Writing/Publishing Your Great American Novel-Part 3

[For previous blogs please visit “blog archive” to the lower left of this screen.]

I often (but not always) have music streaming from my living room while writing. When I wrote the toughest chapter in my book I had a hard time finding the right feel for it. I tried silence, music, open windows, closed windows, heat, no heat, tried writing in the morning, evening, and middle of the night. Nothing. It wasn’t writer’s block.  The chapter was written but it wasn’t right. It was the wrong feel for what I knew I wanted. I found it finally with The Rolling Stones, Singles Collection, The London Years.  I set my MP3 Player on my Bose (I now have an iPod with an incredible storage capacity so that I never have to fiddle with music when I’m writing), came in here, sat down, and immediately the chapter changed. I can hardly remember how it came about but later when I sat back down to read it I almost died. It was scary and horrific and disgusting and frightening and sick and vulgar and outrageous and over the top and foul--and exactly what I wanted. (I like the effect of run-on sentences.)

If you haven’t read my little story, borrow it from a friend or find it on line (it’s at all the major bookstores-no kidding) and read it. You will know the chapter I’m talking about. BEWARE.  The chapter is scary and some people have had nightmares (I love that). Legal disclaimer: The Stones did not drive me to write depraved material. They simply zapped my brain and that’s all I needed.

If you have a spouse, family members, a roommate, neighbors, and friends, you must explain that when you are writing you hope to be left alone while you are at the computer. In the beginning everyone just falls all over themselves assuring you they are right behind you, they won’t make a peep, they think it’s fantastic, just let them know if there’s anything they can get for you like coffee, or any errands to run, or they will go to the movies so you can have peace and quiet, and you won’t hear a peep out of them. Honest.

After a few weeks they whine and complain and call you and leave voicemails saying things like “you are always writing that stupid book.”  They are sick of the fourteen wine glasses and six coffee cups in the sink and the dog’s water bowl is empty and you never want to go to lunch anymore and you haven’t called them in forever and you never want to meet anyone for coffee anymore and how long is this stupid book going to take. I could go on (believe me) but you get the point. You have to make them leave you alone. Nothing pops the creativity bubble more than someone complaining there’s no food in the house. Did Tolstoy have to stop and go to the grocery store?  By the way, unlike the humans in your life, dogs do need you to stop writing and take them for a walk, feed them, and make sure they have water, pet them, tell them they are the best dog, you love them, and give them treats. The humans are on their own.

Before we move on to the next session let me just reiterate regarding my previous comments on childbirth/writing/publishing: writing and publishing a book, if done properly, is absolutely the thrill of a lifetime. I often Google my name and it comes up everywhere (go ahead, try it!).  It is not an ego thing. It’s like watching your children travel throughout the world. The other day it popped up at a site in India. INDIA! I don’t think anyone has purchased it in India, but it’s there.  I can’t tell you what a rush that is to see it everywhere. I found it in Japan! In France! In the UK! It’s on eBay! This doesn’t mean it’s actually selling in all these fabulous places but it makes the heart go pitter patter to see it literally all over the world. The fact that the book cover is breathtakingly beautiful helps a great deal let me tell you (thank you, Mylette). Who wouldn’t want that lovely book sitting on a coffee table? So if that’s how you see YOUR story, go for it because I did and now it’s out there!

So we’ve covered beverages, computers, research tools, music, the potential enemy pool made up of family and friends, and the incredible thrill of what’s to come. You have begun. Next week I will share just a few tips to help process the pages and cover editing.

www.sharonstrawhandgarner.com 

[No part of this content may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.]

Writing/Publishing Your Great American Novel-Part 2 of 6

[For previous blogs please visit “blog archive” to the lower left of this screen.]

Here are a few things you need to write a book:

Coffee, if you are typing in the morning; wine, if you are typing in the evening. I suppose you can interchange those items as you please.

Most of us are keyboard savvy. There are some who still like the feel of pen and paper but they end up hiring someone to type it all up on a computer. If they are self-publishing, they have to pay that person ahead of publication. If you believe you are not good enough to put it all down on the computer, try it first. By the time you have completed a few hundred pages--you will be. My brain-to-fingertip-to keyboard ratio is instantaneous. I can type almost as fast as I can think. That’s not necessary but it sure is helpful. It should not be a deterrent however.  If you can’t manage speedy typing, consider dictating then type up your dictation to get a little more comfortable with word-processing and typing. Being proficient at the typing part will be very helpful in the editing stage--the editing stage that you do before a professional editor touches it. You have to edit your manuscript to perfection before you give it to anyone. And yes, I know many famous authors used feather quill pens and inkwells. What century are you living in? Not theirs.

