Hope Floats
[Sky News]
I’m having a hard time thinking of things to write lately. My mind is pretty preoccupied and I’m trying to figure out how to fit in working, reading your blogs, commenting, domesticity, revamping my freelance business from the bottom up — and by that I mean from scratch, even the name will change — and all that other stuff I have to do, plus writing here and also getting in some fiction writing. That list alone made me want to start hyperventilating. But it’s just the age-old complaint of not having enough time in a day. The only answer I can think of to that is not necessarily getting up earlier but time management. I’m (sort of ) working on that!
This morning, though, instead of the usual kind of blog post (and since this blog is rather all over the place without much focus, what would the usual be, exactly?), I wanted to tell you about something I discovered yesterday.
I was emailing when I found this guy’s site. There was a simple adline atop Gmail, and I am actually one to click on those things if they interest me. This time, I was led to a site called FLOAT. Check it out after you read here. It’s also in my blogroll. I can’t advertise as well as he does, and I’m not doing it justice here, but I’ll say his niche market is specifically aspiring writers who want to showcase their work on their own specialized site instead of simply waiting to hear back from agents and publishers and such.
I thought it a great idea because I’ve worked with many authors who write short stories and novels and have them nowhere but in files on their desktop or on blogs and homemade sites that don’t do them justice. Or else they’ve spent thousands of dollars self-publishing and now they have a garage full of books they can’t sell because they went ahead and did their thing without first seeing how it might be received. I find this tragic. Where once there is hope, now there is mouldy despair. If you want to get published, it is normally a very slow process shopping out your writing. In the meantime, it’s not out there to be discovered by someone you didn’t think of, by anyone. One never knows who one might meet online, after all! Aren’t we all happy testimony to that! At the very least, sharing your writing, getting feedback, and connecting with other writers can’t hurt. FLOAT offers an easy and rather affordable way to share your writing with the world. Better, there are big plans for FLOAT still to come.
I also see the possibility here of creating a large network of not only authors but also editors and other related professionals, so of course I contacted the creator of FLOAT and we’re going to start by referring to one another.
Why am I doing this, creating a little ad here? Because I totally believe in this guy’s idea! While it is of course a chance for him to make money (and there’s nothing wrong with that!), the concept is kind and helpful and supportive and encouraging. It offers hope to aspiring writers and exposure when they might not be able to afford any other options. It is for the good of all: it helps authors, it gives pleasure to those reading, it creates a network and job opportunities for those in related fields. Editors and agents will be connected with authors, writers with other writers, the way we miscellaneous bloggers are connected and now offering each other support, encouragement, advice, even opportunity. And here’s the thing. The site is very new. I want to support a young (Canadian!) man’s dream of succeeding in being self-employed, in helping people out there. I believe in new ventures like this. He’s aiming to contribute something good. By emailing this guy and giving him positive feedback on the look of his site, on his idea, and by offering any referrals, I create hope for him as well. Remember how great it was when yo first started something, even just your blog, and got your first positive responses?
I think I’m mostly excited about this because it’s got me thinking about my own career. During some of the darkest days, I’ve felt completely useless. I’ve questioned why I do what I do, if it’s worth anything at all, why anyone would need me. But a friend recently gave me hope: if I find my niche (I’ve been targeting the wrong people), I will be very valuable. Also, I remembered why I started editing in the first place: to help writers look their best. To improve communication in this world. To achieve something that is ultimately good. To improve, to polish works of imagination and make them beautiful. All of us have been talking lately about dreams and goals, whether it be working from home, getting published, creating a more successful business, etc. I found not only opportunity yesterday in this guy’s sales copy: everywhere, I found encouragement, inspiration, hope.
“Someday is now. Float.”
Filed under: freelancing | 11 Comments
I’ll check it out. Especially cuz I like to borrow from Modest Mouse and tell people to Float On…
Steph,
That sounds like a great idea. I think whenever we are here for eachother we are doing something useful in the world.
That does sound tragic. It makes me sad. I hope to get published someday, but if I don’t I will have to accept it isn’t my time.
You’re right, it is a painfully slow process going through the publishing hoops.
I like your business name In Other Words. You don’t like it?
Ellen,
I want to be published too. The only thing is, I have to WRITE SOMETHING, first!!! SIGH.
