The Poetry Portal Net

Hands up all those who’d like to have a successful writing career.

(What’s that you say? What do I mean by ’successful’?)

All right, I know all writers are individuals. To some, ’successful’ might mean just getting one article published. Others want a string of best-selling novels, recognition in the supermarket and megabucks in the bank account. So, for the purposes of this article, we’ll define ’successful’ as “achieving regular or ongoing publication credits in tandem with a growing income”. That income should increase as you become more recognized and popular as a writer.

Now for the crunch. How do you achieve success? How do you win a growing readership? And the biggie: how do you make sure you get paid for your efforts?

There’s a simple answer. You need to INVEST in your career. Think of your writing as a fledgling business. Wise investment will help it to grow - and help you to get the results you want.

1. You need to spend a buck to make two (or more) bucks

You need to prioritize your spending

You need to invest time as well as money

You need to invest energy

You need to surround yourself with wise advisors and positive people

You need to plan, review, and plan again

1. You Need To Spend A Buck To Make A Buck

Every craftsperson needs to have good tools to get the best results. A writer is no different.

• You can make do with a typewriter - but a computer is better. (Why? It’s easier to edit your work; you can connect to the wider writing community via the Internet, and editors are increasingly asking for manuscripts and proofs to be emailed to them.)

You can make do with looking up publishers in the Yellow Pages - but the latest edition of a Writer’s Marketplace is better. (Why? It gives you much more industry-specific information - and it’s a darn sight more convenient.)

You can make do with business cards and postcards to promote yourself - but an email address/website address is better. (Why? The take-up rate of Internet users is phenomenal - people can reach you or read about you easily and conveniently.)

It’s easy to talk yourself into “making do”. And it’s true that writers can spend almost nothing on tools of the trade. However, successful businesses know that in the end, you have to spend money to make money. That doesn’t mean waste money - it means you carefully plan your spending.

2. You Need to Prioritise Your Spending

There are three main things you need to think about when you’re prioritising your spending on your writing career.

1. What will help me improve my skills?

What will help me to do my job more effectively?

What will help me to become better known and to market my work?

Look realistically at your income and expenditure, and decide what you can spend on your writing career in the next 12 months. Don’t make this the least possible you can manage. Think of it as ongoing costs in building an effective business. (And remember that many start-up businesses don’t expect to make a profit for the first 3 years!)

Here are a few ideas:

(a) What will help me improve my skills?

Books on writing for your professional library - a writing course - a writing workshop or program - a writers’ seminar or conference - membership of a writers’ centre - writing software - a critique service

(b) What will help me do my job more effectively?

An up to date computer - a good-quality desk and chair - an internet connection - a directory of writers’ markets - a separate room for writing - a reduction in working hours in my outside job - a fax and/or good printer - a better word processing program

(c) What will help me to get known and to market my work?

Attendance at writing talks/seminars/workshops/groups - local functions and social groups - internet discussion lists - my own website - submission of articles to industry magazines/ezines - run my own seminars and workshops - business cards - regular column for local paper - radio chat show appearances

These are just a few ideas. Brainstorm a list of your own, then rank the items on each list in order of importance to you. What is the wisest use of your money at this point in your career?

3. You Need To Invest Time As Well As Money

You have probably already noticed that many of the career-boosting strategies that involve investment of cash also require an investment of your time. The importance of giving time to your career cannot be overestimated.

• It takes time to read up on markets and draw up a submission list.

It takes time to keep records about where your work has been and where it needs to go next.

It takes time to go to seminars, workshops and regular group meetings.

It takes time to read up on techniques to build your writing skills, to use them, and to get feedback on how well they worked.

And of course - it takes time to actually sit down and write!