Many people are proficient at using a computer but not necessarily word-processing (except the basics). There are many software programs available to help you learn to type or to type a little better. My kids taught themselves to type when they were very young with our first computer and they used Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing (not sure if it’s still around but you can Google it and find that and many others).  They learned in one weekend and they had fun learning. They were slow to begin with but they are now speedy like me.

You’ll need a good dictionary sitting next to you as well as the one built into your word processor and access to research on line. You should be looking everything up. Everything. It may be fiction but your facts need to be correct and you need to use the write words and spel them coractly.  (If that last sentence didn’t elicit a gasp, you failed my little test and you will definitely need an editor.) It would be nice if you were an English major but most of us are not. Doesn’t mean we don’t have great stories to tell in a clever way. Even if we are borderline illiterate we can tell a story. It can be fixed later. If, however, you can manage to put sentences together, that’s a plus.

My grandmother had a fourth grade education but told tremendous stories and I was too shortsighted to write them all down. I have been dredging my memory and making notes for potential stories based on her life. If you have seniors in your life they are a great resource for writing material.

On a shelving unit fairly near my computer I have stacks of books to assist in the writing process. The one I keep next to my coffee (or wine) is The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White. It is considered the writer’s bible. It’s slim and easy to use and before writing I usually read it cover to cover. Every time.  And I refer to it as I write. I use my word-processing grammar check and spell check of course, but I want to understand how putting words together works and this book wraps it up rather well. There are many liberties I take in my writing. Like fragments. Love fragmented sentences. Use them a lot. Why? Just my style. It’s how I talk. I’m a fragmented talker and I write the way I talk.  Sometimes I do it for effect; sometimes I do it because it’s natural for me.

I like to write at my comfort level but please don’t think that means you can let it all hang out. You can’t. On my shelves I have other volumes I grab and study a particular way to do something and I end up reading about a topic for an hour or two when that happens. Believe it or not, that’s still the writing process. You write and write and write then you look things up and research and read and read then read some more and it goes on and on that way. I like to sit here and write until my sitz bones hurt, and then I come back after a break and edit and review and research again.

If you haven’t taken writing classes or brushed up on your English in a while, it wouldn’t hurt to do so now. You need not suspend your writing but by the time you’ve finished your masterpiece you will have probably had time to tuck away a few courses at your local community college to help you out a bit. And you will meet other writers and networking in the writing community is great fun and quite helpful.

Also next to my computer is a simple note pad to scribble all sorts of things I want to remember. (I have a problem with remembering my characters’ names. Not a good idea to use your murderer’s name sweetly kissing the victim instead of her husband’s name. I have actually caught that in novels.) I also zip to the bottom of my pages and quickly type notes if something comes up that I can’t take the time to jot on a notepad. It’s faster for me to type it at the bottom of my pages. My brain-to-fingers-to-pen-to-paper ratio is slow, slow, slow. I can barely sign my name anymore because of my unnatural attachment to all things computer. More next Sunday.

www.sharonstrawhandgarner.com

[No part of this content may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.]

Writing/Publishing Your Great American Novel-Part 1 of 6

[Please visit Blog Archive on the lower left for previous posts.]

I receive many emails requesting information on how to start a craft business and almost an equal amount of email requesting information on how to write and publish a book, how to get started, etc.  You might have a story lined up and you are aching to get it on paper. Getting started is easy. If you like to write, sit down and write. It’s that easy. Everyone has a story to tell. Or you might be reading this to figure out why your friend, mom, neighbor, coworker, boyfriend, girlfriend (or psychologist) is always talking about writing a book. The answer to that is easy: creating stories or music or art or a beautiful cabinet or a tranquil garden or building a boat from scratch or sculpting, or whatever, is what life is all about. That’s what humans do.

