On Creating Change

Sometimes we must make our own light at the end of the tunnel.

On Drudgery

As the next school year approaches, I am reminded of this simple fact: 

You don't have to enjoy a task to be good at it.

Too often, when I encounter people who learn I am a teacher, they make comments regarding the "passion" I must have for the job, and that it must require a great bit of "dedication," etc. Passion and dedication most certainly do exist for some career teachers. Even as I write the words "career teachers," I catch a snort in my throat. 

I've been teaching for 20 years, and I don't consider myself a "career teacher." 

That's because, I think, I stopped enjoying it long ago. Passion never really existed for me in the job. Dedication, not really. Curiosity? Maybe. Advocacy? Definitely. Creativity? Most assuredly. 

It was probably the creativity that stuck with me. And with recent (within the last 10 years) developments in education, the creativity is completely gone from teaching. Just gone. Curricula are structured, and teachers are expected to teach it and keep up. Yes, meeting individual student needs does take some creativity. 

It's not the same as it was before. 

Now, don't get all weepy and lament, "Oh, Amy! You really must get out if you don't like it! Think of the CHIIIIILLLDREEEEN!" The children? They have never been the problem with my enjoyment of teaching. Never. They are the challenge, they are where the creativity comes from, and they have such an amazing energy. I enjoy my time with the kids. I really do. 

This helps me get through my day. So many teachers around me say, "If they would just leave me alone and let me teach my kids." The kids are the most enjoyable part of teaching. 

But the reason I'm doing the job today is not because of children. Shocking, I know. It's because I am stuck in a system that pays me just enough that I can't afford to get hired anywhere else, and entices me to stay with a nebulous agreement called "retirement." I'm stuck. The risk I would take for my family by leaving is just too great right now. 

How do I keep on? How do I continue to show up, every day, and do a great job? (Not just a good job, folks. I kick ass.) 

It's because of a very important business skill. Tenacity. 

That's it. Tenacity. I keep showing up because the public school system will not win. It will not break me. It will not take my creativity and spark and energy from me. It will take my time---that's the trade. I'm trading my time and skill and talent for money. 

And that's ok. 

I learned tenacity in my childhood, when I was presented with the task of hulling strawberries. My dad had a rather large strawberry patch in the garden, and he would spend a lot of time out in the heat, squatting in the garden, picking strawberries. I would then have to hull them. I would dump the gallon bucket of strawberries into the sink, run water in the sink so they were soaking, and would cut the tops off each one. I would then cut each one in half (or quarters, depending on size), and place them in a bowl. 

It felt like I stood there for hours on end, hulling/cleaning strawberries. I'm sure it wasn't that long, but that's drudgery. Time stands still. And oh, how I hated that job. 

Why did I do it? Obviously, I wanted to eat the strawberries. And it was a fair trade. Dad always said, "You don't have to clean them. But if you don't clean them, you don't get to eat them." Since I wanted the reward of the fruit, I put in the work. 

Today? You should see me with a pound of strawberries. A pound? Shoot, that's 5 minutes of work. Not even work, if it's only 5 minutes. BRING IT. 

My hands know exactly what to do. The muscles in them are perfectly trained to slice the top off a strawberry and slice it in half, drop it into a bowl, and pick up the next one. I barely have to look. 

That's teaching, for me. I know exactly what I'm doing, and I go in and kick ass doing it. I don't have to like it to do a good job. And I'm trading my skills for money (just like I did for strawberries). 

In business, tenacity is an amazing skill that I think you should hone. And it often comes from drudgery. Do the repetitive work that needs to be done. Or hire it out, if you want, but you are paying for it in any case. Keep at it, and it will become easier. 

And when it does, your creativity will kick back in. Which is what I'm finding for myself. 

Stay tuned. 

How To Write a Craft eBook for Craft e-Revolution

A photo from my upcoming book, Handmade Holiday, Volume 1.

