business simply as a
way to pay bills. The natural businessperson loves working
with people, loves the challenge, has an eye for color and
design, feels energized when faced with a challenge, and takes
pride in their achievements.
Learn to Write Well
You do not need a degree to run a successful business.
However, you do need enough information to know how to do the
job right. Retail is not a stagnant industry. It has a life of
its own. It changes constantly. Constant learning is as
important as business plans or hiring the right employee.
No one starts a career, enters a business, or starts a new
venture without training. Do not leave your education in the
hands of a university where the professors have never
published books in your genre. Do not leave your education in
the hands of an author who has one or two books published.
Instead, look for courses where the instructors are
multi-published, have been teaching a long time, and have
experience editing.
Start Planning
Write a Schedule
"Failure to plan is a plan to fail." The research and planning
stage can take a few months or a few years. Smart writers take
the time to plan their future before they start.
Write a Business Plan
The most common mistake made by writers is in not realizing
that they are in business. A business plan is an extremely
valuable tool that allows you to blueprint your future,
outlining today's budget and tomorrow's plan of action.
Without a plan, you will struggle from writing assignment to
the next manuscript.
Know the Customer
Who reads the types of books you want to write? Have you taken
the time to look at fan clubs, read book reviews, track the
bestsellers list?
Find a Mentor
Join writer's groups, and seek out coaches, and friends who
are willing to offer advice and suggestions. I belong to small
groups who gather to brainstorm and share ideas, creating a
buzz for your writing.
Manage Your Time and Hire Help
There are not enough hours in the day to complete every task
efficiently when you are having to do it by yourself. It will
not take long before important jobs remain undone and your
enthusiasm for self-employment dies.
Most writers cannot afford to hire professional help from
agents, editors, and writing coaches. However, each hour has a
monetary value. Taking time to learn how to handle contracts,
act as secretary, learn to run bookkeeping software, and
create a promotion campaign can be far more expensive than
hiring a virtual assistant (a secretary that freelances from
his/her home) to take over these tasks.
