And then one day…
When I was trying to stay warm in the local library, I started surfing online.
I ran across a website that shocked me when I read it. It was as if it had been written just for me! An academy for writers that taught them how to create a “real” writing business.
It was a glimmer of hope. And while the spark soon faded, it was always “there” in the back of my mind.
And then one day, when I was panhandling on a street corner, a car stopped and the driver, a little grayed-haired old lady rolled down her window and said she saw I was a writer (it was on my sign) and asked why I was begging for money – and why I wasn’t earning an income online? I told her it was impossible. That I’ve been that route and lost everything I had in life. She just looked at me for a minute, and then told me that was no excuse to quit trying and drove off.
Well, that stuck with me. And to make matters worse, after she was gone I realized that I knew her – she was my 10th grade English teacher. I never felt so ashamed in my life.
That was the day that everything changed. I’d already hit bottom. I guess I realized I didn’t have anything left to lose.
So I cleaned myself up a little (and trust me, that’s not easy to do when you’re living on the street). I actually started doing odd jobs and saving all the money I could. In about six months I realized I was getting close to having what I needed for the school I’d seen online but to be honest, success still seemed a long way off.
I couldn’t help asking myself if I had what it takes inside me to accomplish even one goal in life? I wanted to believe that I did. I wanted to believe in ME again. And that’s what kept me going. I took things one day at a time.
Sure, I slipped up now and then. Went back to my friend the bottle when it got rough and I felt lonely.
But it didn’t take a genius (and I am no genius) to realize I was on the rebound – I had a goal in life. To prove to my ex-wife, my kids, my old teacher – and myself – that I was a somebody. That I mattered. And that I could succeed – on my terms.
The closer I got to having enough money to go to the school, the better things got – I even gave up drinking.
Eventually I had enough. I had to send them a money order because I couldn’t get a bank account but I was “in” – I’d been accepted.
For the next six months, (in between working odd jobs), I started the course and became a regular at the public library. Three days a week I was the first person in line when they opened the doors in the morning, until they turned out the lights at night. I got to know one of the librarians really well, and she was very helpful and did everything she could to help me do what I needed to do.
To make a long story short, I graduated from that online school. And I left owning my own website, promoting myself as a writer and having my first 3 clients.
The more successful I became, the more I cared about myself. It wasn’t long before I oculd afford an apartment, bought a a bunch of Pottery Barn furniture and started living again.
Eventually I was even able to buy my own macbook pro – and said goodbye to my friends at the public library. (I still drop in from time to time, to say hi). But I will never forget them, they were so kind.
Skip now to the future: I feel like I have finally “arrived” in life. I own my own home, overlooking the ocean in the Carribean.
My ex-wife had moved on, but my kids are now back in my life. And I have a new girlfriend (Yes, it was the librarian who helped me so much)
But more than that…
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Okay. Before you go any further, you need to know that the previous story is not true. The photo in part 1 of this story is a picture of Dan, the COO of Writers Business Academy (who, by the way, absolutely LOVED not shaving for 3 days to play the part – and he stole his sister-in-law’s cigarette to play the part. What a ham!)….
The story you’ve just read is what we call a characterization or persona page. (These are being found more and more on authors’ pages or blogs – and they represent a main character in their book).
To crate this story, we took portions of stories of some of our beta students, and then took a little “literary license” with them and created what you just read.
Why?
Two reasons.
The first was to make a point.
When you’re promoting yourself, your writing business or your book – and whether you’re an author or a writer – it’s absolutely vital that you catch your readers’ attention, and get them to read your story.
Who wants to read a boring story?
The second reason we created the persona was directed more towards our students who are authors.
We wanted to show you one idea you could take away right now and use for marketing your book.
Having a “story page” or a character page is a really good – and inexpensive – marketing tactic. It gives your readers or fans a chance to become involved in your character’s story and life.
Now that you’ve read a fictional story, go back to the carasol and click to the next panel and read a few of the true testimonials of some of our students, to find out how the Writer’s Business Academy has helped them achieve their goals and started them on the path to their “dream lifestyle” writing business. Click Here to return to the home page
