How many subscriptions do you have? Be honest. Not only do I have monthly payments for entertainment (Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, etc.), but it seems like every different app or software is now using the model as well. I began to wonder, "am I the only one who's tired of all the subscriptions?" Turns out I'm not. According to a survey conducted by the Wall Street Journal, the average American household now has 13 different subscriptions, including services for streaming video, music, and news, as well as monthly deliveries of groceries, personal care products, and pet supplies. The result is that many consumers are feeling overwhelmed by the number of bills they receive each month and are unable to determine the true cost of the services they use. (WSJ article here) Do you actually use all of them? I'm talking about those monthly apps and software that get us all to pay up front for a year at a time. Well, Forrester Research says that only 44% of people actually use the products after subscribing to a free trial. (Link here) Finally, there's a sense of lock-in involved with the subscription model. Usually you need to sign up for a long-term contract to use the products or services. Often, there can be an early exit fee (signed up for the gym recently?). Going over my monthly budget certainly brings to light the number of products and services my family and I consume. Most of them we enjoy. Most of them we use regularly. But there were also a few that weren't of interest to us anymore. So, I unsubscribed. Kudos to all the companies that let you do that. "The subscription model has proven to be a successful way for companies to generate recurring revenue, but it's important for businesses to understand the reasons why consumers may be frustrated with the model and to make changes that address those concerns." - Julie Supan Do you enjoy this business model? I understand why businesses do it, and I even enjoy the à la cart option for my streaming options. But for me, it's getting a bit tiresome. I'd love to hear what you think about it.
-Stu
0 Comments
Looking to establish your brand and make a name for yourself as a writer? Everyone else is too. It’s not easy, but definitely possible. Out of the many different methods in existence, I’d like to explore just five that stand out to me. "Find what you love and let it kill you." 1. Find Your Fire Time to find something and let it consume you. Establishing a niche allows you to become an expert in a specific area, making it easier for readers to find and connect with your work. It also helps you stand out in a sea of writers. So, before you start writing, ask yourself what you're truly passionate about and what you want to be known for. What’s going to consistently get you out of bed at 4am to do your writing before heading to work each day? 2. Be Online and Be Social Having a strong online presence is crucial for any writer looking to establish their brand. (I never said this was easy.) This includes having a professional website, active social media accounts, and a well-maintained blog. Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok are great places to connect with other writers and readers, and even share your work. But don’t forget, quality over quantity, you don’t need to be everywhere all the time. "It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all." - J.K. Rowling 3. Put Yourself Out There This one is tough for introverts like me. Network, Network, Network. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and network with other writers and industry professionals. Attend writing conferences, join writing groups, and don't be afraid to reach out to other writers for advice or collaborations. "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." - Maya Angelou 4. Find Your Voice What makes you unique? Not an easy question sometimes. Really think about what you, and only you, can specifically offer the world. Your unique voice is what sets you apart from other writers and is what readers will come to associate with your brand. So, don’t be afraid to be yourself and let your voice shine through in your writing. 5. Kaizen Approach to Writing One small step at a time. You don’t have to write the entire chapter each day. But you do need to write something. Consistency is all-important with getting a brand established. Keep putting out consistent, high-quality content and don't give up. Building a brand takes time and patience, but with persistence, we might all just get there. Establishing your brand as a writer takes time and dedication, but by following these five tips, you'll be well on your way to building a strong and recognizable brand. So, find your niche, build a strong online presence, network, create a unique voice, and be consistent. Happy writing! "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." - J.R.R. Tolkien A writing sprint is a short, focused burst of writing time, usually lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. The idea is to set a timer, clear your mind, and just write. The goal is to produce a large quantity of words in a short amount of time, rather than worrying about perfection or editing. Famous writers have long extolled the virtues of this kind of intense, focused writing. Ernest Hemingway, for example, famously wrote standing up at a tall desk, and would set a goal