At Craft e-Revolution, I have created an outlet for crafty folks to be published, in a modern, yet old-fashioned way. Authors do not pay to be published--I decide what to produce. That's the old school part. The new school part is the fact that I don't offer an advance, but I do offer a hefty cut of the proceeds. Authors are paid off the selling price of the book, straight-up. Since we are both investing a lot of time and effort into the book, both the author and I are motivated to try and sell it. I see this as a win-win situation.

However, I'm not sure how many crafters know how to write a tutorial ebook. If that's you, but you have a good idea for a book, then maybe you just don't know how you will proceed. I can help with that! That's what this post is about.

Many tutorials have only step-by-step directions, and that's it. The ebooks that I want to read (and therefore the ones I write and publish) will have photographs of every step of the process. Most people are visual learners, therefore I believe craft tutorials should be full of photos.

But where to begin? Writing a craft tutorial ebook is not as daunting as you might think. I will outline my process below. It works for me, and I hope it will work for you. Your comments and questions are always welcome. Let me know what you are thinking!

Which to choose?

Step 1: Choose Your Craft

If you are anything like me, you will need to slow down and choose only one. If you are good at only one craft, then choose that one. Don't worry about the other books written on that

subject. That's not the point. Choose a craft that you know well, and think you could describe to others with photos and words.

I use a pocket camera, and you can, too.

Step 2: Make the Craft, Photographing Each Step and Recording Notes

This is the part that seems backwards, but it is essential to do it first, and not last. Photographing the craft should be the first thing you do to prepare your book. Take photos of every step of the process, including materials, the layout of the process, and every single step from several angles and distances. Use more light than you think is necessary. Turn on all the lights, bring in a few lamps, open the drapes.

While you are making the craft, you will have thoughts that your readers should know about.

I love my iPhone! It's amazing!

I use my iPhone's "Voice Memo" feature (shown) to record important thoughts. Your phone will probably have something similar. Turn it on, speak the note, and then pause it. Take more photos, have a thought, click the recorder, record your note, and pause it. Continue in this way throughout the crafting process. Sometimes I find myself dictating the entire book to the recorder. If you are that way, you might consider the free Dragon Dictation app for your phone. It will write what you say, and you can save the text and work with it later. Yes, this particular craft project will take you a lot longer than usual. The end result will be worth it.

I'm Drafty Drafterson!

Step 3: Begin Drafting

You think this is the hard part, and I am happy to report that you are wrong. Start drafting with photos.

• Load the photos onto your computer, saving them in a file marked with the working title of your book.
  
• Edit the photos: crop them, enhance the lighting or color, etc.
• Save! Save! Save! Save after each photo edit!

Open up your word processing program. I write all of my ebooks in Pages (Apple software). Word will work, too. Insert the photos into the document, one by one, in order. Then, when all the photos are in the document, start drafting with the first one.

Use simple, straightforward language to tell the reader what to do. Write "Step 1, Step 2," as needed. Take notes as you go, directly in the document, about photos you still need, direction that needs elaboration, or places that you want to add information but must check on specifics first. When you've written most of it, turn on your voice notes and listen to them. Fill in any gaps with your voice notes.

Step 4: Add Value

After you have described the process, stop and take a break.

Sluuuuurrrrp!

Break's over!

Boo!

Now, you must add value to your book by adding information for your readers. What would make the book better? Recipes? Photos of variations of the craft? Descriptions of the variations, with more photos? A list of Internet resource links should be included, always. What about a "troubleshooting" section? An FAQ? Write these sections up, too. If you can't think of any questions that are frequently asked of you, because you are a first-time author and wtf? Please, don't worry about it. The FAQ section can be created later.