I have always loved reading and writing and have written countless essays, short stories, diaries, journals, letters, [blogs], published a novel, and have prepared outlines for many novels, beginning in my early teens. I started a science fiction story/novella when I was in the eighth grade that I worked on for close to a year.  It’s lost in space somewhere (pun intended) but I would love to have it now. I remember it well but would love to see my own youthful handwriting and see if my writing style has changed at all.  It was done in scented ballpoint pen on regular binder paper. Lots and lots of binder paper.  Years ago during tough times (and pre-computer), I journaled myself to sleep many nights on a Selectric typewriter.  Writing to me is a daily activity. I write to politicians, I email my family and friends (a lot), I work on story outlines and concept paragraphs and business letters and consumer complaint letters, on my website, and many other writings. (I love parentheticals.)

A few years ago I wrote and published a book and next to childbirth it was the best time of my life. The months leading to publication were similar to the months prior to birth except my water didn’t break. Writing (labor) was not as hard as publishing (delivery). Publishing was much more painful, though I didn’t require an episiotomy. The birth of a book is emotional and hard and worth all of the pain. Just like having kids.

I consider myself a storyteller, not a literary writer.  I know I’m not James Joyce, but I’m also not Nora Roberts. Nora Roberts has her niche and she handles it well (and makes a tidy sum of money) but the content and style of the romance novel does not appeal to me.  There are all kinds of writers and I can’t begin to cover the creative part of the process. I’d simply like to help those interested in following their dream. My limited area of expertise is the novel. I’m certain non-fiction production may be similar but with specific differences.

The mechanics of writing are important but can be learned--to an extent. If you have a fabulous story to tell you could hire a ghostwriter as a way to get your story out there.  However, if you feel confident enough to write your own novel, do it. If it isn’t perfect there are editors who make a living correcting the little imperfections of the novice writer. (If you self-publish, you’ll be paying these editors yourself. I didn’t employ an editor and I may the next time. There are a few things in my first book I didn’t catch. Sort of makes me wince when I see them, but they are insignificant. Your kids probably aren’t perfect either).  If you are writing something that will be picked up by an agent or a publishing house, they will have that done for you. More on that part of the process in later blogs.  

www.sharonstrawhandgarner.com

[No part of this content may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.]

Retirement: a youth of labor with an age of ease! (1 of 1)

Before I begin the next series of promised blogs (writing/publishing a book), I thought I would answer a question many people ask:  Do I like retirement?  They ask because they say they don’t know what they would do with themselves all day long when they retire with nothing to do. My standard response is:  Are you nuts?

Still, it makes me realize retirement is not the same for everyone. So I did a little research and I’m happy to report that most retirees today find plenty to do. Some find themselves busier now than they were before retiring.  Of all the reading and research I’ve done on the topic, however, I have yet to read about my particular situation-the divorced/single retiree. I know there are more out there like me, but I can’t find them. Maybe they aren’t included in research studies or I simply haven’t found their stories yet. So here’s mine.

Retirees in my category find themselves free--totally free--for the first time in their entire lives.  It’s possible some may not want that special classification, but I wanted it and I have it and it’s tremendous. Many people retire with a spouse and they now spend hours each day together (which can be good or bad or both) but whatever the case, they are, therefore, not totally free. They may even like this new arrangement, but I have heard mixed reports from married family and friends. Without eight hours of employment per day to keep couples separated, many couples find it challenging to stay out of prison. Then there are the sad illness issues that complicate retirement often leaving one senior caring for the other day and night when their own health may be sliding as well.  I did not like marriage and chose to not go there again because I saw the future and it was grim.

I retired in 2007 and for the first time in my life, I found I was totally and completely and gloriously on my own.  I now answer to no one (as long as I obey the basic laws of the land).  I am responsible to or for no one but my pets, and myself, but no humans. I may offer assistance to others, and I do, but I don’t have to. I have learned to say no. It’s my decision, finally, how I live each day.

Most of us begin life with our parents and stay with them for quite some time. They are responsible for our lives and they support us emotionally and financially. We are guided and disciplined and are responsible to and are the responsibility of our parents.  We must follow their rules.

During that time we also are guided and disciplined and are responsible to and are the responsibility of our teachers and schools. We must follow their rules.  Some of us work during our teen years where we are guided and disciplined and are responsible to and are the responsibility of our employers. We must follow their rules.  Throw in a few extracurricular activities (sports, music, theater, etc.) and the authorities pile on. The first 18 years or so of our lives are totally controlled by multiple layers of authority:  parents, educators, employers, and organized activities.

