CFC Service Call: What do you need?

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

This community has a lot of talented members. If there's a service you need -- content submitted, fiction illustrated, writing edited, websites designed, etc. -- here's a chance to speak up. Maybe someone else in the community will have that skill. What do you need?

Comments

[pensandquills.livejournal.com]

My biggest concern is marketing help.

However, I could definitely do with an editing partner on the projects I'm working on. A second set of eyes never hurts for me. I try, but I'm bound to miss something.

However, tips and tricks for getting noticed are what I'm looking for. Links to various communities, facebook tricks, myspace avenues, even ideas for places to advertise inexpensively or free are all greatly appreciated.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

>>However, I could definitely do with an editing partner on the projects I'm working on. A second set of eyes never hurts for me. I try, but I'm bound to miss something.<<

I do freelance editing, which I may have mentioned before.

>>However, tips and tricks for getting noticed are what I'm looking for. Links to various communities, facebook tricks, myspace avenues, even ideas for places to advertise inexpensively or free are all greatly appreciated.<<

My most useful social networks for traffic have been MyBlogLog, BlogCatalog, and BlogExplosion. Facebook is more like a permanent con suite, somewhere to meet people and chat.

A great trick is ad swapping. Say you want to pimp a book. You put up a block of 100x100 ads on your site, then you talk to your author friends. Whoever puts an ad for your book on their site gets to advertise their own book on your site -- and no money needs to change hands. You're posting ads for books in front of an audience who, being on an author site, probably likes to read. Everybody wins.

Re: Thoughts

[pensandquills.livejournal.com]

I will definitely have to check those blog links. I haven't heard of them at all so, they will be new resources to try.

Thanks so much for all the help. I may have to take you up on the editing. Message me your rates please.:-)

[just-the-ash.livejournal.com]

Don't underrate Twitter. There are mass amounts of writers, literary magazines, small presses, lit blog feeds, etc. on there. If you want to friend me, I go by LadyCrow there.

[pensandquills.livejournal.com]

I just followed you on Twitter and would love to add you to my friends list, if that's okay with you.
Thanks for the heads up. I'm still trying to build a following on Twitter. But I'm having a bit more luck there so far.

[enveri.livejournal.com]

I work as an editor and writing tutor. I'm happy to help with editing- I'm an illustrator, so would be delighted to trade editing for advertisement. :)

[pensandquills.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I definitely will take you up on that. Will be working on adspace options for websites in the next few weeks anyway.

Added you to the Friendslist. Hope that's okay. Would like to be sure we stay in touch to trade.

[enveri.livejournal.com]

Absolutely! :)

[academichussy.livejournal.com]

I'm super nervous, so if I ramble, that's my reason as well as I've also re-written this several times. ;)

To the point (back story): For a variety of reasons (academic, personal, cowardly, etc), I've put my writing career on hold for nearly a decade. With graduation looming from graduate school (my second masters, this one in library science) in May, TheFiance has thrown down the gauntlet that if I am as serious about writing as I keep arguing that I am, he will support (financially/emotionally) me six months, starting whenever I choose, for me to make a go at it. The concession is that I have to get something published or paid or something for the piece(s), even if it is only $50 bucks in the course of the six months. The thought process is that if I'm writing, producing, submitting, then the pay will eventually follow. Even if I'm making pennies a day, I just have to be working, showing commitment to the project(s).

I KNOW what a tremendous gift this is, and I clutch to it to my heart - emotionally, I want to jump on this and go. Logically, I have a hard time asking him to support not only me but my student loans. I am credit card debt free, so that helps, but the student loans are another matter ($75K - it paid for three degrees so I'm okay with the total).

I have struggled with this decision process for the last few months since he threw down the gauntlet, while I've been applying for jobs in information and archival arena once I graduate in May.

TheFiance and I are both fanatics about open source and crowd funding seems to be possible solution to my anxieties: People pay what they want for my work, it appeals to the opensourceness in us, it appeals to my social networking side. This seems like a really good solution that can possibly let me pull it off.

I'm scared stiff because I have no idea where to begin with this and it seems really overwhelming. I feel like I'm starting at ground zero (which I am) and I could really use someone(s) help to work through how to get going and where.