of writing 500 words a day. Ian Flemming aimed for 2,500. But Stephen King noted that it wasn't so much how long you spent writing, but rather the focus, saying, "The adage that the seat of the pants must be in the seat of the chair is one of the most ridiculous things ever spoken. It's not the seat of the pants that's important, it's the seat of the brain." Writing sprints can be a great way to get into a productive writing mindset, and to overcome writer's block. They can help you to focus on the task at hand, and to overcome the distractions that can so often pull you away from your writing. One way to make writing sprints more effective is to set a specific goal for each sprint. This could be a certain number of words, a certain number of pages, or even a specific scene or chapter that you want to complete. Having a clear goal in mind will help you to focus, and to stay on track. Another way to make writing sprints more effective is to establish a routine. By setting aside a specific time each day for writing sprints, you'll be more likely to stick to them, and to make them a regular part of your writing routine. Incorporating writing sprints into your routine can be a powerful way to stay motivated and productive as a writer. So, set your timer, clear your mind, and just write - not worried so much about the quality. As Anne Lamott said, "Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere." Storyist is a powerful writing app that is designed to help writers of all skill levels create compelling stories. Whether you're a novelist, screenwriter, or journalist, Storyist has everything you need to take your writing to the next level. "Storyist is a great app for writers. I use it to organize my notes, research and manuscript. It's a great tool for keeping track of a complex story," One of the most notable features of Storyist is its intuitive interface, which makes it easy to organize your writing, track your progress, and access all of your research and notes in one place. With Storyist, you can easily switch between different views, such as manuscript, corkboard, and outline, to suit your writing style and needs. Another great feature of Storyist is its built-in research and note-taking tools. With the ability to easily add and organize research materials, such as images, documents, and web pages, Storyist makes it easy to keep all of your research and notes in one place, so you can easily reference them as you write. "Storyist is one of my favorite writing tools. It's great for keeping all of my notes and research in one place, and the outlining tools are second to none." - Brandon Sanderson Overall, Storyist is an excellent writing app that is packed with features to help writers of all skill levels create compelling stories. With its intuitive interface, built-in research and note-taking tools, and the support of a community of successful writers, Storyist is an essential tool for any writer looking to take their craft to the next level. "A goal without a plan is just a wish."
As a writer, chances are you've got a pretty long list of writing resolutions. You want to write a novel, a collection of short stories, a memoir, a script, a blog, a newsletter, etc. But how do you turn those wishes into reality? Make a plan and stick to it. Get out of your comfort zone and this year, follow through with the plan. For me, this starts with a decent planner.
Think of your daily planner as your personal writing coach. It's the one thing that will keep you accountable, motivated, and on track to achieving your writing goals. With a daily planner, you can set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, and then break them down into smaller, manageable tasks. I like to do 30, 60, and 90 day goals or milestones. "The most important thing is to write, to create. Whatever you want to do, do it now. There are only so many tomorrows." - Michael Landon For example, let's say your goal is to write a novel. You can break that down into smaller tasks such as:
Each day, you can check off the tasks you've completed, and make note of any challenges you faced or successes you had. This will not only help you stay organized, but it will also give you a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep going. "I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means." - Joan Didion A daily planner will also help you prioritize your time. As a writer, it can be easy to get caught up in the endless distractions of life, whether it's social media, email, or just staring out the window. With a daily planner, you can set aside specific blocks of time for writing, and then stick to them. "The scariest moment is always just before you start." - Stephen King One of the best things about a daily planner is that it can help you overcome writer's block. By breaking down your writing goals into smaller tasks, you'll always have something to work on, and you'll never have to face the blank page again. In conclusion, a daily planner is an essential tool for writers, helping them to set and achieve their writing goals. With a daily planner, you'll be able to turn your resolutions into reality, one tiny step at a time. So, grab your daily planner today and get writing! Here's the planner I'm currently using. |
Writer of screenplays, fiction novels, inspirational stories, and short stories. Archives
April 2024
Categories
All
|