I’ve had a busy two weeks. Lots of good news, new information, and more bricks put in place on the path my journey is leading. So, lets get started this week with business. Yes, I know not exactly a riveting topic but I’ll do the best I can at making it as interesting as possible. If you are an author on your own journey to become published you just might find this weeks blog useful as well.
After acquiring a book called, “Act Like an Author, Think Like a Business” by Joylynn M. Ross”, I decided to brush up on the business side of my writing. Not that I’ve had time to actually read the book mind you. The title did however motivate me to utilize what I know from my business degree, and business experience to develop some useful documentation and tracking tools. Since I use a Mac Book Pro I used Numbers, which is Apples spreadsheet application, to create a time tracking tool. Luckily for me since I have 0 experience with Numbers, Apple has provided templates that can be easily tailored to my needs.
If you use Microsoft, Excel is their spreadsheet application.
After deciding on the template to use I started defining the categories of work I need to document and made a mental note of what tasks went with what category. I decided on four categories. Writing, writing development, marketing, and business. Writing and editing my own stories will be credited to the writing category. Work shops, time spent listening to other authors podcasts, and conferences will fall into the writing development category. Marketing includes web site development, writing blogs, social media marketing, and events. In the business category I’ll put time spent updating spreadsheets, driving time to gather supplies and coordinate business cards, marketing material , tax preparation, and applying for copyrights. You get the basic idea.
After modifying the data in the template chart to match the categories and inputing my time spent on tasks, I began to analyze the data entered. I was somewhat taken aback at the results.
It was amazing to me to see that only 3 percent of my time was spent on my stated craft, writing. I immediately questioned if I had spent my time wisely. How did marketing get most of my attention at 50 percent while writing development and business tied for second at 30 percent?
It didn’t take long for me to realize the the priorities I had chosen for March actual made sense. The numbers made sense because I have completed manuscripts that need publishing attention. In addition a website and a social media presence had to be created. Time spent on writing development also made sense because I spend every morning listening to podcasts by other writers so I can hone my writing skills. I also gain valuable insight into the subjects of marketing, character development, story structure, and growing my business.
Among the podcasts I listen to are K. M. Weiland at helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com. Aspects of Writing at https://allaspectsradionetwork.com/aspects-of-writing, and writing excuses at writing excuses.com. You can also subscribe to these podcasts at your favorite podcast site. These podcasts not only provide me with valuable insights into the writing business, but also provide uplifting messages of support that keep me excited about my journey to become published.
I quickly came to realize the amount of time spent in any particular area of my writing business will depend on what stage my writing projects are in. While my writers heart longs to to write and create all the time, my business will not allow success without equal and sometimes greater amounts of attention.
Next I created a template to track business expenses. This spreadsheet will come in handy at tax time next year. There’s no need to feel daunted in this task either because, once again, expense spreadsheet templates are readily available in both Microsoft Excel, and Apples Numbers applications. These templates will automatically tally input mathematically and place them in spending categories I define, if I wish, so I can track what areas of my business money is being spent.
What about copyrighting my work? My research in this area revealed a consensus among writing professionals that copyrighting literary works doesn’t become a major issue until the work is nearing publication. The thing to note here is your copyright begins the moment you write your work. Registering your work with the US copyright Office provides for a public record of your work. Registration may provide eligibility for statutory damages and attorney fees in successful litigation.
I recall some decades ago reading that if I placed my work into a sealed envelope and mailed it to myself, the post mark could be used as date evidence as long as the envelope remained sealed even after receiving it in the mail. The poor mans copyright, as this is referred to, is a myth. I’ve gone for decades believing my early poetry could be protected by this method. How disappointing!
With my website goin live in two days, and since a couple of my poems are posted on my website and available for download, I decided it was time to register my work at copyright.gov. I was delighted to find out that I could register the short works using a form intended for multiple works of the same type. There are requirements your work has to meet to be eligible for this method. If eligible this method can save you time and money. The requirements are listed on the copyright office webpage and are easy to understand. A phone number is also provided, with a live person, to answer questions.
Also on the business marketing side, business card design, and follow the journey at rvicway.com t-shirt design and printing for an upcoming event at the Bloom music festival were accomplished.
I’m excited about this journey! Sharing this journey with you, my blog readers, makes this journey even more exciting. I’m glad your here, and hope your getting out of these blogs what you came for!
Now, It’s time to write.