Oct
17
Writing a Beach Guide
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One of the perks of being a writer is that I have the opportunity to pursue interests that a normal job wouldn’t allow. Basically, my editor has given me creative freedom to pursue my interests, and provided that my work is good, they don’t mind sending me a paycheck.
So, when I approached them just fourteen months ago about writing a beach guide, they didn’t hesitate at all – they loved the idea. In fact, they had been looking at increasing the number of books they had relating to coastal activities since the ones they had on the shelves were outdated. They told me that I had eighteen months to come up with a guide and they wanted to have it published within two years.
I knew that the task wasn’t going to be easy, and I “would have to” visit some beaches around the world, but I thought that I was up to the challenge. Most of the research was going to be done at home anyway, but the work was also going to open things up a bit for traveling and having the opportunity to write it off thanks to my need to do business research.
Now, after fourteen months, the book is just about complete a full four months ahead of schedule. I have had a wonderful time putting it together, and I hope that when it is one the shelves, the readers love it too.
But now that this project is just about done, what do you think I should do for the next one?
Oct
16
As a professional or a small business owner, it is important to set yourself up as an expert in your industry. You want clients, colleagues, and co-workers to know that you really do know your stuff. Your reputation in this area is invaluable.
So how do you show you’re an expert in your field? Here are a few ideas.
- Write, speak, and share your knowledge. Writing books and articles, speaking at conferences and other industry events, and being otherwise involved in the industry is a great way to establish yourself as an expert. You may also want to offer yourself to industry publications as an expert source and a place journalists can go to get quotations for their articles.
- Maintain a web presence. LinkedIn offers a place for professionals to post their credentials. You may also want to build and maintain your own website — be sure to post your resume, bio, and other credentials.
- Display your diploma(s) in a prominent place in your office. A professional looking diploma frame can go a long ways toward impressing colleagues and clients alike. The idea is to create a perception of you as highly knowledgeable, and a prominently display diploma does just that!
Establishing yourself as an expert is an important part of a successful professional career. Although the work is never truly over, after you gain this reputation in your industry, you’ll just have to do a little maintenance to keep your name in the public view.