tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10261740.post113354069962910479..comments2024-01-31T03:00:44.846-06:00Comments on Confessions of a Would-Be Writer: I'm Not Getting It, But I'd Like ToLynn Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13444488890483608914noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10261740.post-1133712921536009532005-12-04T10:15:00.000-06:002005-12-04T10:15:00.000-06:00I make a business plan every year, and I also keep...I make a business plan every year, and I also keep running five-year and career goal plans. Writing is a sub-contractor business, so it's always like on-spec work, but you can still organize yourself and plan your income.<BR/><BR/>For writers not yet published, a submission and income plan is essential. During the ten years it took me to break into publishing, I hired myself out at various times as as a typist, copy-editor, speech writer and personal assistant -- anything that would allow me to work at home. I knew at the beginning of the year how much income I needed to generate each month to cover my expenses and while I was submitting, looked for work-at-home jobs that would bring in the money. Also I went only for jobs that involved some sort of writing, which helped me improve my skills.<BR/><BR/>I think a submission plan is also vital if you want to go full-time with writing after your first publication. It provides deadlines for you just as an editor does when you get published, and I think it's good training to set writing goals and track your progress rather than just write whenever the mood hits you (disclaimer: a lot of organic writers say this stifles their creativity, so if you're that sort of writer, ignore this.)<BR/><BR/>Long-term and career goals are not for everyone, either, but I like them because they give me focus, and they can be adjusted as the business changes. Keeping your goals realistic is also a good idea. I started out with the single career goal of "I want to see my name on the cover of a novel" and that got me through ten years of rejection. It was a tough goal, but reasonable enough that I felt I could work toward achieving it (unlike goals such as "I want to make ten million dollars for my first book, move to Malibu and date Brad Pitt.")Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10261740.post-1133674739119225692005-12-03T23:38:00.000-06:002005-12-03T23:38:00.000-06:00Ugh, obviously ANOTHER thing I'm not doing. I'm w...Ugh, obviously ANOTHER thing I'm not doing. <BR/><BR/>I'm with you, other than the obvious of upping word count. Now office expenses...planning better for National. Invest any royalty/advance money to make up for the fact I no longer have a job paying into a 401k, setting aside money to pay quarterly taxes.Jill Monroehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12917867670224368810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10261740.post-1133593160165907382005-12-03T00:59:00.000-06:002005-12-03T00:59:00.000-06:00I don't have any business plan but "write my rear ...I don't have any business plan but "write my rear end off" (hopefully literally...but alas, it keeps expanding). I figure, two books a year + a novella is my speed right now, maybe getting an agent next summer--and that's about the extent of my plan, because it's the only part I can really control: the writing.meljean brookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16135527993507471830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10261740.post-1133593067885461572005-12-03T00:57:00.000-06:002005-12-03T00:57:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.meljean brookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16135527993507471830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10261740.post-1133584346050200192005-12-02T22:32:00.000-06:002005-12-02T22:32:00.000-06:00I majored in advertising too and, like you, have n...I majored in advertising too and, like you, have no clue how one would write a writer's business plan!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com