Snooty, Mustachioed Professor Judges All

Step 5: Edit It

Yes, this is the tedious part. Just do your best. Here, I'll help you:

• Read through your draft, out loud. Trust me on this. Read every single word out loud. You will find places where you forgot to write a word, or wrote two in a row, or other silly mistakes like that. You might find spelling errors, too. Correct them! Correct your punctuation, too.
• Open up another document (or a sticky note or simple text file), and read through your draft. Write down the first word of each sentence, making a vertical list. After your list is finished, note places where you repeat a word. Go back and re-write those sentences.
• As above, make a list of every verb in each sentence. Active verbs (stitch, sew, pour, measure, cut) are best. Also check for repetition in this list, and go back to re-write sentences that need it.

Step 6: Put Your Author Information on the First Page

At the top of your document, insert a blank page. On this page, list your name, mailing address, phone number, email address, and a working title of your book.

Yay! You did it!

Step 7: Send it in!

Send it to me! I can't wait to read it. I love crafting and especially tutorials, which is why I am this kind of publisher. I want to read your book!

Yes, the process might take a while--I understand that. But even if you haven't written the book yet, I want to hear from you. Let me know your ideas for your book ahead of time, and we'll talk. Writing a book is a satisfying process which is fulfilling in many ways. I hope you consider it--the world wants to learn what you have to teach.

So, was this helpful to you? Please leave a comment, and let's get a conversation started.

Featured Crafter: Riley of MagnusJournals on Etsy

Handbound Journals

Everyone, please welcome Riley, from Magnus Journals on Etsy. This shop is unique and an ultra-niche: paper and journals. That's it! Please click the photos if you find them intriguing--they are all linked to Riley's shop.

This blog is about crafts and business. How do you find out about craft fairs in your area? Do you sell online exclusively?

Craft fairs right now are still a bit of a mystery to me, but as far as finding them, I live in an area where craft fairs are extremely popular so I’m lucky that they always seem to just present themselves. But if you’re having trouble, connect with other crafters in your area. They’ll know what’s up and they’ll get you plugged in. Right now I also have items in a little boutique that sells items from local artisans, but I’ve primarily been focusing on Etsy.

Three teeny journals

What was the impulse to start your business?

A lot of it was simply people encouraging me to do it. People would see my journals and say, “You should sell those on Etsy!” and finally I investigated it and decided it was something I wanted to do. I wouldn’t have been able to afford bookbinding as a hobby without selling my journals, but now it has totally shifted from a hobby to a business. I still love and enjoy it, though!

Text-covered Journals

What is your niche market?

I think creative, artsy types are definitely my niche because of how I try to use unlikely materials to create my items. The kinds of people who have bought my products are very diverse though, so luckily for me I think my niche transcends the normal barriers like age and gender. I think what sets me apart is that I try to never make the same thing twice. I’m constantly looking for new ideas and new ways to do things; I don’t have an established format that I always stick to.

Vanilla-scented Paper. Have you ever?

Which materials/colors/techniques interest you the most right now? What is inspiring you, creatively?

I’m really into natural materials right now, stuff that looks and feels very earthy. But I’m also really liking bright colors since we’re getting towards spring! It’s hard to find something that isn’t inspiring me, to be honest. Ever since I started trying to use more unusual materials, I can’t look at anything without trying to figure out how I could make it into a journal.

Rocking Chair Printed Journal

What piece of advice do you wish you had, when starting your business?

Let yourself grow. Don’t feel like you have to have everything perfectly set up when you first open shop. I think it’s best to jump into it and learn on the way. Also, photos are the most important thing on Etsy. You need to really have someone who knows what they’re talking about look at your photos . If you feel your shop is struggling, your photos are probably the culprit!

Thanks for joining us on a Featured Crafter Friday, Riley. Readers, please leave a comment if you have a question or enjoyed this interview. Thanks for joining the conversation.

Experiencing the Murderous Rage of Entrepreneurship

Yesterday, I had a horrible experience with "support" at my hosting company. I'm still upset about it, which is probably my fault. It is infuriating to deal with a situation that is out of my control.

But my emotions are still under my control, right? So if I'm upset, it's my own fault.

