Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah and all the ones I am missing. May the holidays be a time of peace and joy. If you are traveling safe journey whatever method that is being used. If you are alone for whatever reason may the season be kind to you.
Wishing all of you a Happy New Year, may it be better than 2017.
See you in 2018.
There are so many writing contests out there. All one has to do is search online or look inside one of the magazines for writing you might subscribe to or pick up to read. They come in every genre, word count and theme it seems possible.
However, do you make it a contest with other authors on who has the next book out? Who has the best cover? Who has the best story? We grow up, at least my generation, being told to compete, that winning is all that matters or being ahead or the best is where it is at.
But does this trickle down to writers? I think it does. I believe people try to best each other at every turn. Do we admit it to ourselves or others? No, we don’t. Instead I hear writers with t he remarks that clearly speaks volumes of how they are in essence ahead of so and so. You also hear how well they are doing in comparison to this or that writer. If you go to a seminar or class for writing just look around and pay attention to those around you.
It’s a shame really. There is space and room for all of us to showcase our work. Writing is already a solitary profession. Why make it even more so?
A year or two ago I started to expand my business and became a writing coach. Four or five years prior I offered for free what I knew and had learned to writers I knew in this area. I thought, and I guess foolishly, that people would take me up on my offer especially since it was for free.
What I received instead was. “Yeah, but I don’t have time to meet with you,” or I would get blank stares. Some did realize the value of it but never enacted on it. I was floored for if someone offers me something of use for free I am all over it especially if it will help me with my writing. So I stopped asking them for I am sure they were tired of hearing me and I know I was tired of trying to help those with what I knew.
One day someone asked for my help and asked me how much I was charging. I told them no charge I would be glad to help. She wouldn’t hear of it and paid me for a straight year. That is how I got started. Soon after a second person contacted me and asked what was the charge for me to read their entire manuscript and see where they might need to fix it.
So now I charge. Granted now when the same people who I offered to help for free hear I am now charging they are not happy at all and when they hear the price they are more unhappy. To be honest I am priced very low in comparison to the other people who do what I do. But now yes I do charge and while I use to feel bad about it I am okay with it now. I guess until you price yourself what you know is not considered worthy? That was an interesting revelation for me
The business is growing nicely and word of mouth has been a big boost for me in getting clients. I work with clients in helping them with pace, flow, loopholes, social media, developmental editing, getting writers going from beginning to end and a good portion in between.
It is fun to be able to help people get to where they are trying to go with their manuscript. The excitement in their eyes and voices are rewarding.
Writing is so much more than just writing.