After our teen education ends many of us go off to college where we are guided and disciplined and are responsible to and are the responsibility of our colleges with continuing oversight by our parents in most cases.  We must follow their rules.  And let’s not forget part-time or even full-time jobs for some students where we are guided and disciplined and are responsible to and the responsibility of our employers. We must follow their rules. Layer upon layer of control and authority.

Though we perceive we have freedom when we go off to college and live in our own dorm or apartment, we do not.  Many of us run amuck during this period thinking we finally own our lives. Not only do we not own our own lives, when we screw up at this level we are now costing our parents great sums of money to bail us out and/or try to keep us in college. Sometimes we must return home with our tails between our legs where we are once more guided and disciplined and responsible to and are the responsibility of our parents. We must follow their rules (again). By this time we may be in our early twenties or beyond. 

If we do not go to college, we begin the adult employment world and are guided and disciplined and are responsible to and are the responsibility of our employers. We must follow their rules. Often the young working adult decides to get married. Now we are guided and disciplined and are responsible to and the responsibility of our spouse. We must follow our respective rules. Don’t think so? Check out divorce statistics.

Next we have children where we are guided (and guide) and are disciplined (and discipline), and are responsible to and are responsible for the lives of our children. We must follow parenting rules. (For those who do not think you are disciplined by your children try to recall the time you picked your daughter up at soccer practice only to discover she was at gymnastics practice, 30 minutes in the opposite direction. Driving up to an angry 10-year old standing in the dark (and rain) with an even angrier gymnastics coach standing beside her is discipline of the highest order and it lasts for days.) 

Sometimes during the adult years a divorce kicks in. The staggering amount of guidance and discipline and responsibility to and for our children and life in all areas is overwhelming. We must follow many rules including those found in divorce laws. Raising children follows the same 18 or so years we spent in that position in our youth but reversed. And we have the same employment guidance and discipline and are responsible to and are the responsibility of that employer with an ex-spouse still pulling strings financially and/or emotionally. We must follow a multitude of rules. We are far far far from being free (though some of us certainly feel relief with the spouse out of the picture).

Eventually our children are grown, out of college and/or employed, and truly on their own with the same guidance and discipline and responsibilities to and from the issues we lived through. They must follow the rules. Time for us to finally relax? No, we are still employed.  We still have guidance and discipline and responsibilities to and from our employer. We must follow their rules. In exchange for our attendance and obedience in the workplace each day they give us money and we probably need money desperately if we managed to get kids through college by cashing in our 401Ks, pension plans, piling up the credit cards for books and materials, and obtaining second mortgages for tuition. 

In a country that values freedom above all, so few of us have true personal freedom. Some are incapable of comprehending a life of freedom and feel they must be forever attached to another human to exist. In some instances where people find they are on their own due to illness or death or divorce it is painful and often heartbreaking because they don’t want a life on their own. They want to be connected to another person.  Often these people scramble to find another person to bond with whether or not it’s a worthy bonding. I know some of these sad unions and I’m reminded of a great saying:  it’s better to be alone than to wish you were.

And so at last we find ourselves at retirement. For the divorced/single person with a pension, retirement is pure heaven on earth. To think that I made it to this point in life where I can jump off my roof or hop on a plane to China or sell my house and live in a camper and travel the country or sleep all day, read all night, eat what I want, spend what I want when I want, start a business, write a book, work or not work, watch movies all day, drink coffee in the afternoon because I don’t have to get up at 6:00 a.m. the next morning, spend all day petting my dog, cook or not cook, vacuum or not vacuum, watch the birds in my bird bath, wear my pajamas all day, plant flower seeds, sit on my patio swing with a glass of wine on a summer afternoon and watch the aforementioned seeds grow, practice the piano, learn a language(s), hop in the car for no reason and take a drive, or do absolutely nothing at all, it is an amazing time of life.

I find I keep very busy and every day is filled with people I want to see, things I want to do, and creative things I longed to do my entire life but never had the time.  Not once prior to retirement did I ever wonder what I would do with my time. And I have an amazing plan for my future. When I turn 90 I’m going to slow down a little and begin drinking lots of Margaritas, eat large amounts of chocolate, and resume smoking, which I have missed every single day of my life for 35 years as of this writing. I can hardly wait.

