Writing is a joy. Being a first time publisher is exhilarating! But what’s difficult is some parts of the writing journey. In a Public forum authors were asked what was the hardest part of writing. Many eagerly chimed in with top issues such as marketing and editing. Here I share the top 25:
The Hardest Part Of Writing
Marketing
Building and attracting an audience
A blank page
Convincing people to read your book
Being confident that you write for yourself first, then the secondary audience – the public
Tips on tips! What to give. When to give. Should you give?
And the gratuity? Did you help me load my luggage? No, but …
-Jack Vance
CNN Headline News (HLN) shared the evolution of tips in our society. Cash registers now have built in tips at the grocery store, retail store and even at the plant nursery! Yikes! All this separated from the traditional tipping places like hospitality-hotels, restaurants, salon, nail services and more. Caused me to think. We are all being bombarded by this new extra invasion of the ‘plasticcards.’ Should we Fair Tip or Guilt Tip? HLN’s Money Coach recommends, no service–no tip.
Not sure when to give and how much? Here I share HLN’s recommendation of the amounts to give as fair tips for both the travel and restaurant dining options.
No Service. No Tip
HLN’s Money Coach
Appropriate Tip: Travel
Skycap & Bellhop: at least $2
Housekeeper: $5 per day
Taxi Driver: 15-20% of fare but minimally $1 (more if they carry your bags)
Appropriate Tip: Restaurant
Wait Service: 15-20%
Take Out: It’s up to you!
Bartender: $1-2 per beer, more for cocktails
Tipping Jars: It’s up to you!
So there you have it. Tips on tips! What to give. When to give. Should you give? It’s all like your career and the workplace. Pay for Performance. The more you work, the more productive you are, the more bonus and salary increase you get (all things being equal, right)?
What are your thoughts on this trend? Do share. We would love to hear.
The most beautiful things are not associated with money; they are memories and moments. If you don’t celebrate those, they can pass you by. – Alek Wek
I love challenges. I set goals, and do everything to accomplish them. Then when I do, I move on to the next goal. As the head of Head of Human Resources for many years, I relentlessly celebrated the achievement of others on the job, but I never stopped to celebrate my own personal achievements. In recent years I came to value the importance of celebrating life’s triumphs. I guess it comes with maturity. There is something gratifying to it. Besides, it leaves a lasting legacy on those close to me.
Oh how to celebrate? The question was asked and many Bravely Expressed and jumped in. But I found Sarah Starrs list of ways to celebrate insightful. Here I share my top favs!
Culture. Dance. Dancehall music. The Study? How does that connect? Curious, I reached out to young 23-year-old filmmaker, Joelle Powe. She shared the intriguing story of her own curiosity that led to her Anthropological Journey through Culture and Dance. A journey of success which exposed her globally to becoming a documentarian. Even before then, she was recognized in Washington DC for her work done in the Caribbean and globally.
Listen to the interesting and delightful conversation. No doubt it will motivate and inspire you.
Women’s History Month Celebration at the island Space Museum. Guest Speaker Dr. Solanges Vivens CAribbean American Heritage Award (CARAH) Winner for Outstanding Entrepreneurship will be featured.
As fellow Author and CARAH Partner, It’s my delight to moderate the event. Dr Viven’s book Girls Can Move Mountain, will be featured.
Life ends when you stop dreaming, hope ends when you stop believing and love ends when you stop caring
Unknown
When everything stops, or should I say…when everything should stop. More than a decade ago I lost my grandmother-the matriarch of our family. Cancer had returned in her three score and ten years. It didn’t stop her from being who she was…the be-all-and-end-all of our lives. But then one day the bank manager where I worked called me into her office, sat me down and told me the hospital had called. My grandmother was gone.
Perturbed, I looked around. Customers were still in the bank walking around doing their daily business. I could not understand. For me everything had stopped.
I reflect on what’s happening around the world. Threats and bombs going off explosively. Yet elsewhere, people go about their business as usual, posting on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. It begs the question…is there a bridge? Do we care? Yep, many really do care. Benevolence saturates the heart and for sure, with gas prices skyrocketing, the world will start feeling the effects.
