| So what do you do when you find out after 30 | | | | passionate about my work as I am. To me, it is |
| years of doing the same thing, day after day, | | | | an important message and I need an agent who |
| you just don't want to do it anymore? | | | | will see it in the same light. |
| For me, it's accounting - seems like I've done it all | | | | My research included joining writer's forums. |
| my life - getting kinda sick of numbers - debits | | | | There are many online that will help you find the |
| and credits, credits and debits. | | | | information that you need. The key indicator for a |
| Step one: | | | | good agent or publisher is that money flows to |
| Take a new step toward making a living: For me - | | | | the writer in traditional publishing, not from the |
| Enroll in an MBA program. For you - Enroll | | | | writer. Be prepared to research, research and |
| somewhere - you cannot reinvent yourself | | | | research any agent or publisher you consider. Not |
| without education. You are where you are | | | | that there is anything wrong with self-publishing, if |
| because it's what you know. If you want to do | | | | that is what you want to do. But if you do that, |
| something else, you need to learn something new. | | | | retain your rights - there are smart ways to do it. |
| Take a class! I set a goal in place - I decided that | | | | Do your homework. If you just want to see your |
| I want something that doesn't make me get up | | | | name in print - decide that is what you want and |
| and go to work 9-5 - Something that is | | | | don't expect a miracle from a self- or |
| telecommuting and portable so that we can move | | | | vanity-publisher. |
| to the Seattle area upon retirement. Since I | | | | Reading the forums was only the beginning. I also |
| completed my BBA through an online program, I | | | | interact with other writers. I write inspirational |
| started looking at teaching online. This requires an | | | | articles, so I was excited to find several online |
| MBA, hence the MBA program. | | | | networks of inspirational writers - great folks that |
| My research only required me to find an online | | | | will test your ability to write based upon a |
| program (accredited) and start attending classes. I | | | | one-word or one-phrase prompt and to meet a |
| am attending the same school where I completed | | | | deadline. |
| my BBA. No other steps toward online teaching | | | | Whether you like it or not, deadlines are part of |
| can be made until I finish the Master's degree. | | | | assignments. If you don't meet the deadline, you |
| Step two: | | | | won't get paid... Much like your day job. |
| Take a new step toward doing something you | | | | So, one nonfiction manuscript in the edit stage, |
| enjoy: For me - This is Writing. For you - It might | | | | two fiction works in progress - now I've |
| be something different altogether, learn about | | | | registered for three different conferences this |
| birds, flowers, gardening, animal rights... - | | | | year and I'm considering one more. The more I |
| something that really trips your trigger. | | | | learn, the less I know. |
| I wrote my first manuscript last year and am | | | | Step three: |
| now in the rewrite/edit process. I hope to begin | | | | Don't give up - When I finish my MBA program, I |
| querying by the fall with the hopes of landing an | | | | hope to have two options, one that will pay the |
| agent who is confident that they can sell my | | | | bills, one that will really trip my trigger. |
| work to a publisher. I don't just want 'an agent.' I | | | | Who said reinventing yourself was easy? Or fast? |
| want one who finds himself or herself as | | | | |