O, blest retirement!

Friend to life's decline -


How blest is he who crowns,

in shades like these,


a youth of labor with an age of ease!


~Oliver Goldsmith

[No part of this content may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.]

www.sharonstrawhandgarner.com

How To Start A Craft Business Lesson 5

Many of the suggestions in these blogs are derived from hard, painful experience. I don’t like to see people suffer which is why I wanted to share the best way possible to launch a craft business.  I believe sharing this information will provide the craft arena with even more attractive and creative items which in turn will benefit all the rest of us already out there. Make your beautiful items and join us. We want you. You are not competition—you are an enhancement.

 

Even with these suggestions you will experience highs and lows. Sometimes it’s just plain funny. Sometimes it’s marginally scary. Once a gentleman spent too much time visiting my exhibit and I began getting “the creep vibe.” I don’t know if he was a bonafide creep, but later in the day after closing he followed me--hiding behind trees.  No kidding.  My little cart was loaded too full because I was anxious to leave as fast as I could and it was windy. The wind caught one of my CARDBOARD boxes, bounced it on the ground a few times, and then picked up several of my items and took them away. Far far away. 

 

My stalker shouted, “I’ll get them!”

I shouted back, “NO! I don’t want them.” (I know. Dumb response.)

He started to approach and said, “Well, can you give me a ride to the bus?” (The bus stop was located a few feet away from where my car was parked.)

 

By this time I was closing the car door with my left foot dangling outside the unclosed door while simultaneously depressing the gas pedal with my right foot.  I had literally thrown my things in the back of the car and noticed when I screeched home my rear hatch door hadn’t clicked closed. I was lucky I didn’t lose my entire exhibit on the street. It took an entire day to sort it all out at home. (Never went back for the windblown items.)

 

There were a few people still at the event as I packed my car but not enough for my comfort level. Earlier in the day a vendor sitting next to me pretended to be my friend to dissuade the stalker and engaged me in conversation and glared at the guy as he hung on my display. But my neighbor was not outside when I was loading the car so I was somewhat alone.  That was the last time I used cardboard boxes. I can now load my car faster than my dog eats his dinner. 

 

So watch yourself and keep a watchful eye on your co-vendors in the event they are unaware of trouble. Read people to figure out their intentions. Humans are an unpredictable species. It’s fun to linger with vendors and discuss the day, maybe get some coffee, sit on the backs of the cars and chat, and check out any lingering weirdoes. Funny things happen at these events and it’s great to share while we pack.  But if I have to, I can be gone with the wind.

 

Which brings me to working with customers.  Try to keep a nice even demeanor. Not too friendly (stalker prevention), not too cool (customer prevention). Be there tidying up your display but toward the back. Glance at your customers so they can catch your eye if they need help or have questions. Be relaxed. Try not to “sell.” You don’t have to if you have prepared a proper display that is accessible and pretty. Chat with fellow vendors. Be kind to children even as they go through your display like Great Whites at a surfer competition.

 

One of the most successful strategies I’ve used is the incentive. I offer last year’s items at a discount. I sometimes have a buy-one-get-one-free event. I also will occasionally barter with someone if they want something but just might be a little short on cash. I don’t go crazy on this option but I can tell when someone really wants something but just doesn’t want to spend anymore at the event. These customers come back to future events and look for you!  Place a few useful signs around your display, especially a sign indicating you accept credit cards.

 

Thievery. There. I’ve said it. Yep, it’s there. At one event my neighbor on the right had several jewelry pieces stolen while a group of about 4 or 5 girls surrounded her asking her questions. We didn’t know it at the time but later we determined that was when it happened. There must have been another girl lingering near this group but we didn’t see her. I didn’t realize until I got home that I too was a victim of sticky fingers, possibly from the same girls. 

 

When any large group appears at my exhibit not only do I want to be able to help and answer questions but I also have to deal with payments and credit cards. Sometimes there are several people at once in varying stages of shopping. This is what thieves look for. So since I wear my apron and keep all of my bookkeeping materials with me I can place myself in front of my display and sort of block the comings and goings of people in my area. It’s quite effective. I also have learned how to give the evil eye to suspicious types, i.e., the aforementioned weirdoes.

