Excuses, excuses, excuses. We head for our motel late this afternoon about 5 miles away to conduct our women's writers conference this week, so again I won't be able to participate. I have been involved in many, MANY conferences where I work, but this is the first time we've ever tried anything even remotely close to any venture like this and I'm really scared. Every night we go to the front and back doors, lay hands on them and pray over the house and ourselves with oil. When people are paying you money for something, you have to perform and give them a good product so they don't feel cheated. I know the loss of sleep and anxiety attacks are a part of the overall spiritual attacks, but somewhere in the back of my head, I still have many doubts. Everyone is excited and looking forward to the week, so I hope we don't let anyone's expectations down. I've always felt that I've never been successful enough to provide for my wife and daughter and hopefully, we can build something that will carry us through our future. I feel like I'm running out of time and I'll be asking people if they want to "Supersize that" when I'm 70.
Since its only 5 miles, we can be back and forth to check on the child, but for the most part we won't be home till Friday.
Terry, I wanted to address the success part of your post...
If the boss won't pay you more money, one thing to consider is to spend less.
My natural gas rate went sky high, but my gas bill didn't. I switched to oil-filled space heaters and I turn them off entirely when I am away from home and when I am at home, I run them in the rooms I intend to occupy.
I knew I needed some clothes (hey it is February!) so I patiently waited for a big sale and saved a lot. I didn't just rush out and buy stuff.
I used to eat out a lot because I was on the road a good bit. Now I pack a lunch or try to be home during the lunch hour. It seems trivial, but I had been eating out so much that it was a lot of money.
Many nights I used to come home at a late hour and have nothing ready to eat, so I would eat out. I began cooking on weekends and now evening meals are quick to instant.
I spent a lot less at Christmas this year. Everyone still got lots of love and I don't think they noticed that the gifts were less costly or they were too nice to say anything.
I don't know how you will have more money. But spending less is one of the things I do.
There are some other things.
I don't know if you rent or own a home. If you rent, you certainly want a safe apartment, but that doesn't always require the most expensive. If I rented, I would want a place cheap enough that I could save money toward home ownership one day. Luxury apartments can take every penny you earn.
I would not buy a home if I felt that I were going to be moving in a few years or if houses were overpriced and possibly going down in price soon. Some coastal towns are like that.
But in many instances, home ownership is a good way to keep your retirement-age expenses low. My property taxes are a bit high, but they give seniors a break here. Still I plan to move to a cheaper area when I am no longer willing to work fulltime in the big city.
After "retirement" I will work somewhere a few hours a week for some pocket money. But fast food restaurants are no place for an old man. Leave that to the teenagers.
If you are worried about money now, it won't get easier in your senior years if you don't manage to save money now.
Car payments, credit cards, expensive vacations, needless consumer electronics purchases are among the pitfalls that can ruin your chances for happiness and security in the years when you should be enjoying grandchildren and getting more involved in your church.
Swallow your pride, drive a car you can afford. I don't see the wisdom in buying a new car, when fairly new will do and is a lot cheaper.
Worrying is a good motivator to get you out of a spend-spend rut and into a more sustainable life. Worrying as a lifestyle will drive any man to an early grave.
Once you free up some money, investing it is good. A financial planner can guide you and help you figure out what you need to do to have enough for your old age and provide for your kids. Knowing what to do can give you peace of mind.
I have blanked out portions of what might give away exactly who we are because once a "Christian" woman asked her pastor what he thought of our writings and work, so he got nosy, Googled her name and happen to see it tied to this site. The pastor didn't "approve." My wife had to politely informed her that many people link her site on theirs that she wasn't aware of and if she could evangelize someone and help women to become writers and sell their work by happening to be linked to a nudist site, then it didn't matter to her. It was none of our business to judge someone else's lifestyle.
However, it was a nice plug despite the fact that it came too late to help with gaining attendees.
Terry
Marketing advice for the writing diva
Orange writer ************, CEO of ***********, presents a three-day conference on marketing creative works.
By ***************
For the *********** City News
Finding a publisher is half the battle for book writers, said ***************, who runs ****************. Marketing a book is the real challenge.
Writers can find out how at out the ********** Writers’ Conference this week at the ******** Suites.
“Too many authors think they need to only write the book and then everything falls into place,” said *********, an ******* resident.
“Unfortunately, today the publisher is only willing to publish the book and leaves everything else up to the writer.”
The three-day conference is open to writers and speakers who want to learn about the tough world of publishing and public speaking.
*********** aims to mentor authors in all aspects of their message, she said.
“This conference is the MBA course for writers and speakers … it is for people who need tools necessary once their books are written and published: marketing tools, creating presentations, developing press kits, etc.,” ********** said.
***********'s mission statement is to “help women improve the quality of life by focusing on four different key areas: reducing stress, increasing joy, simplifying life, and enhancing relationships,” ********** said.
But her business philosophy is not just for women.
“I find men are fascinated by our way of doing business, therefore men are welcome to attend, but they better be prepared to be overwhelmed by a room of divas,” ********** said.
During the conference, attendees will take a field trip to Barnes and Noble to learn how books are merchandised in the store; listen to a presentation on recording presentations and developing audio products given by her husband, ************, an audio technician at the *************; and ********** will give several presentations like The ***********'s Guide to Life and the ****************************.
“There will be banquets, gift bags and a group outing to Disneyland, complete with matching T-shirts; the whole thing will be a load of fun.” ************ said.
************* is the author of “************************” and “******************************.”
She will be releasing a new book entitled “**************************” which, she said, will awaken the diva in every woman.
but I may need some help or advice in the not-too-distant future.
I'm about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way to being finished with a novela that I would like to see published "mainstream", and I have 3 or 4 full-size book ideas growing in my brain that I'll be working on after that.
I have no real idea what to do after the actual writing is completed, and will be seeking the help of others. (hint, hint... )
My work isn't something that most women's and/or Christian publishers would want to handle, but it isn't anything beyond what we advocate here. Just a little mild sci-fi with some nudist thinking thrown in. Might be interesting to somebody out there, I hope...
We'll have to see how it goes, but boy am I tired of turning wrenches for a living. Hopefully Myra will get the financing applications completed for her bookstore soon, and I can retire...
I emailed you the link to our site and I hope it help give you some info in taking your first steps.
We do not want to go with "Christian" publishers. The market for that is too narrow and many times you end up like most churches and only preaching to the choir. If you can go mainstream, you can reach the masses better. Unforutnately, there are many people so fixated on only associating with Christian businesses, that they lose site of the greater good. When my wife chats with authors on Tuesday nights, the first question many ask about a publisher is, "Are they Christian?" Who cares? If they're not worshipping witches or dancing around with chicken bones chances are they're a reputable company and will get you the monetary resources that enable you to move forward in a ministry.
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