Weekly tracking guide

Good morning,

As writers there are many skills we must master. There is craft, characterization, marketing, editing, proposals and query letters...and accepting rejection graciously.

It can feel like we are making no forward progress.

Sometimes it is true, sometimes it is because you're basing success on word count.

The best solution is to keep track of what you're actually doing to advance your writing career. Students of my monthly coaching received this already [if you are in my coaching program and didn't receive it, email me and I'll get a copy right over to you.]

If you'd like to write one of your own think about the various aspects of being a writer and rank them in order of importance. Then give each a 'point value'. Determine how many points you'd like to earn each week [or how many points you NEED to earn each week if your on a deadline] and then start working.

It is simple things that reap huge dividends in our writing. Sometimes things as simple as a to-do list or a tracking sheet are enough to give us the accountability we need to move forward.

Don't allow yourself to get discouraged in 2009. Make this the year that you reach your goals.

More importantly, make this the WEEK that you reach a milestone on the path to your goals.

The webinar I'm teaching on Thursday can be accessed here. If you cannot attend, the ProVision Network will be recording the presentation and it will be available for sale at a later date.

I have also posted a poll on my blog. I know most of you read these directly in your email but take the time to give your thoughts on this new feature. Click straight to the blog here.

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.
She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.

You know what to do, but how???

Happy Monday!!

I truly mean that every time I say that. I love being a writer and I love coaching other writers and helping them to be all they can be.

So many people make New Year's Resolutions [although I haven't heard as much of that this year...guess it's because I quit listening to the News all the time.]

I don't make Resolutions because it is no more effective than making a declaration.

I make decisions and I follow them with action.

If that is you, then you're in the right place. Last week I called you all to make January a foundational month. Not only am I encouraging you to do that, but I'm going to help you with that.

We're going to lay the foundation for a successful new year in your writing business. Over this next month I will not only suggest steps to take but I'm going to allow a few of the people I coach to tell you some of what THEY'RE doing to grow their business. Some of them have ideas identical to me, others have taken what I've taught and forged their own path.

Either way, 2009 can be an opportunity for you to meet those goals.

Our economy is in a time of flux. Our government is in a state of transition.

Uncertainty can be scary.

But, history has shown us that the people who adjusted TO change are the ones who sky rocketed in growth.

Make this your month to grow!

Many of you have emailed me to ask about my coaching program. It runs 3 months starting from the day you register [so if you register January 15th it will run until April 15th] so you always get 3 full months.

Yes, if you own one or more of the products you do get a discount on that first month.

And I have a few more spots for January [only 8] so if you'd like to sign up for coaching this month, do it quickly.

One final thing, if you have high school students [homeschool, public school or private school] and they're dreading that term paper I'm teaching a semester long class on mastering the term paper. It is $30 for the SEMESTER [yes, it is a crazy cheap deal. I love teenagers and want to see them succeed]. I only have a few spots left so email me directly if you'd like your student to have the private tutoring. Or if they want to purchase the product without tutoring. I no longer do the e-loop so all tutoring is private tutoring.

See you tomorrow and we'll delve in to the year your business exceeded your expectations!

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.
She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.

Molding with change

There has been a huge hubbabaloo on a email loop I'm a part of. The group is ACFW which is a group of writers who are, or hope to be, CBA fiction authors.

The basis of this conversation rests on a NYT Article.

I'd encourage you to go read it [I linked to it above], but if you can't, here's a summary. The author talks about buying used books online. Then claims that this is leading to the decline of bookstores and back lists.

I may not be very old [early 30s]-so maybe there's something I'm missing- but what is the point of fussing about something we can't control?

Nothing.

We cannot go out and force people to purchase new books for $15 when they can get an old one for $3. It's called common sense.

So, our role as writers is to recognize this reality and find out how to build our writing income in the current environment.

Negative: Sales of back list books are down from publishers.
Positive: Sales of back list books continue through online retailers.
How we can use this: People are still buying books. The decreased cost of resale allows people who might not otherwise want to purchase our book the opportunity to buy our book.