In writing, as in any field of endeavour, there are far more ‘gunnas’ than achievers. “I was gunna write for an hour every day, BUT…”; “I was gunna do a chapter this week, BUT…”; “I was gunna go to that seminar, BUT…”

It’s far easier to find excuses for not doing something than to get out there and do it. With every excuse, your writing career stalls again. Sure, we all have times when everything that could go wrong does go wrong - but we need to be careful that this enforced ‘time out’ doesn’t stretch from weeks to months, or from months to years.

4. You Need To Invest Energy

An energetic approach to achieving success in your writing career is just as important as spending time and money. You can spend thousands of dollars and you can sit down at the computer for four hours a day seven days a week - but if you don’t invest energy then you are diluting the effects of both.

Example #1: You can go to a seminar and sit by yourself the whole time (or nod off because you’re bored/tired)… or you can make an effort to talk to other writers; ask questions of the panel; introduce yourself to an agent.

Example #2: You can skim through the posts on an internet discussion list… or you can join in and toss around a few ideas (and get to know the others on the list).

Example #3: You can sit at your desk for 2 hours and write a page, play 10 games of Solitaire, answer your email and chat on the phone to a friend for twenty minutes… or you can write a scene, print it out, read it out loud for pacing, analyse the dialogue, then rewrite it - in short: be proactive about using your writing time.

5. You Need To Surround Yourself With Wise Advisers and Positive People

It has often been said that writing is a lonely occupation. It certainly can be, if all you do is sit in front of the computer for hours on end, lost in your writing world. It’s even lonelier if you seem to be the only one who believes that you’ve got a chance of making something of ‘this writing caper’.

Am I saying that it’s a bad thing to become really involved in your writing? Not at all - but you do need balance. You also need to surround yourself with the right kind of people to help you move forward - (1) the right advisers and (2) positive people.

Who are the ‘right advisers’? People who know something of the world of writing. Usually, these will be other writers or professionals connected with writing: agents, editors, writing centre personnel, and experienced members of writing groups (online and offline).

What about ‘positive people’? This is easy. Getting published is hard enough without the doomsayers undermining your confidence. If your family is not supportive, look for others who are. Talk about writing with people who care. Beware of published writers who launch savage attacks on the publishing industry without offering any constructive advice (sometimes they have a hidden agenda).

You love to write. You want to make a living at it. You want to know how to make this a reality - not be told how awful and impossible it all is.

Naturally, you shouldn’t close your ears to sage advice. If there’s an editor everyone hates dealing with, you want to know about it. If there’s a publisher who takes ten months to respond to a manuscript, doesn’t take calls and is slow paying contracted authors - you want to know about that too. But overall, mix with positive people. Your enthusiasm and effectiveness will soar.

6. You Need To Plan, Review, and Plan Again

A well-run business reviews its performance regularly. As you invest time, money and energy in your career, stop periodically to review the effectiveness of your strategies.

• What did you learn from that conference/workshop?

How much return will you get from your investment in that book on technique or that directory of writers’ markets?

How much difference has your investment in an internet connection made to your knowledge and contacts?

What is the next step in your career?

What do you need to invest to take you to the next step?

Plan, review, then plan again. This should be an ongoing process in your campaign to establish yourself as a successful writer!

By employing these 6 high-yield strategies to investing in your career, you’ll notice a definite change in your attitude and your results.

Does this approach work?

Well, for over a decade now I’ve had a career based solely on writing and writing-related activities. It pays well in both satisfaction and dollars. I’ve always invested time, money and energy in my career. I’ve tried to surround myself with good advisers and positive people. And yes, I do plan, review then plan again! I’m constantly updating my knowledge, tools and contacts.

These 6 high-yield strategies have worked for countless other writers. They’re based on (1) common sense and (2) good business sense.

Give them a try, and watch them work wonders for you.

(c) copyright Marg McAlister

Marg McAlister has published magazine articles, short stories, books for children, ezines, promotional material, sales letters and web content. She has written 5 distance education courses on writing, and her online help for writers is popular all over the world. Sign up for her regular writers’ tipsheet at http://www.writing4success.com/

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How much do we believe that people need to hear the gospel?

