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Starting a Writing Business |
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Home Page Read and Learn all you can about your new business. This includes leaning about writing for your chosen field, reference books and business books to help you run your business and to learn from the expertise of others.
How to Start a Home-Based Writing Business
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Home Page > Writing & Publishing "Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." - Jeremy Kitson Every one is looking for information! Information is the number one product to sell. How many times have you heard this? To a large extent this is true. However, merely writing a book, screenplay, children's book, working as a freelance writer, or gathering together a number of products to sell from a web site unfortunately does not always equate to an easy stroll along the "yellow brick road" to fame and fortune as many would have you believe. Setting up and starting your business Developing and running a writing and/or publishing business requires dedication, determination and a commitment to making it work. One of the main reasons that a writing business is so attractive is the minimum start-up investment required. To create a profitable business and make money using your computer you do not require.
You can begin today with two basic requirements.
As your business grows and develops certain software will be required for publishing documents electronically and developing your business presence online. If you need to update your skills or if you need to purchase any new software program take the time to learn each program thoroughly. It is surprising how much you can learn in just an hour a day. Here is a list of a few items you may or may not need depending on which area of writing and/or publishing you intend to pursue. A word
processing program Book compiler software If you are going to sell your book online you will need to purchase E-book complier software e.g. Adobe Acrobat 8.0 for the creation of PDF files, a popular choice for many professionals, or an HTML compiler. Compare the different features and choices available before buying to ensure you make the correct choice for your needs. FTP software FTP software for sending your web pages and other documents to your web server. An editing program - for constructing a web site. There are many easy to use WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) software editing programs available for the purpose of developing a web site. Some of the more popular options include Microsoft FrontPage and Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 Graphics program A graphics software program e.g. Adobe Photoshop, CorelDraw Graphics Suite or Jasc Paint Shop are useful for photographic manipulation, designing book covers and web site graphics. This is easier than you may think. A database program A software database program e.g. Microsoft Access or Filemaker Pro or some way to record customer records, article submissions and other administrative data. Desktop publishing program Depending on the area/s of business opportunities you decide to enter, or if your needs should change as your business expands, consider purchasing a desktop publishing program. For example Microsoft Publisher or QuarkXPress 7 Other Hardware Other necessary hardware - if you don't already own them - include.
Sources of research reference material It is a good idea to learn as much as you can about any new business venture you may undertake. Research and decide what business area best suits your skills and talents based on your hobbies, areas of expertise, interests etc. Read books, magazines, visit the library, research on the Internet and use the periodicals index archives (found in most libraries and online) for material related to the your area of interest. Setting up your office & workspace When setting up your office workspace it should be designed for comfort and efficiency. If possible, set aside a certain area of your home especially for your business. Plan and design your daily work and personal routines. Decide how many hours you will devote to your new business? Then set a schedule for yourself. Leave time for personal leisure activities and allow time to spend with family and friends etc. Avoid spending every spare minute of your waking time on your business and neglecting the other areas of your life. This is an easy trap to fall into. Stationery requirements include standard items such as pens, pencils, paper, and notebook or several notebooks to carry with you for jotting down your ideas as they occur. Most people keep several notebooks, with pens, in the car, beside the bed, in their pockets because you never know when inspiration will strike. A small tape recorder is also another popular way to record ideas as they occur and also for conducting interviews. (At some stage in most writer's careers there comes a time when an interview will be required to add extra dimension, insight or depth to your work). A filing cabinet or some other method for storage of research material and normal business documents that must be kept. Bookshelves for storage of reference material. A separate telephone line and fax are good additions for any home office. To spread the word about your new business venture use your stationary letterheads and business cards to advertise and promote your web site URL to everyone you come in contact with. Business account and Record Keeping You need to open a business account at some stage to keep your business transactions separate from your personal finances for taxation purposes. You will also need finance system for record keeping. MS Money or MYOB (Mind your own Business) software are both popular choices. Business name A business name will present a more professional image. When choosing a business name do not choose the name of an existing business. Do a trademark search on the name you have chosen - it can save a lot of potential problems later on. A domain name Having your own www domain gives credibility when promoting business and work online. Make purchasing your own domain name one of your early priorities in your business start-up. Develop a budget Make a budget of your living expenses. Allow for web hosting fees, domain name registration and other expenses associated with your new business. Know how much you will need to be earning from your business before you give up your regular job. When your business generates profits in excess of your normal wage then you can make your new business a full time profession. This avoids a lot of stress that can be associated with a new venture. Find out about tax obligations Find out about your tax obligations and any zoning restrictions to starting your business from home before you start. Develop an easy to follow strategic plan Develop a plan to give focus and business direction. Take one step at a time. Develop and modify your plans as your business grows. Like any offline business your business will only be as good as the time, effort and planning you put into it. To be a success you need to plan for
success There's an old saying "if you fail to plan, you're planning to fail." Business planning takes on a whole new dimension with the international scope that the average home business can now achieve. There is no difference between running
a writing and self-publishing business than in any other business,
online or offline. With a clear goal, you will have an overall vision of how you will build your business in the years ahead. Setting outcomes for your goal is the key to taking your insights and resources, forming a plan of action and setting out to achieve what you truly want. Avoid the Pitfalls Some common areas that prevent people from succeeding are 1. Inability to manage their finances well. 2. Making bad choices for themselves. 3. Being incapable of taking personal responsibility for their life or their actions (or inactions). 4. They do not know how to set outcomes
for creating what they want. Unless you act, outcomes remain nothing more than dreams. It is like the person who say's "I am a writer" but never actually writes or completes any writing projects they have undertaken. There are also people you simply love the idea of writing for a living but are not prepared to follow through with all that will be required for them to turn ideas into financial profits. Unfortunately, there are no magic formulas for instant success no matter how many people may try to convince you otherwise. Remain flexible in your plans & ideas and most of all have FUN Visit the article Library to learn more about writing and publishing Home Page - Home Decorating - Home Improvement and Woodworking - Art Gallery - Photography - Garden and Outdoor Living - Crafts and Hobbies - Health and Fitness - Kitchen and Cuisine - Beauty and Fashion - Writing and Publishing - Living Mindfully - Christmas Copyright © 2001-2008 Netwrite-Publish.com
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