Cut to this morning, and I check in on my website, and it's gone. Well, not GONE gone, but the link doesn't point to the site anymore--it points to the hosting company. I think this has something to do with the nonsense yesterday, so I've decided not to get my panties in a twist about it today.

No, you cannot access my website right now. Yes, I've placed ads and changed links and I've started directing people there. Yes, today, some people will be confused when they try to go to my site.

I've got to let it go. I'm letting the murderous rage go. I can handle this. This is the result of my decision to move forward despite everything being in place. Today, I will live and learn.

Starting Up and Tuning Out

Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You must start your new business, and you must start it now. I know I sound bossy, but you need me to be.

You need to hear this.

I know this, because I was once like you. I hemmed and hawed. I wasn't sure. I got really excited about a business idea, thought it all through one night when my anticipation and planning kept me up, got up the next morning and wrote notes and notes and notes, and then I started talking about it with my friends.

And that's when it all came to a screeching halt.

"How are you going to do that?"
"Who is going to pay for that?"
"Do you really think people will want that?"
"I don't know ANYBODY who would be interested in that."
"What about this? What about that?"
"Are you serious? I have no idea what you are talking about."

Your friends second-guessed you and blew your momentum. Bastards.

Listen to me now: your friends are NOT your business. Your friends will help you once you are IN business. Friends are like that--they want to be around successful people. But there is a reason they aren't in business and you will be. They aren't entrepreneurs.

If you are lucky enough to have a friend who is an actual entrepreneur, then listen to that person, if she is willing to talk. Listen to their advice, but don't hang on their every word. Even my good friend who is fully self-employed and has a staff of about 20 is a naysayer. I need to be very careful when talking to him about my business ideas--he will dash them all to the ground instantaneously.

When I called him on it one time, when I said to him, "Why do you shit all over every idea I share with you? I'm not competing with you at all. Why must you go out of your way to ruin my fun?" he replied,

"Oh, I thought you wanted me to play the devil's advocate."

I said, "When did I ask you to do that?"

"Um.....I guess you didn't. Sorry about that."

See? Even your friends who are in business for themselves will try to drown your dreams in their reality. Many very successful business writers have said that we should talk, talk, talk about our ideas, as that's the only way to make things happen.

I'm not so sure.

Talk if you want, but only if you are strong enough to handle the naysayers. And they are everywhere. Talk if you want, but only if you can first cultivate an air of aloof omniscience; look at that person as if you know all the answers, but just won't tell them. Fan your hand at them when they start in with the hows and the whys and the what-ifs, and say, "Oh, it will all become apparent when it needs to be. I'll handle those details then."

And that's exactly what you should do. Say it, but then do it. That's the way to make things happen.

Do it now!

You must start your business now. You might succeed. You might fail. But you must, must, must start it now. You have no other time in your life. The only time we are guaranteed is right this second. There is nothing to be gained by waiting.

I'm not listening to your excuses. I'm not listening to, "I have a baby," or "I'm too busy," or "My husband just left me," or "I'm on crutches right now," or "when I finish school."

Start it now, or you're a pansy and I'm never talking to you again.

Go. Now. Write it down and get started.

Your assignment: Write down your business ideas, and do one thing (1 thing!) today toward starting it. Start a blog, buy a web domain, open a bank account, create a fan page on Facebook (before you've even started!), open an Etsy shop with nothing in it. Do it now!

What are you waiting for? Are you still here? Go! You have important work to do!

Craft Tutorials: Lemme Have It

Some of you may know that I am an author. I am also a publisher, and I have a new, exciting project. As such, I am beginning a highly-targeted search for authors. Can you help me?

I need to know who you think writes the best photographed craft tutorials. I have seen a lot, and I'm constantly looking for more. Do you read a blog that regularly shows you how to make things? It can be anything, even including cooking. It must be well-written, witty is nice, and have great photos.

Please leave a link for your favorite craft tutorial blogs in the comments. I appreciate your help! More info to come on the publishing project. It's going to be huge!