Self-Devpt. Nuggets™

People use writing to make money in so many unusual ways. Some write articles and reports for others, and get paid per word, page etc. Others write as a means of self-promotion, to attract buyers/clients. Then others write to produce books they publish and sell. All this happens across so many genres. With diligent effort, many are achieving financial success and freedom using their writing skillls. And you can do the same!

You Need to Find What Works for You

Almost exactly a year ago, at about this time, I’d just decided I needed to try my hand at using blogging, more directly, to achieve my online writing goals. I had already seen and enjoyed the multiple rewards of writing for self-promotion and sales income in various ways.

Apart from my physical books and e-books (on self-development, feed formulation etc) which had been selling via my online store, and through offline systems I set-up, I’d also had very many new clients find me online through my article marketing.

In other words, I had no doubt about the power of the written word, and how it could get people to do what I wanted, if I wrote it right.

But over time, the volume of my writing output had grown tremendously, and I had to continue doing it while attending to client needs and responding to prospect enquiries.

The Process Gradually Became Cumbersome and Time Consuming For Me.

I knew I needed an easier way to keep going, or something would give…most likely my work quality and/or ability to deliver satisfactory work to deadlines.

After studying the structure of blogs, I realized a lot of the work I was doing on my own via my static html based articles publishing would be automatically handled by a blog. Even better, search engines love to visit blogs. I’d learnt that from careful study of many blogs, and reading articles by successful business owners who used them.

So, I decided to launch this blog…the SD (Self-Development) Nuggets™ blog in June 2013.

Less than 7 months later I’d begun reaping amazing results from using it. And the exciting trend continues even today. More visits, more contact form enquiries and requests, more newsletter subscriptions. And even more emails and phone calls about what I do. Some just to thank me or to ask for help etc.

So Far, I Have Not Yet Had to Attend Writing School to Succeed With Writing the Way I Do It..

Don’t get me wrong. I recognise the importance of doing this right, and I do have my plans to get some formal coaching on writing – especially because I intend to focus more on writing short stories and novels in the near future.

My experiences convince me more people will benefit from the value I have to offer if I can connect with them using that approach, instead of formal writing which non-business persons may find stifling and uninteresting. In fact I submitted a 500 word entry to a 2013 writing competition on 31st December 2013, so this is no joke!

But back to my take on getting formal coaching in writing…

By Following Simple Tips from Experts, I’m Achieving Exceptional Success Using Writing!

I started my journey into writing without any formal preparation.

After reading books by real world business marketing experts online, I noticed a common theme by most of them.

They kept saying:

“Write the way you talk.”

Another thing they said often was:

“Write using words that a 6th grader can understand.”

In other words, avoid using unnecessarily complex words. Keep it simple.

One more thing they constantly emphasized was:

“Tell stories. Share your experiences. Use real life examples.”

According to them doing so will make your target audience want to read your writing.

Then they also made it clear that one needs to:

“Offer ideas that provide useful insights and solve real problems people face. when applied to the personal or work lives of your readers.”

I’ve Shared Many of My Own True Stories About Writing Success, On This Blog

A recent one has to do with the 4,000 word case study agribusiness paper accepted for publication by an international organisation that paid me to write it.

My wonderful experience has been so exciting, that I’ve been unable to keep it to myself.

That’s why I’ve written to share my knowledge and experience in articles.

And I’ve also been gently pushing my own kids to develop interest in writing the way I do.

I ask them to focus on earning decent passive income on a part time or full time basis… the way I do.

This way they see a tangible end that they can relate to, which assures them it’s not just another school exercise.

You see, I realise today that if I’d discovered paid writing while in school, I might have honed my writing skills earlier, and used it to earn additional income in my free time, during the years I was in paid employment.

I Don’t Want My Kids to Delay Getting Started Using Writing to Succeed Financially, Like I Did

I don’t want them to make the mistake I made.

That was why I made each one handle the bundle of 50 Euros totalling 2k euros, the day Professor Idowu (my co-author for the international agribusiness paper)  gave me the payment he’d received on my behalf via his Euro denominated domiciliary account.

I knew if they saw that I earned that much for writing a 4,000 word paper, it would make them take what I was saying about writing competently more seriously.

This Has Been an Ongoing Exercise with My Kids – Especially the 3 Oldest (all Boys)

I made the 14 year old attend a 6 month manual typewriting class in late 2012. When he finished it, I tasked him to write a short story that we could publish in his name on my blog. I got him to read Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”, the popular “Oliver Twist” and other books based on stories.

Every now and then I’d ask him how far he’d gone. He’d often have nothing to show me. I’d deliberately make a fuss about how he was wasting all he learned in typing school, and how disappointed I was. Then I would make him go online with me to read Bamidele Onibalusi’s blog, saying to him: “This chap is just 19 years old. You can do what he’s doing if you try!”

If you know kids, especially teenagers, getting them to do stuff like this can be hard work.

But if you persist, they will eventually respond.

I knew I was getting through to my 14 year old son, when one day he told me he was almost done writing a story he had conceived!

When I eventually read his story, I liked it so much that I made slight corrections and published it on my blog late last year.

Incidentally, I’d always told him to think a lot, and to use what he saw/heard around him to come up with writing ideas. He apparently took that advice to heart.

I’ve since tasked him to teach his siblings how to type, using a typing tutor on my laptop

Last time we had a “meeting”, all 3 boys showed me short stories they’re working on, in different stages of completion on my laptop. This has encouraged me to consider getting them a used but rugged laptop that can take rough treatment. Before now I felt they would only play games and music on it!

But with what they’ve been doing, I already see useful progress.

What’s most exciting for me is that I know good writing skills will open doors of early financial success for them.

This is because it will empower them to develop independence in earning high level income regardless of their location at any point in time, like I do.

YOU (yes “YOU!”) can also develop good writing ability and use it to earn decent income on a part time or full time basis.

And you can start even if you lack money to attend formal writing classes. Then as you succeed, you can also coach your kids to do what you do.

At some point you can choose to invest some of the money you make, in taking your skills to the next level by taking formal writing lessons.

All the above will cost you is some sweat and time spent hammering away at your keyboard.

If you consider the lifetime of rewards that are bound to come from doing it, you’ll realize this is what some people call a no-brainer!