In Other Words is actually just this blog name. My business name is Word for Word. It was born out of a sort of philosophy of editing, for me. One company I worked at only skimmed when proofreading, to see if anything jumped out. I always read everything, word for word. My clients appreciate it.
But! $9.99 per month. Which of course is very affordable in the short term, but that appears a little too “good to be true”. And he states that you can keep your own domain name if you decide to quit WITHIN 30 DAYS…. what about AFTER the 30 days? What’s going to happen to all the stuff on your FLOAT webpage if/when you opt out – are there transfer fees? Will FLOAT work with your new host or designer? Will FLOAT charge you crazy fees to keep that domain or access to what is on your webpage?
There isn’t a whole lot of legal/practical stuff on his webpage – he says no contracts, no sign up fees, no cancellation fees….. but contracts are a GOOD thing – to cover his ass and your ass.
Also only a small screenshot as an example of the page — not good enough. Examples, especially examples depicting variety in design, are a very good thing. Does FLOAT offer SEO stuff? Why specifically for writers? Does he have a vast networking system geared specifically for writers – what is his advertising platform like? How will FLOAT be better and get you more recognition than myspace or a blog?
Inspirational copy is one thing, but practical copy can go a long way too. I know that he says to contact him if anyone has questions, but it makes much more sense to already have those questions answered on his promotional website. I hate filling out forms to ask questions when I truly believe it is the company’s job to do their homework and have those questions already laid out to read in one click instead of asking people to fill out a form.
I wouldn’t bother to fill out the form and would’ve just clicked away and instantly forgotten about the site – and I’m sure I’m not the only one who would do so…..
@French panic: All very valid and well thought-out questions!
To answer only what I can, he’s not yet finished. Things are in the works, he said: he emailed me a nice long message this morning. I did say it was a young site, but I didn’t say how young…because I didn’t want people to dis it because it was new. It’s been up only two weeks.
That said, perhaps it’s not a valid excuse and he should have been totally prepared before he ever put it online. I don’t know how these things work. It’s quite possible he’s got answers to your questions, and it’s equally possible he doesn’t, and he’s flying by the seat of his pants and will make adjustments as he goes along. Again, I’m not sure.
What I cared about when writing this was the venture and the gesture. I like what he’s doing, or trying to do, apart from all the logistics or lack thereof, I like his vision, and I like what he stands for: that is, supporting “little” writers everywhere. Web stuff is something he’s passionate about as well, and he has a good education around it. I also like that it’s *not* myspace or wordpress or blogger or anything typical like that. There are already a gazillion of those floating around and they don’t necessarily get spectacular traffic. The point is, whatever he lacks from a business standpoint, he can easily fill on the advice (like yours) of others. What would be worse, in my opinion, is if he had all this wonderful business-y stuff but no real product of value to sell.
I’m not shooting down your opinion. I find it excellent. So much so, in fact, that since I am in contact with him, I’d love to share it with him. Is that okay with you? If I make it anonymous?
I wasn’t shooting down your opinion either – I probably didn’t make that so clear….when I get off on a tangent, there’s no stopping me. Share away, anonymous or not – he’s got an interesting idea but, as you’ve pointed out, there are already tons of similar platforms out there.
I met a fellow recently at a conference who has a great idea – publishing family photos etc. into a book form, and he was really quite confused and very dismissive of me when I said that I was a writer and could do copy for his website. Then when I got home and checked out his website – what a piece of crap. He had NO copy. Very little explanation of what he was all about and he had been complaining to me about how Canadians don’t know now to do business (he’s a recent immigrant). I think he was of the mindset that “Oh, I have a website, that’s all I need.” And I did a little clicking and found some fantastic websites that offer similar services – and all the info you could want is right there on the site.
What’s my point to all this…. ahhh….. It’s important to keep an open mind when it comes to business of all kinds. So I hope the FLOAT fellow is open to suggestions. It’s so easy to have tunnel vision – actually, someone I know has been struggling with her home business for the past 2 years, and she is constantly dismissing my very gentle suggestions. (dude, you’re on welfare – why don’t you USE THE LIBRARY and cut out the digital home cable? And don’t go and see the Sex & the City movie twice – that’s $24 she could be spending on food — or towards promo materials!) Or I will suggest books or online resources that she ignores —– she seems to forget that I have a library degree and I get paid to do research.
