Designing A Successful Writing Career While Standing Behind
Several years ago, I received a call from a friend of mine in a
city about 2 hours away. She and another had just started an
new company in medical consulting and needed someone to
come and do about 3 days of data entry. She asked me, know-
ing I was in between careers, and familiar with Medical Terms
and Technology, would I come and spend 3 days and do the
computer work.
My first reaction was, "No", because I did not know anything
about a computer, and or data entry stuff. I had used a lap top
in the previous work I was in, but it was not "data entry" stuff.
So I said, "I'd think about it."
My friend then had her teenage daughter call me, because she
really liked me and so she sweet talked me into going.
I went for the 3 days, and what came from that was the begin-
ning of what is now my livelihood, which I run completely
online.
As I was getting familiar with their business over those 3 days,
and since I have a knack for promotion, I saw the potential
they were missing. So I said, here is where you are, and here is
where I can help you go, if you want to go . They said yes,
and I became the VP of Marketing.
Along with the growth came new computers, and the Internet,
and me learning some new things & expanding my knowledge
of how the Internet worked.
Up until that time, I had taken up residence in that distance
city, but ultimately wanted to return home. I had done all I
could do for them as they soon began some partnership
squabbles, and it came time for me to move on, as I'm not
interested in that energy.
They asked me to stay. I said, "I'd stay if they would open up a
satellite office in my city, and I would do my part from there."
That's when things really began to happen for me online.
During that time, more partnership squabbles, they then began
to lose money because they would not agree and they were
always fighting and not working the business in a productive
way.
Then they got behind in payments to me. And long story short
at the end of it all, I kept the computer & other office materials
to compensate a small percentage of arrears in payment to me.
I had begun playing on some Internet forums. I got to be
known as someone who knew her stuff. I then decided to put
out 2 of my own free newsletters, when I still was not sure
what I was doing or how to do it. At this point I had not
thought of writing a book, although I did have a handbook
that I began promoting on line in my newsletters.
Folks wanted my newsletters, which was such a grand feeling!
Over time, those newsletters grew into 2 books, which are now
available in ebook and print. I have a third ebook out soon to
be in print and with more coming.
But where the Internet played such a vital role in books is this:
I attended my first VA Festival of the Book on a Saturday. I
was going for the "Self-Publishers" day because that's how I
chose to build my writing livelihood. I had pretty much
conceded that I was going to have to spend $10,000.00 to
purchase 5000 of my own books and then figure out how to
market them. (Did I have a clue of where the $10,000 was
coming from, No.)
What happened that day changed my book writing and goals
forever. It was there, that I learned about "Ebooks" and Print-
on-Demand. I knew heaven had arrived that day.
I knew I could submit my book which was technically a series
of newsletters I had already written, to a Print-on-Demand
Company for around $200.00. That book would then be
available in community bookstores for order, as well as online
bookstores.
I left there a changed and happy person ! I published my first
print book which was already an ebook, and selling, and that
book, "Manifesting 101 & Beyond" has a 5 Star Rating by an
Amazon top 500 reviewer. I then put out my 2nd ebook, which
then also became my second paperback book. I now have a 3rd
ebook due out in print soon, with many other books in various
stages.
All Print-on-Demand books were written by me on my
computer. I then downloaded the book to the companies
putting it in book form. The Proof came back for me to edit,
over the computer. Then within a short period of time I had
one in my hands, and it was available all over the country and
the Internet.
Things just kept growing. I then began phone and email
consulting based on my 2 newsletters & Books: "Manifesting
101 & Beyond", and "17 Seconds to Wt.Loss". The number of
participants and rates have increased over the months. I have
focus groups that I designed based on a "Vortex Application"
of which also is an income stream for me. TeleSeminars and
tapes, and books-on-tape are scheduled for the next 3 months.
Folks buy more books as they participate in other services as
well. And now I am entering the realm of Radio, where I get
to talk about MY BOOKS !
All of this is a pure expression of what I came to do and to
offer. I love it all so very, very much.
And it all began when I was out of work, naive about
computers, and lastly sending out newsletters when I did not
know what I was doing ! (sj)
About the Author
Susan James, writes of *User Friendly Physics* to design our
lives by; from Dreams Come True to Weight Loss:
Visit Susan's website for more details!
http://members.wordthunder.com/manifesting101.html