So let’s not give up hope because fear stops life and love ends when we stop caring.
From Tanzania, Jamaica, and across the United States, 6 powerful women in reggae shared their thoughts on women singing, songwriting and the associated struggles of survival in a predominantly male role.
It was a such joy to cohost the event with artistes Marcia Griffiths, Carlene Davis, Jah9, Naomi Cowan, and Etana as we celebrated the occasion of VP Records Miss Pat’s new book. Thanks Dr. Claire Nelson, white-house champion of change and Founder of the Institute of CAribbean Studies, Washington DC
We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.
Anais Nin
Becoming a published Author involves nothing but interest and writing. Connect with an agent if you wish to go the traditional route. Interested in being self-published? Here are 7 basic steps to to get you going.
Write. Write. Write. If you don’t write you have nothing to publish
Invest in an Editor. Publish quality work. Nothing turns off readers more than errors in published work. Even if you are a great writer, you are too close to your work. Get it edited.
Book Cover Design. Invest in a Professional Cover design. You can do it yourself but hey, come on. Again this is an issue of quality which increases your selling power (or need I say, the lack thereof)?
Get an ISBN. Needed as a unique identifier for your book. Free ones available but… you get what you ‘pay’ for.
Price it. Decide on your price. Consider books in your genre etc.
Get Your Book Reviewed. People buy based on other’s impression right? So get your book reviewed by bloggers, friends, foe? yikes!
Launch it. Market it. Here’s where the fun begins! It’s not a secret. Market it. Get the word out!
I had the pleasure of sitting in on an intimate conversation with Reggae Music’s Matriarch Patricia Chin in an interview with G. Cole, as she celebrated 40 years of founding VP Records. She has promoted and released music for renowned artists the likes of Shaggy, Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Beres Hammond, Taurus Riley, Romain Virgo, Etana, Elephant Man, Morgan Heritage, Lady Saw, Freddie McGregor, Dennis Brown and many more. Taking Reggae music from unknown to where it is today, she shared tips on how entrepreneurs and goal-seekers can achieve Success in today’s fast changing world. Here I share 24 of my personal faves:
24 Inspiring Tips For New Entrepreneurs
As life evolves, keep up. There’s opportunity for everyone.
Think outside the box – do what others aren’t doing
Writing is usually done in a private space… as in a cave all by ourselves. We tell no one unless we choose to share with those close. Oft it can even be top secret or shouted from the mountain top as happens when some celebrities write. It’s entirely up to you.
It’s Your Prerogative
Writers commit a month, a year, 2, 3 or more to their Writing process. It’s your prerogative. It all depends on you. No need to attend a retreat, until or unless you’re ready and you can always remain silent in the background listening to others speak. At a writers Retreat, some talk. Some don’t.
Spend time doing what you want to do before, during and after the retreat.
Why Bother?
People approach me to share my knowledge and (writing) experience with them. That’s the whole point of doing a Retreat. Facilitators or Hosts often incur…
I heard a TV host who was showing a young lady how to use a piece of equipment which she was actively trying to learn. She went into a what if scenario to which he retorted with the question… “are you pre-planning your mistakes?” She laughed.
It reminded me of how we often act. We think of everything that could go wrong instead of thinking of the things that could go right. What if I go after the entrepreneurship venture and fail? What if I apply to the job and they turn me down? What if I invest in the relationship and it doesn’t work out? What if scenarios play over and over in our head. It gets us nowhere. Get out of your head and take…
Books are my legacy. I began my journey to leave a legacy for my two girls and their offspring-future generations. Non-fiction, that’s mainly what I write. I researched the topics of Success and leadership so that those in my circle of influence will be able to define success for themselves. The goal being to design their own paths to achieve.
The Quest To Drive Their Legacy
Fast forward a few years, I have been asked by the aspiring ones to help steer their writings to become authors. This I gladly accepted as an additional way to leave a legacy, through others, as they too leave a trail. From poetry, memoirs, children’s books and more. It’s been a pleasure to do.
As my heartfelt quest says, Books are my legacy. They live on.
What’s your legacy? Do share, we would love to hear.
