what do you find mysterious about becoming a writer entrepreneur?

As some of you have so aptly stately, you wanted to write and discovered you had to become an entrepreneur to succeed. I have even considered that some business courses would not have hurt me as I was in college "learning to think." What are some of the things you have had to learn and what obstacles are you discovering. Please check out our sister network for writer entrepreneurs. We hope you will make both networks part of your social networking routine. We are continuing to look for ways to meet your needs.The new network is www.theWEnet.ning.com

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Permalink Reply by Zachary Smith on October 22, 2012 at 9:36am

Among the authors I have spoken to, there is some trepidation Not at being an entrepreneur exactly - all authors are in a way entrepreneurs - but in the idea of self-publishing as a means for an unpublished author to get their works out to the public at large or to build a following which publishers would find attractive. I would love to hear you speak to your experiences in this way. Thanks!

Permalink Reply by Jan Lazo-Davis on October 22, 2012 at 12:40pm

My first book - www.infertilitysanguish.com - taught me the business of becoming a publisher and a writer all at once. It has become easier to do this since Infertility's Anguish came out in 2003. Today there would definitely be an e-book.

We had to search markets and find our niche. The book did well for what it was. Never gonna be a "Harry Potter" but that was fine with us.

It taught me how to find an audience and how to market to a niche market. Good lessons I believe.

Permalink Reply by Zachary Smith on October 22, 2012 at 1:00pm

I find that absolutely fascinating. I have some vague understanding of the concepts involved but I am always interested in talking to people who have actually made self-publishing work for them. I have been working on short stories and wonder at whether they could be successful as a self-published work. Thanks for your response!

Permalink Reply by Jan Lazo-Davis on October 22, 2012 at 1:33pm

In my writer's group there are some who have published an anthology of short stories. They sell them on Amazon in both print and ebook versions. Not sure what their numbers are - they can't pay the mortgage with their sales - but they are getting sales.

It is all about finding your niche and your audience and how you can market to them so they listen.

Permalink Reply by Zachary Smith on October 22, 2012 at 4:18pm

That makes sense. I'm hoping to really get out there and pound the virtual "pavement" to get my work out there in front of eyeballs. I've certainly been considering Createspace for printing, Amazon for selling both print and ebook. It had to be worth a trial at least. :D Thanks for you reply, it is very much appreciated.

Permalink Reply by Deborah Herman on November 1, 2012 at 9:31am

Jan, have you told your writer's group about the wonderful land of WAE? As you are all promoting your books remember that we want to continue to grow our site and create a dynamic community for you all that can also be a place from which to promote your books. You may not realize it, but agents and industry people look at your profiles here and at our sister site: www.theWENet.ning.com to find prospects. I know specifically of a producer who does that. They don't want to be pitched, necessarily but they want to be able to look. Thanks for all the support you give us. BTW we have some awesome additions coming in 2013.

Permalink Reply by Jan Lazo-Davis on November 1, 2012 at 10:08am

I love it when writers talk shop - so of course I have told my writer's group about both WAEnet and theWEnet.ning.com.

Both are good tools for writers to use.

My new company name is Reach Your Audience Solutions (ryasolutions.com) - it is a Web Design/Social Marketing company. I will be presenting this year at the HACWN conference next week and mentioning all sorts of ways to connect with an audience, once you have defined them and written to their needs.

When you write Truth, and what your audience desires it goes a long way to increasing sales.

Permalink Reply by Loli Pretorius on October 23, 2012 at 3:24am

I don't mind learning new entrepreneurial skills such as how to use social media, marketing etc.

Obstacles =it is a battle to keep focused on the fact that you started doing all of this to get a book sold! One can start questioning if it was even worth writing in the first place, as tweeting and blogging, doesnt give the same sense of satisfaction AND, then I question: Is it worth it to write the next book, if the first one is not finding a publisher?