Negative: Amazon is taking over the world.
Positive: Innovations like Kindle and Sony's version offer the opportunity to eliminate the lost revenue of the previous negative.

Negative: Brick and Mortar stores are closing.
Positive: The establishment of online purchases allows authors the opportunity to link to websites that sell their books. Instant gratification as well as increased personal interaction between author and reader.

Negative:Online resellers are driving second hand bookstores out of business.
Positive: The power of the internet allows people who previously could not earn money selling books the opportunity to resell their books. These people use their proceeds to pay gas bills, eat food and, yes, buy other books. As long as we keep money flowing in the economy we are able to keep the gears of industry moving. This is necessary to avoid depressions, recessions and other yucky things.

So, instead of trying to find ways to STOP the inevitable-we need to adapt.

For far too often people have tried to block things they don't like. UAW factories say no "foreign" cars on their property while their domestics are full of foreign parts. Oops. In France they tried to legislate the percentage of foreign language entertainment allowed on their airwaves. Now you can buy a Big Mac in the streets of Paris.

It is the innovators who rise above. Do you want to be an innovator or a Chicken Little pointing at the sky?

Find out about my coaching, editing and products from my website and make 2009 your year of innovation.

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.
She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.

Hit 2009 Hard.

This is the final week of 2008. Every year I look at the final 10 weeks of the year and it seems an eternity until Christmas. Then in a blink they're gone. Two of my kids have birtdays in those last 10 weeks. There are holidays, family gatherings, dance recitals, more family gatherings, snow storms, more family gatherings...and family gatherings.

So as I stand on the edge of 2008/2009 I take a deep breath and prepare to jump in to the new year.

This year I'm hitting 2009 hard. I have a few goals personally and professionally. The final quarter of 2008 has been a preparation time. I feel as if I've been stretching back in to a giant rubber band. All I have to do is lift my feet and the tension of the rubber band will be too much and I will be slung in to the new year.

Spiritually January is a month of prayer and fasting in our church-and I am participating.
Emotionally January is a month where I'm spending more time reading for pleasure.
As Tiffany January is a month where my husband and I are focusing on building stronger relationships in our family [us and our kids].
Financially January is a month I'm working hard to reach specific goals.
Professionally January is a month where I will jumpstart the year with webinars, articles and public speaking. I've never attempted all 3 in one month-so it will be an interesting challenge.

Everyone wants to make New Years Resolutions but few people take the time to prepare for them. Determine what you'd like to accomplish in 2009 and make January your foundational month. For writers I have a mentorship program that lasts 3 months. The first month is $40, months 2 and 3 are $30 each. You receive "Intro to the Writer's Life" and "Creating a platform" [which together retail for $50].

If you'd like a one hour brainstorming/goal setting session it is only $20.

If you need free then read back through my blogs from January 2008 forward. See what ideas you can glean from them. Go to the library and borrow "Writing the Breakout Novel" and "On Writing" by Stephen King.

If you got gift cards then look at my suggested reading list and see what you can find to build your writing business this year.

But determine to do something. Not a New Year's Resolution-but a foundational shift in your writing business.

My first goal for 2009 is to double our readership that subscribes to the blog by the end of January. You can help me with that by telling a couple of writer friends about this blog and asking them to join.

I'd also like to visit 20 different blogs in January. If you'd like to host me on your blog contact me through my website contact page and we'll get it set up.

Make January 2009 YOUR year. We'll have a number of great announcements in 2009 and I look forward to sharing them.

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your writing business this year. It is my pleasure to share.

And do you have a question? Send it to me via my contact page and we'll talk about it here.

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.
She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.

Don't let yourself use the tired excuse.

I'm tired.

No, really...I'm completely exhausted. After 4 days of running all over the place. After two weeks of snow. After a car accident and something breaking on my car today [Please God, not the axle] I'm tired.

All I want to do is curl up in bed and fall asleep.

But Monday morning brings a business call.
Taking the car to the repair shop.
Work on my latest book proposal [the 5th since September...still waiting to hear on the other 4]
Blog postings
Articles to write.
Work for two clients.
Power points to write.
Homeschooling.
House Cleaning.
Grocery buying.