Matt 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We see that when Jesus left the earth to be with his Father, He gave an assignment to the disciples. It is the same assignment that we have today. This assignment was to make disciples of all nations. The word “disciple” literally means “learner”.
The way we need to make learners is to go, the second way is to baptize and then teach to obey.

So let’s take a look at “Going” today. Many times we talk about finding ourselves and finding God’s will for our lives. But guess what? I have good news for you. I have found God’s will for you and here it is. God has called us to fulfill the Great commission.

Let’s take a look a this commission a little deeper:

LOVE MEANS TAKING THE INITIATIVE
When Jesus said “Go”, it was basically the opposite of “stay”. The attitude of God is not a “come and see” mentality but a “go and tell” mentality. How do I know that?

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God’s answer for mankind, God’s love for mankind, meant that He gave Someone, He sent Someone. He didn’t wait, but He took the initiative. He went and sent his only begotten Son to earth to live and die for us.

Love means taking the initiative
If God is a going God. Then we should be a going people!
About 20 years ago I was waiting for a bus. I was an actor. A woman came over to me and started telling me about Jesus. At the end she said, “Us talking like this is not an accident. God is trying to reach you.” It was a throw away line to her but the Holy Spirit used that on me. She took the initiative to go and tell. Thank God for that woman! Thank God she took the initiative!

Look at the story of the disciples themselves. If we look at the story of the early church, they did not stay put. They went and made a difference.

Acts 8:1-4 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. …..
v4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went

It wasn’t the apostles who were doing the preaching here. No, they stayed in Jerusalem. It was the rank and file who had been scattered throughout the region that preached the word wherever they went. Why? Because, believe it or not, they took the admonition seriously to …

Mark 16:15 …..”Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

Some of us may look at this culture and get so intimidated, that we become obsessed and paralyzed. We reason that we have to adapt our message and tailor it to the culture. But interestingly, Jesus did not put his emphasis on tailoring. He put the emphasis on communication. He wanted us to communicate the message to as many people as possible.

Mark McCloskey tells a great story: Imagine that you are a skilled physician. Through a research project you discover a new virus. To your shock you realize that the virus is 100% fatal and also that every person on the planet has it. You press on with your research and discover a cure. You hold a press conference to announce your discovery. To your surprise, nobody really cares. What virus? Who me? , I feel fine. Nobody believes they have this virus even though people are beginning to die from it. You think, “how can I convince the sick of their condition. I can’t pour the cure down their throats. They have to want to take it.” So you realize that through persistent reasoning you need to communicate the nature of the disease and the effectiveness of the cure!

Similarly, if we are truly loving and we know that all mankind is infected with the disease called sin, and we believe that this disease is terminal, and are convinced that we have the cure—-would it not be the most unloving thing in the world, to keep the cure from the people. Wouldn’t it be horrible to keep the cure from people, even though we know they don’t want it? We know that they need it! So our only loving alternative must be to patiently reason and share the nature of sin and its deadliness so that they will put on the cure of Jesus Christ!

TRUTHS THAT WILL MOTIVATE US
Men are truly lost and Jesus is the only way
Many of us have succumbed to the culture which says that Jesus is nice but not necessary– “I’m okay Your okay” But the Biblical reality is quite different.

Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Rom 2:5-6 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

The Bible reveals a creation that has become guilty and tainted with sin. Sin is rebellion against God and His ways and because of this, man cannot enter into a right relationship with God.

Rom 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

The scriptures portray man as in a totally helpless state. He is unable to earn his own salvation before God. In this age of self help spirituality, not many want to hear that. We think that we can reach God on our own. If we really believed that man was lost without Christ we would be motivated to Go.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me” (John 14:6).

“There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Because of our predicament: Jesus is the only way. We didn’t say it . He did. People are offended at this notion. But all you can do is present it as lovingly as you can.

Praise God though we were in sin, though we were lost. Though we were bound. Jesus said he came to set the captives free!