Permalink Reply by Deborah Herman on November 1, 2012 at 9:28am

Don't let all of this social media stuff discourage you. It can be soooooooo overwhelming. It is simply a tool. You don't say what kind of writing you are doing. If you find the passion of the message then you can embrace certain things that will help you. I invite you to our sister site: theWENet.ning.com. It is called Writer Entrepreneur. I am glad you have joined this group, but perhaps you need to compartmentalize your love of writing and your business side. I know I posed the question and I think you reflect the frustration that many people including myself feel about the changes in the industry. Where are you in the process of getting your book sold? Perhaps it needs to be simplified. Ask the questions, we are here to answer them for you.

Permalink Reply by Loli Pretorius on November 2, 2012 at 2:19am

Thanks Deborah. I did join WENet as well, from South-Africa. I am in the querying process. Questions I asked, and would still love to hear an answer for:

When seeking endorsement:

1. Do I tell of my intent and process of still seeking a publisher? And do I send the completed manuscript, for that person to read?

2. Do I first find endorsement, or keep seeking publisher simultaneously?

AND on Non-Fiction writing

2. Is it unfair to celebs, to use name changes for my family and famous church leaders to 'protect' them, but expose the celeb?( ie. Charlize Theron , went to school with her, and simply mention my 'infatuation' with her /jealousy/admiration(to highlight my own weaknesses) perhaps, 3 times throughout the book)

3. and then, on that, for instance, she isn't a character even, but would it be important to mention that in the proposal,to get interest?

Thank-you, I would appreciate your advice!

Permalink Reply by Deborah Herman on November 2, 2012 at 4:35am

Hi Loli,

You do not mention whether or not you have any relationship at all with the people from whom you will be seeking an endorsement. You don't want to send a completed manuscript to anyone until they specifically request it from you.

For nonfiction you should have a book proposal, which is more manageable for someone to read. Do you have one?

There is nothing unfair about using a celebrity in a book if you have personal knowledge of or experience with them. It doesn't sound like you are offering a malicious expose. I am not sure mentioning it in the proposal will be an advantage since it does not sound like she is a major player in the book. If the chapter where you include her is a good one you might want to include it as a sample in your proposal.

If you book is a memoir, the writing and compelling nature is most important. Endorsements are good if they are relevant, but not as important as in situations where you are trying to establish yourself as an expert on some particular subject.

I leave you with these questions?

Do you have a book proposal?

What is the subject of your book?

Looking forward to continuing our dialogue. Hope this helps.

Permalink Reply by Loli Pretorius on November 2, 2012 at 5:24am

Hi Deborah,

Thank you for the speedy reply. Your guidance definitely helps!

To answer your questions:

a) I do not have close relations to the people I would be seeking endorsement from, but was a member and leader in their church. So I take it to mean then, that I should leave the asking, until advised by an agent.

1) Yes, I have a book proposal, which I developed using your BPwiz programme offered on this site.Some of the writers here even had a query critique service, where we posted query letters to assist each other.(It helped, but also caused a bit of procrastination and re-evaluation)

http://www.waenetwork.com/group/writers/forum/topics/query-critique...

2) The subject of my book:

Panties, Pennies, Pride and the Prince is a modern gospel parable of female restoration from adulterous fantasies, into the arms of her Redeemer. Through Christ’s unconditional love, a self reliant and disillusioned super saint becomes a sinner, saved by His free gift of grace.

It is my story, but would appeal to a greater market because of it's all encompassing themes which are highlighted here and there through well known people's lives. Ex.. I'm of no importance/fame, but people might want to read about how they influenced/affected my life.

At first I was trying to convince through my query, why it would be purchased by 'Tom, Dick, and Harry'...then I was advised, to reveal more of myself, which I did in a revised version. I'm still in two minds. (As writers we do feel, our stories can impact the entire global population, I'm battling with realistically convincing the agent)

Thank you for your time!

(To compliment and encourage you, YOUR site is one of two which I frequent,and find MOST helpful.)