 

Don’t get me wrong. These instances are rare but be prepared. At events where alcohol is sold you’ll encounter teetering people with balance issues maneuvering the exhibit area. Accidents happen! On the other hand, some of these teetering individuals shop wildly. (heh heh heh)

 

Will you make money? Well, how much do you want to make? If you’re giving up your medical practice, no (although with Medicare and our country’s deplorable medical system, maybe). If you’ve been schlepping yourself to a pink collar job for a hundred years, yes, in time. Key words here: in time. I have talked to dozens of vendors and have learned that it can take 3 to 4 years (sometimes) to make an actual income you can live on. However, you’ll need some high-end items and lots of inventory (and LOTS of events). One team I met eventually dumped both day jobs and enjoy a semi-comfortable livelihood but not to the level of their former actual jobs. Still, they are thrilled to be on their own and they are always on the lookout for new items and new events. They may do multi-state events in the next few years! If you are planning on launching by yourself with no help from anyone, and there are many of us, you can do this by simply planning easy to handle storage pieces and ways to manage your money (and self) while out and about.

 

If you are looking for supplemental income, which is where I am, you can do this. If you are a couple and one member is employed with benefits, the other can launch the crafts. If it goes exceptionally well, hooray! Perhaps you can retire a year or so earlier than you had previously planned. Hooray again! That’s what I did. I retired a bit early to launch my business. But during the slow times I still had my pension.

 

I’d like to wrap this up by stating that I do enjoy this work, but it truly is work. I do not get sick days, vacation days, or company benefits (except the benefit of not going to an employer at the crack of dawn five days a week). In some ways it’s almost like two businesses: the creative part, and the exhibit part. I started a few months before retiring and it was tough. Depending on the complexity of your selected craft item(s) you are working at it constantly. And if you aren’t preparing inventory you are working on your display. If you aren’t doing either of those two tasks you are at an event. And then there’s bookkeeping and record management. 

 

For those of you who have always loved creating gift items for family and friends and think selling them would be fun and lucrative that’s a big “yes” and a big “no.” Knitting socks for grandpa for Christmas is not the same as knitting 50 pairs for a holiday boutique. However, I did not want to supplement my retirement with more of the same work I did prior to retiring. I longed for a creative outlet. I wrote a book a few years ago and that filled a spot in my heart I had been missing my entire life. (Yes, I’m working on another book but money is coming now from crafts whereas it will come much much later with publication. See future blogs on that topic.)

 

If you want that creative itch scratched, you can try a craft business and see if you like it. I’ll probably keep at it until I can’t fit the walker in the back of my car and/or DMV does a “senior” review and revokes my driver’s license.

 

Next blog series—The Book (Part 1). 

www.sharonstrawhandgarner.com

[No part of this content may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.]

How To Start A Craft Business Lesson 4

The display! The first thing you’ll need is a cart. It will be your best friend. Rubbermaid makes a lightweight cart that folds completely flat for about $75. I find it easier to manage than a standard hand-truck.

 

Your display will vary depending on your items but the tried and true style is the U shape display. You CAN launch yourself with one table and many do. If you make smaller items that may even suffice. You can always add tables as you go along.  The U shape consists of three tables (duh). I purchased aluminum suitcase tables that are 4’ by 6’ and are light and easy to maneuver and to LOAD and UNLOAD and they save space when folded. After the tables are arranged, you should drape each table with a tablecloth. Depending on your items you can also stack each table with shelves. I use two shelves per table. The shelves provide a more “shop” like appearance and customers swing in and feel they are in a small boutique. Shelving and bricks or whatever you like will work. Don’t forget a chair! I take two so that when I have family or friends visit they can sit down. I use the typical folding style chair because they fold almost flat. Remember: you will be lugging everything in and out of your car. More on packing at the end. 

 

Exhibits usually have canopies even for indoor events. The Hall of Flowers at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds is huge and canopies and umbrellas make the exhibits seem more like small shops (it’s all about the comfort of the customer). They are usually white and sometimes organizers accept only white canopies. I haven’t done any with that requirement and it’s a good thing because I have a huge black pendulum style umbrella! It’s beautiful and does not have a center pole and I can manage it by myself. It also folds into a slim “pencil” and slips right in the back of my little car. Most canopies require two people, even the ones that say “so easy you can open it by yourself.” That person would be a linebacker for the 49ers with the arms of Plastic Man. If you don’t remember Plastic Man here’s a link to his photo: www.superherotimes.com/news/images/JLA.Ross.pm.af.all-01.jpg

 

Next, if you do indoor events, you will need lighting. I have six clip-on high intensity lights with a power surger and a long heavy-duty extension cord (packed snuggly in a nice plastic box with a lid). Most indoor events will accommodate your request for lighting if you give them advance notice.