There is a hell.
Mark 9:43-45 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.

Hell is a very unpopular subject. But the end of man without Christ is eternal torment.

An evangelist once said this “If you believe that outside of Christ there is no hope, it is impossible to possess an atom of human love and kindness without being gripped with the great desire to bring men to this one way of salvation.

The fact that all men are created in God’s image ensures that every person born into this world will live forever. The question is, “Where?”

In each 24-hour period, over 175,000 people die, many without Christ; the matter is settled for them.

Gen. William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, could never be accused of mincing words or doing things half-heartedly. He believed if he could hold each of his young Salvation Army officers over hell for a few minutes, he would never have any trouble keeping them motivated about being witnesses to Christ.
Get your eyes on eternity. You are just a pilgrim passing
through. Here is the good news: Jesus defeated death, hell and the grave . Nothing could hold back Jesus. God wants us to snatch souls from the enemy by convincing as many as we can as effectively as we can, as soon as we can, that Jesus is indeed the Savior of the world.

Daniel Jordan is a NYC pastor, speaker and the creator of the “Free Prayer” Table, where he offers Christian prayer to anyone on the streets. He speaks on how to MAXIMIZE the Power of God in your life and the lives of those around you. http://www.livinghopeny.org, http://www.cpwa.blogspot.com, 917-463-3503.

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High Probability Closing is not an event. It’s an integral part of the entire sales process. We define “closing” as Mutual Commitment. Therefore, we request the prospect’s commitment at every step of the sales process, and we make corresponding commitments. We close throughout the entire sales process - typically between 25 and 45 times.

Closing starts when we set the appointment and then ask, “If we can meet all of your conditions of satisfaction for (this product or service), what will you do?” If the prospect doesn’t reply with “I’ll buy it,” or words to that effect, we immediately cancel the appointment, for now. However, we will continue to call the prospect every three to four weeks until he/she is ready to make a conditional commitment.

Most salespeople set out to contact a large number of people who have an apparent need for their products and service.Their objective is to convince every one of them to grant them an appointment.

If we don’t get a commitment at any step of the sales process, we determine whether the commitment that isn’t accepted is a deal breaker. If so, we terminate the sales process (perhaps temporarily) and we leave. Why? Staying and pitching to a prospect who does not make commitments almost guarantees the following:

1. The probability that the prospect will buy on that visit is highly unlikely.

2. You’re wasting your time and the prospect’s, thereby creating resistance to yourself and diminished respect. That leaves them with a negative perception of you.

3. If and when the prospect does decide to buy in the future, it’s most likely that he/she will buy from a competitor.

Think about how you would react if you were the prospect. This salesperson has given you all the information you need to make a decision when you were not ready to buy. Though mildly annoyed, you listened to their entire sales pitch. Now, when you are ready to buy, isn’t it likely that you will check what his/her competition has to offer? If the competitor’s salesperson appears equally competent and seems to have as good a deal, who are you most likely to buy from? Will you buy from the salesperson who is there now, or will you have him/her leave and call back the one who you wouldn’t buy from before?

However, if the prospect is ready to buy and we do arrive at mutual commitment throughout the initial sales process, we hardly ever encounter any “think it over” objections at the end. The prospect has just made dozens of commitments and affirmations of their intention to buy every feature, benefit and detriment of your product or service. At that point the prospect is anxious to consummate the sales process and get the benefits of your products and/or services. They have literally convinced themselves of the practicality of those decisions. The human mind operates like a self-validating computer. It does not doubt its own data.

People who utilize this process attain very high closing averages - per number of prospecting offers and per number of prospect visits.

©Jacques Werth, High Probability® Selling - All rights reserved.

Jacques Werth, author of “High Probability Selling,” is an internationally respected Sales Trainer and Sales Consultant. HPS graduates are excelling as Top Producers in over 70 industries. Visit http://www.highprobsell.com to read more articles, preview the book, and learn more about High Probability Selling.

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