Topic Turtle

real/brilliant has evolved.

Not only do we serve small businesses with blogging, strategy, and coaching (a refresher on that next week), but we also have recently signed on several authors. Our offering to authors is a bit different; we’ve developed Social Media Packs: Starter Pack, Coaching Pack, and Mastery Pack. It’s a way for us...

I love my sponsors so much. This blog wouldn’t even exist without them.

GoDaddy sold me the domain name, provides the host, and while they have DREADFUL Super Bowl ads, the folks at GoDaddy rock. They bend over backward to help when I get stuck, answer the stupidest questions I have, and there are a few I even know by name and...

You’ll notice my sidebar is becoming more colorful, albeit not quite centered correctly.

Yes, I’m adding sponsor advertising to my blog. It was a decision that I came to only after realizing that I can still be authentic in what companies I allow to use my blog for advertising. So there will be no miracle drugs, diet pills, or get-rich-quick schemes...

real/brilliant, inc. finally has a web site up specifically for authors! Check it out here.

It seems a bit stuffy on first glance, but many well-published literary authors look askance at blogging. To them, it’s hack writing. It’s not thoughtful, it...

At least I think so.

1. Gretchen Rubin — The Happiness Project

2. Neil Gaiman — Novelist

3. Brandilynn Collins — Novelist, characterization guru

4....

“Are you crazy?” most authors ask me. “Don’t you realize how much time I have to write? Not enough!”

And they drop their head in their hands and sigh. “How will I ever do all this?”

I know. The idea that an author now has to handle the majority of their own...

I’ve had to take a Twitter break. You’ve seen me Twittering posts, but generally I’m just staying quiet. Perhaps it is because I’m having enough issues with the writing. And sometimes the direction a person sets out on is not the direction they wish to continue.

I’m reconfiguring, yes.

In late...

I’m back. I’m not a Moonlighting Entrepreneur anymore. I’m a full-time entrepreneur (woohoo!), but I figured there’s still some principles I am learning that apply to those of you who are just part-time and moonlighting. (Yes, I’m still learning!)

It’s the day in, day out act of marketing. What...

Folks have emailed to ask how I can think marketing is boring.

“It’s not boring; it’s terrifying!” they say. “Talking with clients scares me speechless. I sound like an idiot.”

Another says, “I would rather just have the work; forget marketing for me.”

I was right there...

I hear this all the time. Business owners who just want the clients to automatically show up at their door. Freelancers who just want to do the fun stuff and not the boring stuff.

Learn to LOVE IT!

I did. Back in 1995 when I started my freelance biz, I had no idea how to get clients. I was pleased when they found me by...