 

Depending on your items you need a few “decorative” display pieces. I have two chrome and black velvet mannequins I use to display shrugs and scarves. I have a few props I take: a baby wearing one of my baby buntings, a Styrofoam “head” to display hats, several baskets, greeting card racks (professional) and at Christmas I brought in a few Christmas decorations. Keep the exhibit neat and tidy at all times. Customers browse and sometimes leave things in disarray.

 

You will also need bags or boxes for your customers to carry off your items. I purchase a variety of bags inexpensively online in bulk. Also consider making or ordering business cards with your contact information. These can also be used for inventory tags. I have a refund policy and an exchange policy. If someone purchases a gift they are uncertain about for a friend, they like knowing they can exchange or return it. Tag each of your items with a price tag and make a pretty “created by Miss Mary” tag with your contact info or attach your business card. All of these items are everywhere at the major stores (even the giant discount stores).

 

You will need some sort of safe storage for your cash/credit card receipts. You must always start your event with a few bills for change and you will receive cash throughout the day. If you use a cash box or something similar you have to watch it like a hawk. You will be distracted frequently and will not be carrying your cash box with you so an apron is handy. (Thievery will be discussed in the next lesson.)

 

Do you want to deal with coins and odd amounts? Not me. My items are dollar values only. I use a black vendor style apron with two pockets. [My umbrella is black, my tablecloths are black, my apron is black, I wear a black hat, my clip-on lights are black, and even my car is black. When I exhibit at an event where I can park my car next to my exhibit it all looks quite cohesive.]  All my cash and credit card receipts go in one pocket and my cell phone, driver’s license, medical card, etc., in the other. I never take a purse. Sometimes you can park your car next to your exhibit but often you are quite a distance away. Keep nothing of value in the car.

 

Speaking of the car, I had a four-door Honda but traded with my daughter for her little Pontiac Vibe mini SUV. It is NOT by any stretch an SUV but it folds down completely flat in the back and half of the front and has storage on the roof (which I haven’t had to use).

 

Whatever car you use, plastic storage containers are the way to go. Cardboard boxes break down with use (I had an unpleasant collapse and some of my items blew away never to be seen again). Cardboard doesn’t handle moisture well and eventually stops stacking properly, and then you end up with a mess. My entire display is now in plastic boxes, many with lids. Everything is clean and easy to stack. Experiment with this suggestion because each car is so different. I’ve seen them all at the events. What I would love to have is a giant van! (That will require a LOT of knitting.)

 

Prepare a checklist of things you’ll need to take to each event. I would be happy to send you a copy of my checklist. I have several copies and each time I pack the car I grab a copy and load the car with the list in hand. You’d be amazed at the things you need when you’re stuck somewhere all day! (Like a hammer, Imodium, scissors, bandages, nail file, something to read, etc. My list is funny but a lifesaver!) I also leave my car semi-packed when I’m doing back-to-back events. I usually bring my craft items in the house to re-inventory and re-pack for the next event, but I try to leave as much of the heavy items as I can in the car. This might not work well if you have a family.  My dog has gotten used to sitting on my folding tables. The hardest part of all of this for me has been loading and unloading then loading and unloading for each event. I love the three- or four-day indoor events. You can leave it all at the event and the events I’ve participated in of that nature have been secure.

 

As you attend events you will find other wonderful ways to display your items. Craft and art exhibitors are a sharing bunch of people. They want you to succeed because if booths are filled with happy customers everyone wins. If you find something wonderful for your display, share it with your neighbors.

 

The next lesson will cover how to actually sell your items: demeanor, bantering with the customers, incentives (buy one, get one half off, putting a few items from last year “on sale,” signs), protection (yep), etc.

