This just in - Magical Gardens is now live on Amazon.com

Don’t miss your chance to get a copy of this Amazon Short for just forty-nine cents! If you do read it and you review it, please let me know what you think!

Sheri

Sheri

I signed up with West At Home, http://www.westathome.com/, several months ago thinking I would work for them during slow times. So far, so good. I have not put in a full work week yet but intend to try next month. Once spring hits I will be in the garden and occupied instead of staring at four walls during my down time so I figure I better make some extra cash while I can.

I also have written a book, which will be published March 28. My advance was just a dollar and that is the way I prefer it. I will get paid as the book sells and won’t have to worry about selling x number of copies to cover the advance. I have several other books I am working on but none of them are close enough to being finished to brag about yet.

I wrote two Amazon shorts, which are not up yet, but they will be soon and that, along with my blog being posted for sale on the Amazon Kindle, will give me two more streams of income.

So, exactly how did I make this much money in January? I water a few plants for someone for $10 a week, I worked for two bidding agents which brought in a ton of extra money. The faster you write, the more you make.

My biggest income came from two very good paying freelance garden writing positions that I picked up, along with some others that pay less, but offer regular work.

In addition to the writing I read email for pay, have affiliate accounts and give presentations. While there were no paying presentations in Janaury, I did spend time promoting my programs and scheduled two for later in the year.

Does anyone else have a unique way they add to their writing income on a regular basis?

Sheri

If you intend to do it yourself, then you need to know how to write a press release that won’t get tossed in file 13. The media is bombarded daily with press releases, so how do you make yours stand out, especially when you aren’t a PR agent?

Start with a story - everyone loves a good story. The key is it has to tie in to the book or website you are promoting. For example, let’s say your new website is about your nursery. Start your press release out with a story about your grandmother’s garden and how all the ladies from the garden club would ohh and ahh about her plants. Tell them how that encouraged your love of flowers from a young child on and eventually lead the way to you opening your own nursery. Then tell them about your nursery and why it is unique.

Now you have a press release that will get attention. Once you are in the paper as an expert other people will think of you that way to. Success is all about perception. The better people perceive you, the more people will consult you and the more success will come your way.

Sheri

It has been a busy year already. I have two Amazon shorts that I am anxiously waiting to see posted, one book that is in the final stage of production and one that is in the works. The two bidding agents I picked are keeping me busy - busy - busy, which is great! The social networking I have been doing is really paying off in site visitors - and remember, every one of them is a potential customer.

I have one e-book up on my gardening website that is for sale, three speaking engagements booked and a promise of a couple more that just need confirmed. All of this, in addition to the writing work I have picked up on my own.

How is your 2008 playing out? Come out of hibernation and brag about your successes too!

Sheri

I have article requests rolling in daily. What a difference a bidding agent can make! I have two and they are giving me lots of articles in addition to the ones I am finding myself. It is a different world when you delegate the task of finding articles to someone else and it really helps keep the ball rolling.

I have also signed up for several programs that allow me to make money from website visitors which is great and so far this year the programs I have chose are booming. You know what they say - create multiple streams of income. Well, 2008 is the year for me to give it a whirl!

Writing daily seems to be helping too. Mind you, I still want to lapse a bit but the work piling up reminds me that I have to keep on a schedule to keep ahead of the game.

2008 really is going to be great! Here’s to success!

Sheri

I also have a Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=730759296 I don’t do as much networking with it as I do with My Space but it is another great way to meet people.

I had some videos up on You Tube, http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=SheriAnnRicherson For some reason I could not get my email address confirmation to go through and had to have Jerry post the videos.

The newest social networking tool I am using is Entrecard. You can see my Entrecard here http://entrecard.com/details/6651 I have had quite a few people already sign up to advertise on my Exotic Gardening Thoughts Blog, http://www.exoticgardening.com/blog/ since posting the Entrecard. I have not advertised with anyone yet as I am still collecting points but so far, so good.

I allocate one hour per week day of my writing time to check messages on the social networking sites I belong to, wish people happy birthday or happy holidays, congratulate them on their latest acheivements and post my latest acheivements. I know these places bring traffic and get people to view your site. After all, the more people who see your site, the more likely you are going to be to sell the products or services you are offering.

What other places do you social network and how do you like them?

Sheri

I make a weekly schedule, print it out and keep it in front of me but things like the phone, other people in the house including unexpected guests, the animals and life in general seem to get in the way of a straight twelve hour work day.

Interrputions are my main pet peeve. Now with the weather getting nicer I want to be outside working in my garden, not inside on my computer. I think I need to make the suggestion again about getting Jerry to build me a treehouse writers retreat! HA - I wonder if I would get a lot more done then or if I would just sit and look at the yard and think of what needed to be done.

For the rest of you who work at home, how do you handle interruptions? Do you find it hard to stay on a set schedule? If you get the days tasks done do you feel like that is good enough?

Sheri

I received the final proof of my book, Perspective Visions: Enigmatic Masterpieces, back already and now it is off to cover design. It shouldn’t be much longer now until it is on the shelves at a bookstore near you! Then I will be planning lots of book signings and hope to meet you.

I am taking this weekend off to catch up on some much needed sleep. It has been a bit hectic here and I need some time to refresh before Monday so I can hit the work week on my feet, brain cleared and ready to put out some dynamic writing. That is the best way to keep up on my resolutions.

How are your writing resolutions coming in 2008? If you need some encouragement, please feel free to post and remember thinking about writing will not get the task done. You need to write everyday, even if you toss what you write, to be successful!

 Sheri

With enough willpower and determination success should be easy! After all, failure is NOT an option!

With that said, here are my writing goals for 2008!

I will begin by looking at my main frustrations and stumbling blocks that help keep me from attaining the highest rate of success I can. There are two - interruptions when I am working and finding it hard to get back to work once the interruption is over.

To help combat this in 2008 I have set up a schedule and will inform people who interrupt just to talk or let me know that they think my writing career is a joke that I am working and do not have time for them at the moment.

While we are on the joke thing, I came across an e-book the other day called Creative Juice A Dozen Key Lessons for Creative Dreamers written by Suzanne Falter-Barns of http://www.howmuchjoy.com There is a chapter in this book called Protecting Your Dreams At Dysfunctional Family Get-Togethers. I printed it out and am going to take it with me so the next time I hear that I should get a real job I can hand it to them!

My second writing goal for 2008 involves money! Between writing, speaking and information products my goal is to make a five figure income this year. Yes, it is possible and I am going for the gold in 2008.

Finally I have set up a weekly marketing plan that includes weekly promotion of my books, information products and website as well as social networking. I vow to complete all the jobs on my schedule by the end of the week this year even if it means working weekends. I also intend to look for new writing, speaking and information products opportunities weekly.

Well, that’s it for my writing goals for 2008! So far I am off to a good start and intend to keep it that way!

Anyone want to share their new year’s writing resolutions?

Sheri