What about you? Do you have a to-do list as long as mine? Maybe yours is even longer.

Find something to do to advance your writing. Don't allow the final week of 2008 to end with you regretting your inaction. Write 100 words on your manuscript. Outline one scene on your book. Write a bit of dialog. Connect with another writer. Find out about writing classes. Sign up for my mentoring or find another mentor.

Do something to complete 2008 strong.

I won't allow this blog to be your excuse either. I'll pop my head back in one more time this year and then Monday, January 5th I'll come in to share with you more about coaching, special opportunities for high school students who struggle with term papers and ideas to make 2009 the year you broke out. Whether your breakout is from unpublished to contracted [or published] or if your breakout is a second or third print run. Maybe it is to get an article in a periodical.

Begin to think about what 2009 should look like to you. Then get ready in 2009 to execute your dream.

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.
She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.

Getting a Late Start

I'm getting a late start on my day. The midwest is in a major freeze. I'm wrapping up projects so I can take off Thursday and Friday guilt free. And Christmas is nearly upon us.

I asked a month ago what questions people had for a white paper I was writing about keeping your writing business strong. I had very few questions come in. So after much thought and consideratoin I've decided that this year I will give you "Writing Career Coach: Part 1 Creating a Platform.

So, to all of you who have subscribed to my blog that product [with a retail price of $15] will appear in your email box in about 15 minutes.

For those of you who DID send questions-I haven't forgotten you. I will also send you a free copy of the white paper when it is done.

I'd like to thank you again for your commitment to improving your business by joining me daily on this blog. It is my honor to share with you three times each week. I hope that I have made a positive impact on your life and business.

I will be back next week to share tips to get you ready for 2009! Until then, remember what is important and spend time with those you love [and those who love you].

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.
She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.

Who cares, as long as I get mine!

...honestly, is this the attitude of people today?

Usually I keep the focus of this blog focused on marketing your own business but sometimes as I'm reading things in the industry and I get furious. Today I was reading about the News Guild and their strike with the AP. One line in particular made me furious.

"The Guild said it had opened with a 10 percent wage increase proposal, "but has indicated flexibility at the bargaining table."

I am a writer and I understand the need to make a living and it is hard as a writer sometimes to sell an article for $80 and try to make a living on those but LET'S BE SERIOUS.

Yesterday I found out a friend was laid off from the job he's worked at for 39 years. He was the 3rd person in a single group of friends to lose work in the last month. Then I heard from a newspaper journalist who lost her job after years with the paper.

And the people working for the AP look around and say "Hey, I think I'd like a 10% pay increase."

Now, I'm not an idiot. I know this is a negotiating tactic and they were responding to a rate freeze proposal from the AP, but we need to stop being so obsessed with being able to upgrade every year and realize that there isn't a magic money tree.

I am working on a product that I'll give FREE to subscribers that talk about ways to keep your writing business strong in a down economy. That is because the reality is THINGS ARE CHANGING. The change could be temporary but certain things will never be the same. We can't say "Hey, I want it this way."

It's not viable.

I minored in college in history and I have been frequently reminded of the enclosure acts enacted by Feudal Lords in the middle ages. These acts forced many serfs to face the end of their way of life but it led to the rise of the middle class-and the death of feudalism as an economic system.

That is a pretty brief summary, but it serves to make my point. [If you're interested read more about it in a western civ book...one that isn't revisionist.]

We have decided that we want change without the pain. It won't happen. We can't keep bailing people out by printing worthless currency...just ask Germany.

We can't continue to demand huge salaries for people who aren't working...just ask France.

We need to look realistically at economic situations, recognize that change is necessary and sometimes painful.

And, as smart people, we need to look for the opportunity in the changes. It is the innovators who will find blessing in this tough time.

Otherwise you'll be the people asking for scraps when the market corrects itself again...

Friday I'll be back to my usual, chipper self. Today I had to unload.

I'd love to hear your feedback-just use professional language please.

And if you want that special report I'm writing then click the subscribe link to the right. I will only email it to subscribers.

If you'd like to read the entire article that started this rant, click the quote above. I've linked directly to it.

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.
She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.