Archive | October, 2015

The Importance of the Arts

27 Oct

003Happy last week of October to you all!

I’ve severely limited the number of blog postings for a variety of reasons. One, I know you are busy, and even though I know you are fiercely loyal to me, I just don’t feel like burdening you with too many posts.

Secondly, we are all busy writing and living our lives.  There are only so many hours in the day and one more blog post just might be one too many.

Thirdly, I’m busy and just don’t have the time I once did to keep pouring out blogs plus articles plus novels. Something had to give and that something was the blog postings.

But I’m here now so let’s get to it!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Too many people in the modern world view poetry as a luxury, not a necessity like petrol. But to me it’s the oil of life.”

John Betjeman
The only reason I have for choosing that quote is because I love it.  What other reason do I need?  Poetry, and writing in general…and painting, and sculpture…I believe these things to be crucial for the advancement of our society.  I can’t imagine a society without the Arts.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

You are all important parts of the Art movement in this world.  Be proud of that, and perform with the excellence that comes from that pride.  You are making this world a better place and that, my friends, is so very cool!

ODDS AND ENDS

Changes…there is no denying them.  I recently took on some part-time work to help my wife and to make a few extra bucks.  Two mornings each week…no big deal…but now it looks like I’ll add a route, so I’ll be working three full days each week and writing two per week.  Big change…big deal.  It will require me to adjust and I hate adjusting.  LOL  But I’ll do it and end up loving it, so there you go.

Last week I went with Bev to a doctor’s appointment she had. While I was in the waiting room a friend of mine walked in…..she came over and introduced herself to Bev and then she introduced us to her mother, an eighty-something woman.  My friend told me that every morning she reads my newest article to her mother and they then sit and talk about it, and her mother then thanked me for all the happiness my words have given to her.

That’s why I’m a writer!

Have a great week!

And for those of you who have asked, my latest novel, Shadows Kill, is doing quite well.  If you are interested you can find it on Amazon….and check out this YouTube shorty I recently did about the novel.

Bill

A Safety Net of Multiple Income Sources

8 Oct

003My goodness I’m busy.  As some of you know, my wife, Bev, was named supervisor for the entire state by her merchandising company, so she’s a busy little beaver, and I’m helping her out on Fridays with deliveries.  Although that doesn’t hurt my writing business it does scrunch time a bit and make every minute count for me….so yes, I’m busy.

I recently self-published “The Ultimate Writing Guide” on Amazon in paperback and ebook, so I’m glad that’s out of the way, and my first “Shadows” novel, “Shadows Kill,” should be published in another week.  I’m now working on the second draft of the next in that series, “Shadows Over Innocence.”

But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about today.  Let’s get to it!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It’s not only moving that creates new starting points. Sometimes all it takes is a subtle shift in perspective, an opening of the mind, an intentional pause and reset, or a new route to start to see new options and new possibilities.”

Kristin Armstrong

 

 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

I’m not sure if I mentioned it before…if so, forgive me…but recently I lost a customer I’ve had for three years.  It was one of the first freelance writing customers I had, and the loss of that customer cost me about $300 per month.  It happened through no fault of my own, so I didn’t beat myself up about it but still, the loss of that income hurt a bit.

But that’s the freelance business.  You win some, you lose some, and you keep moving forward.  Luckily, I believe in diversification.  I like having multiple income sources so that if one fails another can take up the slack.  And that’s the whole point of today’s post.

TIP OF THE DAY

I’m going to being making YouTube videos about writing.  Why not, right?  I monetize them and I make money, and with the following I have, I should be able to make a steady income.  I won’t get rich from it but that’s not the point. The point is to have another income source to protect me from the harsh winds of freelance winter. J

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you have alternate sources of income? Are you diversified?  Have you considered it?

Share your thoughts and ideas in the comment section, please.

Bill

“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”

 

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