In exchange I can offer up:
- Research skills (trained librarian after all -- if i can't find it, it doesn't exist).
- Editing (technical/non-fiction/fiction) - I am extremely through editor, so if lots of red scares you, I'm not your girl and i'm not shy about telling you when something isn't working.
- Technical support when writing about technology/computers/etc.
- Social networking help - want help/guidance to use a myriad of social networks but don't know where to start, how to use, what's the point? I'm your girl.

At the very least, thank you for having this forum to get this in writing - having the ability to write it out gets it out of my head and gets the ball rolling.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

>>I have struggled with this decision process for the last few months since he threw down the gauntlet, while I've been applying for jobs in information and archival arena once I graduate in May.<<

It's a good idea to get in some practice before you try to make writing your day job. There is nothing wrong with writing as a part-time job. In fact, it's a lot easier to succeed if your standard is "boost the family budget" than "make the family budget."

>>TheFiance and I are both fanatics about open source and crowd funding seems to be possible solution to my anxieties: People pay what they want for my work, it appeals to the opensourceness in us, it appeals to my social networking side. This seems like a really good solution that can possibly let me pull it off.<<

Then you should try it. Browse this community's "Memories" file for tips on how to start a crowdfunded project.

Also, TheFiance? Keep that one.

>>I'm scared stiff because I have no idea where to begin with this and it seems really overwhelming. I feel like I'm starting at ground zero (which I am) and I could really use someone(s) help to work through how to get going and where. <<

I often pitch in brainstorming and advice to help start new crowdfunding projecs. Some simple first steps: Read what other people are doing. Observe what audiences like. Pick a topic that you think is awesome and write about it. Offer some stuff for free, then perks for paying customers.

Re: Thoughts

[academichussy.livejournal.com]

It's a good idea to get in some practice before you try to make writing your day job. There is nothing wrong with writing as a part-time job. In fact, it's a lot easier to succeed if your standard is "boost the family budget" than "make the family budget."

Agreed. TheFiance and I talked about this pretty incessantly such as once I get closer to graduation and writing-work time becomes more abundant, that I'll start this project while looking for jobs and etc. He's also not going to count the writing while looking into jobs thing into that six month gap, which is awesome.

Then you should try it. Browse this community's "Memories" file for tips on how to start a crowdfunded project.
Also, TheFiance? Keep that one.

I'm not sure why I didn't think of that in the first place -- there are times when I'm slow on the uptake. ;) But yes! Will go through and see what other people are doing. And yes, I know he's a keeper, even if he does drive me crazy at times... :)

I often pitch in brainstorming and advice to help start new crowdfunding projecs. Some simple first steps: Read what other people are doing. Observe what audiences like. Pick a topic that you think is awesome and write about it. Offer some stuff for free, then perks for paying customers.

This is all fantastic stuff, thank you! I have a terrible cart before horse syndrome, such that I knew that I don't have the time for the next few weeks to a month to get going but saw the post and just rambled my way into!

Thank you so much for everything! I'm also on Twitter: @pnkrcklibrarian

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

>>I'm not sure why I didn't think of that in the first place -- there are times when I'm slow on the uptake. <<

It can take a while to identify where to start and what resources are available to you. That's okay. I will mention that the amount of preparation you do before launching a writing project is likely to have a direct impact on your chances of success.

Also consider the time-return factor. If you're good at what you do, a crowdfunding project is likely to start showing results after some-several months, but usually takes a year or so to really pick up steam. If you're submitting to conventional editors, there's usually a big time-lag between submission and acceptance, often followed by more months before the actual item hits print -- but if you're submitting to paying markets, you get the whole payout right then.

Getting a regular writing gig of any type is a lot more doable if you build up publication credits in a related area, so keep track of what you get printed or sold.

>> I have a terrible cart before horse syndrome, such that I knew that I don't have the time for the next few weeks to a month to get going but saw the post and just rambled my way into!<<

Cart before horse in writing can bite you on the ass. If what you have now is bits and scraps of free time, try reading around to see what other folks are doing. The publishing world is not stable right now; as a newcomer, you should look around and see if you can figure out what part(s) of it would be most useful to you given your own particular talents and interests. Grabbing the first thing you see could seriously point you in the wrong direction.

>>Thank you so much for everything! I'm also on Twitter:<<

Glad I could help! I'm not on Twitter myself, but some other writers are; if you sing out here, they may pick you up. Oh wait, some of my fans tweet about my Poetry Fishbowls with the hashtag #poetryfishbowl, so if you see that it's sort of me. However, I am on Facebook and a few blog network sites.