Point of No Return

My website efforts - well, really my on-line efforts - have reached a critical point of no return. When I started my first website, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I had a goal of bringing in a supplemental income so that our family could enjoy more vacations, eating out (more) and just a few luxuries that we'd not been able to previously afford. I had no idea at the time that I was going to create my own little empire.

While the work I do now on-line relates to my web sites, it has developed over a period of three years and in no way resembles what I first started. My first website was created using a block-by-block method of building a website as I didn't know html at the time. To this day, I haven't changed the format of the site. It is still my highest earning site even given it is created in a simple format. I suppose that in itself is testimony to the genius behind the software I used to create it.

Here is a link to that first site: Professional Resume

On my most recent site, I am using a css/html transition template and I love the flexibility: Best Friends Forever

It's a fairly new site, but I think it has a lot of potential to help teens and young adults.

My comments about the whole little empire thing stem from everything that has transpired since I started that first site (which is 3 years old this month). I now help other people create their websites. I work as a coach during the week, showing others how they can create a site that generates income, too. I was actually hand-picked a few months ago to work with a best-selling author to help him (and his team) set up a website that would drive more traffic than what their old site was getting. Within a few months, it will be gaining great momentum and they are all going to be delighted with the results.

My little empire is growing and the rates that I can charge for my work are increasing little by little. It's a confidence booster to know that I can earn a good income from my home office and still have the flexibility to pick and choose my hours. Things have gone so well, in fact, that in another 6-10 months, I may be out-earning my Master's degree, former Air Force Captain husband. ;) Don't tell him I said that, of course. ;)

So, I have reached the point of no return. I am a success at my web ventures and do not expect to go backward to my former life working 9-5 for anyone else.

Yes, I still have that teaching certification that I can fall back on should I need to for any reason. AND, I am still proud of the fact that I earned it. I think everyone should have a back-up plan. I just don't foresee being an elementary teacher in the near future. I do love teaching - but making money is best when coupled with flexibility.

Right now, thanks to an awesome God, I have it all.

~Carla

Web Sites for Writers - Do you Need One?

You want to be a successful writer. You want to make money at it, too. How many books have you read about "self-publishing", "understanding the writer's market" or "how to make your articles sell"? It isn't so easy for unpublished authors to break into certain markets. It doesn't matter how many books you read.

There is one avenue, however, that is virtually untapped by many writers and it is open to EVERYONE who wants to see their works in print. It also allows any writer the opportunity to make money at the same time. You can finally take control over your own writing destiny.

Millions of people will have access to your authored pieces, too. Will publishers come looking for you? It's a definite possibility. Will you have more credibility in the publishing world? Oh, yes. You will also have solid proof of your ability to reach your target audience, too.

Before I tell you how successful you can be, let me tell you the caveats.

First, it is not especially easy. It takes time and effort. If you are a serious writer, you already know what that is all about, though. Second, you will be writing more than you otherwise would. In fact, you will very likely be writing every day for the next couple of months. At least that is what I found myself doing. I love writing, though, so it is not a problem at all for me.

Last, it will most likely become your favorite thing to do. Be prepared to spend a fair amount of time on this because you will enjoy it so much you won't want to do anything else. I am absolutely telling the truth. My kids can't drag me away from the computer some days. I just love what I'm doing.

So, those are the pitfalls. All in all, not too bad.

Now, I can tell you about the good news. You have a myriad of ways to earn money with your writing. For less than $1 per day, you can reach hundreds of thousands of potential readers "buyers" of your works. You can also sell your material in a variety of ways. In addition to this, there are a variety of other ways to make money that don't even have anything to do with writing.

I have an e-book that I sell and I'm in the process of publishing a paperback version which I will also be able to sell very soon.

Ok, enough of that. You can read more of the details if you're interested. For now, let's focus on how you can accomplish this.

If you're like me, you have probably been writing for awhile. I have two books, actually. Both of which have been rejected by big-name publishers. I can handle rejection pretty well, so that's not a real problem for me. What bothered me was that I knew I had good material and no way to reach my intended audience.

Why should I be limited in what I can do just because someone else doesn't see things the same way I do?

My answer? Find another way to reach my audience. That's exactly what I have done, too. I created a web site dedicated to one of my books. I intend to do the same for the other book, too, but I have a few more things I need to accomplish with this first site still.

I am living my dream of being published. Not only am I reaching my target audience, but I am also having numerous articles published on other sites. I have been contacted by two other sites to write for them as well. A third site asked (and I agreed) to provide advice to the members of its site on the very subject I wrote about. I am an instant expert.

I pay less than $1 per day and I am published, in demand and am receiving monthly checks from my site.

Just think about it. It might work for you. It might not. I just know that as writer, it is extremely hard to get your name out there for the right people to see it. This gives you one more opportunity to make a name for yourself.

Best of luck.

~Carla

A link to the book I'm selling How to Write a Professional Resume

How you can create a website about your book(s), too: My Passion