 

By the way, at this point you have figured out that it’s costing quite a bit to launch your little business; right? Right! Initially, you can manage with cardboard boxes, you can put off buying lighting until you have an indoor event and even then you can put it off, etc. However, the more attractive your display the more likely you will attract customers. Inventory, display items, and event fees add up. If you launch properly, you will get sales. If this isn’t the time to launch, start a savings and try in a few months or a year. 

www.sharonstrawhandgarner.com 

[No part of this content may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.]

How To Start A Craft Business Lesson 3

Now it’s time to select two or three “starter” events. Sounds like I’m putting the cart before the horse again, booking an event before you’ve prepared a display, but events usually require booking in advance and some organizers only select vendors four times a year. My first event was inadequate and didn’t give me a “feel” for what was to come.  Booking a “good” event will launch you properly and will be quite the learning experience. I will explain displays in Lesson 4.

 

Most events charge a fee. There are a few free events but they are often community service events and people are visiting for service information and consultation and are not interested in shopping. Though those events can be fun, I’m not in it for fun. Getting up at the crack of dawn, loading the caR, driving to the event, unloading the car, sitting all day in whatever weather comes your way, without sales, Loading the car at the end of the day, driving home with empty pockets, and--unloading the car--is not my idea of fun—unless I had a profitable day. And you don’t learn anything at a free event (except that you’ll never do free events again).

 

Some events charge a processing fee for the year but also charge a per-event fee.  The larger the event, the more customers, the higher the fees. Some events require that you submit a hefty application packet with photos and application fees and processing fees and diagrams and proof of insurance and your driver’s license and seller’s permit, etc. (and they may not select you;  these are called juried events). Some require liability insurance, but some provide the insurance, which you purchase from them for their event only. This year I’m purchasing liability insurance and my insurance carrier estimates it’s about $350 for the year.

 

*****BEWARE*****  Events come in all shapes and sizes. Some are small and well run and others are large and horrible. By visiting events you can tell which ones you would like to try. With the amount of work I put into developing my items and the amount of time AND MONEY I’ve put into an attractive exhibit, I am now extremely picky about selecting events. Last year I participated in 17 events (some multi-day) and I hope to double that this year. Of the 17 events there were several I will not do ever again. (Don’t ask, I won’t tell.) It isn’t the sales, good or bad, it’s the organization and appearance of the event that is important.  I tried one flea market that was beautifully organized, clean, friendly, and there were many customers. I sold one item. It was not the flea market’s fault. It was mine. My items and display are not suited for a flea market.  What I’ve learned most of all is: know where you belong. (Sort of sounds like a life lesson too I suppose.)

 

I currently check online for events, receive emails from other exhibitors I’ve met, and I joined an event website for an annual fee. This website lists hundreds (maybe thousands) of events. Each listing is masterfully detailed. (Festival Network Online also known as FNO.) There are many others and you probably know what’s going on in your own community so start with those events.  Here are some useful tips:

*The longer an event has been running, the better organized and it usually has a faithful customer base (but not always).

 

*Location, location, location. If the lovely event is in Outer Mongolia but looks great, skip it. Many customers are not willing to drive to Outer Mongolia.  Communities with a decent sized population have customers who are willing to drive around all day hitting the local farmers markets and craft fairs and festivals.  Communities that cater to tourists are great. If the event in Outer Mongolia has a large tourist business, that would be an exception to my no Outer Mongolia events (but not always).

 

Speaking of festivals, be careful. Many organizers call their events “festivals” but they are not. If you are invited to participate in a “festival” and you are restricted to one table, run. Unless I can bring my entire display I no longer will exhibit at events that restrict what I can bring. It’s too much work, I’ve put too much money into my little business, and like I said before, I’m not in it for fun (always).

 

Some farmers markets accept craft exhibits. The customers for those events are up and out the door early purchasing produce and love to be outdoors and stroll and enjoy looking at all the crafts.  Farmers are great to work with and you’ll be able to purchase a nice bag of fresh produce for your family at the end of the day.  These markets are my favorite places to work (always).

 

Holiday events are tremendous. Everyone wants unique gifts for family and friends. These events are great for selling your higher end crafts. It’s March and I’ve already started preparing for Christmas. These events are fun as well as profitable. Everyone is in good spirits (but not always).  

 

Take some time to research events and visit as many as you can find. Once you have lined up a few events you’d like to try, you now need a display. (See you next Sunday!) 

www.sharonstrawhandgarner.com

[No part of this content may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.]