Friday Speak Out!: 5 Reasons to “Rock Your Wisdom” Through Ebooks

by Jennifer Brown Banks

Weary of the editorial scrutiny, gatekeepers, rejections, and publishing delays of the writing life, I was desperate to take more control of my creative destiny.

Call it the 7-year itch. And my itch needed a fix! I had been blogging faithfully and seriously since 2009, and felt that my experience and expertise should be reaping greater rewards by now.

It’s not that I didn’t feel a sense of accomplishment, even in the midst of my frustration. A reality check allowed me to recognize that I had been blessed to accomplish many things since coming on the scene: “Top Writing Blog” honors for 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. As well as interviews and mentions on some pretty popular platforms. I was humbled and grateful.

But I simply wanted more. The endgame here was to expand my reach, my teach, and my bottom line. To provide greater value to my followers and the creative community.

FAST FORWARD…

I toyed with a few ideas. But, the one that really stuck was publishing Ebooks. I had been reading a lot of encouraging things from fellow bloggers and decided to do some research here. According to the site “Online Income Teacher,” there are an estimated 700,000 authors that have published Ebooks world wide.

I wanted in. Though I have many passions that I could write about, (gift basket making, cooking, teaching), freelancing seemed the most logical and marketable topic to pursue. Can I tell you something? I had so much fun in the process, that one Ebook concept developed into two. Then two became a series. I’m calling it B.O.S.S. Bank on Success Series.

I won’t bore you with all the details in between and the few hiccups I encountered along the way. But, if you’re seeking to expand your platform, share your expertise, and diversify your income, Ebooks are a smart way to go.

HERE ARE 5 REASONS EBOOKS ARE ADVANTAGEOUS:

1. They allow writers to “work smarter, not harder.” How? You can repurpose your existing blog content, add new material, and present information to your readers in a new and useful format. Voila!

2. They provide an additional income stream. The revenue won’t be enough to pay your monthly mortgage, mind you, but it can finance a cable TV upgrade, extra groceries, a mini-vacation, a writers’ conference, or a mini-make-over. In fact, I was able to earn some “right-now-cash” by taking pre-orders before the titles were available for purchase.

3. Pride in ownership. That’s right. These babies are yours! You get to decide how to price them, the distribution method, the release date, the content. Need I say more?

4. They allow you to elevate your platform and your status. Adding the word “author” to your Bio often increases your perceived value and can potentially attract more freelancing clients as well.

5. Ebooks are typically cheaper to produce than hard copy books. Which means you are looking at lower publishing related expenses and greater profit margins. Ebooks also help to solidify your branding efforts.

And here’s a bonus, folks. If you start now, you still have time to end the year on a high note, by publishing your Ebook and “packaging” it as a gift item to Christmas buyers!

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Jennifer Brown Banks is a veteran freelance writer, content creator, award-winning blogger and author. Discover how she juggles it all and still manages to find time to shop, by visiting her popular site for writers at http://Penandprosper.blogspot.com/
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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5 comments ebook publishing, eBooks, Friday Speak Out, Jennifer Brown Banks, writer income, writer inspiration

Friday Speak Out!: Now that my Nest is Empty. . . to Become a Tent Maker or Not

by Andy Lee

I asked Google, “What’s the hardest thing about being a writer?” I was hoping to find answers aligned to my frustration, but the articles rated time management as the number one problem for writers.

Time management is often our nemesis. We work from home. Our schedule is ours to manipulate--or not if we have small children. And well, we are artists. Art can’t be forced. Our strength is not in schedules and calendars.

And on days when the sun is shining too much or the clouds are too thick, depending on our mojo, motivation wanes. Our muse goes on vacation. The blinking cursor taunts our weary brains, so we dash to the car when a friend calls for a coffee date.

But I disagree that time management is our worst problem. I mean, I get it, and at times struggle with sitting down to write too, but I think the hardest part of being a writer is the lack of income. After seven years of working on two books and writing blog posts after blog posts, I’ve become a much better writer. I even have a small following, but my checking account is bare.

I didn’t start this writing occupation for the money, in fact, becoming a writer wasn’t on my radar—it just found me. But a small, consistent paycheck would be nice.

I’ve reached a place in my life where I must either make a living as a writer or get another job and write on the side. I’m wondering if I need to be a “tent maker” as the Apostle Paul was in the Bible. He preached and made tents for income.

Will my writing help pay our family’s rising debt with two kids in college? Not at the moment.

My husband cheers my writing. He’s supportive, but he wouldn’t mind if I got a “real” job. My advances for two book contracts were minimal, and once those books are released in the next six months, I won’t see a royalty check for months, maybe years.

So, the hardest thing to me about being a writer is making money doing it. My heart is torn. I feel called to this vocation. I love to write and speak. But the pay is minimal.

It seems you need to be an entrepreneur to thrive in the publishing industry. I'm not. I'm a writer.

As I face the first year as an empty-nester, my stay-at-home mom days gone, I get excited about all of the writing I could do, but I also wonder if I need to do more than write. Yet, I worry if I can promote my books successfully if I’m working another job.

What do you do? Is writing a full-time career or do you “make tents” on the side?

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Andy Lee took a maternity leave from teaching Language Arts twenty-four years ago to raise three children and one husband--a soldier in the US Army. Now that everyone is raised, she's a blogger, Bible study writer, writing mentor for Word Weavers International, and mom to one kitty named Hank. She has authored two books, The Book of Ruth: A 31- day Journey to Hope and Promise (AMG, October 2015) and A Mary Like Me (Leafwood, March 2016). Andy writes about finding purpose beyond today at www.wordsbandylee.com. She and her retired, soldier husband live in Wilmington, NC.
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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6 comments Andy Lee, empty nest, Friday Speak Out, time management, working, writer income, writing career

Increase Your Revenue Streams

As a freelance writer, I plans months ahead to guarantee I have a steady stream of cash flowing to my bank account. If I don't have a lot of $$ deposited, the hubby gets a little cranky, the juggling game begins and I get upset with myself because I question if I worked hard enough.

Maybe I didn't work smart enough.

That's why it's important to have more than one revenue stream. It should be fairly obvious that, as a freelancer, a writer shouldn't put all her eggs in one publication basket. You aim for several good paying markets. Or ... you diversify. Some business experts report that freelancers should have 10 revenue streams. (How many do you have?)

There are other strategies to create revenue streams that can increase a writer's bang for the buck. Here are a few ideas:

• Paid speaker. Why not talk about what you know best: writing. I had had the opportunity to speak to several groups of all ages about my writing adventures. Granted, I am not raking in millions of dollars, but one or two talks a month may be enough to make our house payment.
• Instructor. Again, why not share what you know best: writing. Teach a class or workshop at a local library or community college. I have done both and it's been a great supplemental income, as well as a wonderful networking opportunity.
• Online instructor. Why not use those materials you've created for the revenue stream mentioned above and turn it into an online course. There are all types of writing classes available online, including right here at WOW.
• Consultant. Depending on your niche, you may be in a position to consult with area businesses about their writing/public relations needs. 
• Writer. Um, you are a writer. But, why not take what you know best and create a book - printed or digital - that shows the ins and outs of the business or a how-to look at your specialty. Good idea! I am working on an ebook right now.

While you will have to make an initial invest of time to create materials and prepare for talks, the return on the investment will have you smiling, all the way to the bank.

by LuAnn Schindler

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1 comment classes, consultant, ebook, income streams for writers, public speaking, revenue streams, writer income