It’s the American Idol syndrome: some people are so intoxicated by what they think is their own genius that they can’t see what everyone else sees. (Not that I’m saying that about FLOAT. My friend – yes. Severely delusional. Scary delusional.)
Frenchie:
I completely agree. You’ve got to have an open mind. Absolutely. And to recognize good advice. What I’m hoping is that Lyndon (of FLOAT) visits here and sees your comment and “defends” himself.
I also think this point about everyone else already doing it is interesting. I find it so utterly discouraging and I’ve blogged about it before. The trick, then, is how to make it different enough that it will be chosen over all the others. It would be a relevant question to FLOAT.
I’m having this problem myself with my biz. There are a gazillion editors out there, so why would someone pick me? That’s why I’m trying to figure out exactly what I want to edit. Are there a gazillion erotica editors out there, do you think? I want something interesting and fun and not dry and corporate. I need individuals, not pub houses anymore. The copywriters I know seem to be successfully holding their own. They don’t need me. If they did, I’d question what they were doing.
ANYWAY, yes, I agree with you on all this. I mean, this is my problem. I’ve been freelancing for five years now and I have to start all over again because what I’m doing isn’t working. I didn’t have a proper plan.
I love your comments here. You speak very convincingly and as someone who seems to know what she’s talking about. Which leads me to this: are you really in espionage?!
Espionage is but one of my many mad skiillz.
PS. Erotica: There is a whole lot of super crappy erotic writing out there. Which leaves me to believe there are a whole lot of crappy erotica editors. Go forth and eroticize!
@ french panic: WOOHOO!!
But then, WHICH kind of erotica, specifically?
(My hubby giggled when I suggested this. He thinks I’m joking. Maybe I am, maybe I’m not.)
Hi, this is Lyndon from Float. Steph, thank you so much for the posting! I really appreciate your encouraging words.
French Panic, thank you for helping me out by asking these great questions. I’m in the process of putting together a nice FAQ and other detailed information for the Float promo site. I’d like to address some of your questions now:
Are there transfer fees? No. You are free to cancel your Float account at anytime and do whatever you wish with your site.
Will your website work with other hosts and designers? Yes. Float creates standard websites using modern web design standards that any designer will understand.
Will you be charged fees in order to keep your domain? No. At anytime, you are free to assume control over your domain. Of course, while you are a subscriber, it is recommended that you allow us to mange your domain name, but just say the word and we’ll hand over the keys.
Only a small screen shot and generally not enough info on the website? I completely agree. The website and business is very new and both will evolve. All you questions and comments are very helpful in determining the next steps! A wonderful thing about web is that it’s so easy to evolve.
Does Float offer SEO stuff? Float websites are quite search engine friendly and we hope to make them even more so in the future. Content is king though as far as SEO goes and that comes down to our clients, so the plan is to provide tips on how to optimize a site that way.
Do I have a vast networking system geared specifically for writers? No. At this point, all Float does is creates small, neat and tidy, professional websites for writers. The advantage of focusing on one particular group is that because you only get features built for writers (it’s difficult to build other types of websites with Float) it’s inherently easier to use.
How will Float be better and get you more recognition than myspace or a blog? Float differs from a myspace or a blog because it creates standard websites. Float is not an attempt to be the latest and greatest in social networking. It’s an acknowledgment that regular old websites are not dead. Big time authors all have websites. The little guys and gals can benefit from them to. The reason a writer may want their own website rather than a myspace is the same reason that any business might. It’s perceived as more professional and because it is specifically designed with their needs in mind, it is more efficient at communicating their message.
I hope this helps!
I really appreciate all of this input. I absolutely agree that it’s extremely important to be open minded in business. It’s so easy to put the blinders on and just run with an idea that, if analyzed objectively, is not worth the effort.
Hi Lyndon!
I’m so glad you’ve visited. Thank you so much for addressing the questions put to you. I appreciate it. Also, I’m very glad you’ll be making these answers accessible to your potential customers on FLOAT. As french panic mentioned, it’s an important aspect and I think you’ve covered much, if not all, of what she asked.
I hope this little discussion as well as the post helps you build a very successful business!
Cheers!
@french panic: thanks for your valuable input here. I’m glad you spoke up. Honestly, I never would have thought of the questions you asked, and that’s much to my embarrassment.