What I Learned about Writing from a Writers Workshop
What I Learned about Writing from a Writers Workshop
An old saying is that “successful writers write,” which is easier said than done, once you get past the initial inspiration. The rest of the process is not as much fun.

It’s a lifestyle

Attending this workshop, I learned that successful writers have built a discipline for their writing. Here is what they do:

  • They carve out and commit to a regular space and time on their calendars
  • They define the process that works for them
  • They build goals and accountability into their process
  • They experiment to find the right process, space and time for themselves. It is not “one and done” but a continuous improvement cycle.

Realizing this is somewhat of a bummer! I just wanted inspiration to carry me forward as I put pearls of wisdom on a page. The reality is that inspiration comes and goes, and discipline is what gets the job done.   As a result, I need to approach this more like a part-time job than a hobby as I move into this next phase of my career.

It’s more than just writing

Successful writers have mastered the trifecta – writing the book, publishing the book, and promoting the book.   As hard as it is, writing the book is only part 1.   Deciding how to publish it, and then working with the publisher to make that happen, is part 2.   (It took me 6 months from having a draft of my book to getting it out with a publisher last year, which is quick according to a few authors.)

Part 3 is the hardest – promoting the book. For those of us who don’t like to participate in the social media world, this is tough, because that’s one big way in which books are sold. And making your book stand out against the thousands of others that hit the market at the same time seems to be a nearly impossible task.

When I think about what I learned about marketing with IBM, it is that building relationships and helping people solve problems is really the key to success. Sometimes this means selling your product, sometimes it means recommending something else. Always it means becoming a trusted resource for people, who can count on you to understand what they want to do and help them do it.

As a result, I’ve decided to let those principles guide me in the decisions I make about social media. I want the content to matter, and I don’t want to add to the glut of pap that is currently out there. In fact, I have a running argument with my publisher about what I should be tweeting — I have agreed to help them sell the books in their portfolio, however, there are some that I would not read and so don’t want to promote! We’ve not figured this out yet but are working on it.

Stay tuned for other “lessons learned” as I continue this new aspect of my career journey!

Cathy Perme is the co-owner of Perme & Peterson Associates, LLC.

Fizz by Cathy Perme

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Fizz! How to Succeed as an Independent Consultant author Cathy Perme also wrote Confucius in My Cubicle: Practical Wisdom for the Leader in All of Us, released by Wisdom Editions in 2017.

rich set of suggestions
Cathy's marketing and selling background makes for a rich set of suggestions for getting business and building one’s brand. I think it is rare...
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Barbara A Tuckner
Cathy's marketing and selling background makes for a rich set of suggestions for getting business and building one’s brand. I think it is rare for an independent consultant to "give away" so much of their business engine and expertise. That adds up to a heap of generosity; something that is remarkable in the "friendly" competitive consulting world.
rich set of suggestions
Barbara A Tuckner
down to earth and practical
Down-to-earth, practical, and provides plenty of tools to use to develop your independent consulting business. Cathy takes a constructive look at how to succeed by ...
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Meghan Jost
Down-to-earth, practical, and provides plenty of tools to use to develop your independent consulting business. Cathy takes a constructive look at how to succeed by intelligently marketing yourself, engaging others, and keeping it all in balance with your personal life.
down to earth and practical
Meghan Jost
dozens of ideas
Cathy gives dozens of ideas about networking effectively, making sales calls and using social media and she doesn’t minimize the effort that has to...
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NES
Cathy gives dozens of ideas about networking effectively, making sales calls and using social media and she doesn’t minimize the effort that has to go into it. It’s a reality check for anyone who thinks they can just hang up their shingle and become a consultant, but a great guide for anyone who’s willing to put in the hard work to be a success.
dozens of ideas
NES
from a to z
Cathy will take you from point A to Z on how to successfully become an independent consultant.
Charles Bever
Cathy will take you from point A to Z on how to successfully become an independent consultant.
from a to z
Charles Bever
methodical steps
For those that take the leap, Cathy's methodical steps will surely be helpful in achieving success.
Kevin Walsh
For those that take the leap, Cathy's methodical steps will surely be helpful in achieving success.
methodical steps
Kevin Walsh
recommend to anyone
I recommend to anyone starting a business.
Patricia Jayne Keefer
I recommend to anyone starting a business.
recommend to anyone
Patricia Jayne Keefer
years of lessons
Cathy shares years of lessons and a broad breadth of practical consulting and business experience in a very clear and engaging guide for starting and ...
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Ted Clark
Cathy shares years of lessons and a broad breadth of practical consulting and business experience in a very clear and engaging guide for starting and developing a successful consulting company. Highly recommended.
years of lessons
Ted Clark
I appreciate Cathy sharing
I appreciate Cathy sharing what she’s learned over the past 30 years about how to succeed as an independent consultant. Her advice is straight...
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Amy Brown
I appreciate Cathy sharing what she’s learned over the past 30 years about how to succeed as an independent consultant. Her advice is straight forward, thoughtful, organized, and easy to follow.
I appreciate Cathy sharing
Amy Brown
Learning Experience Face
This has been a truly learning experience and has helped me grow both personally and professionally.
Anonymous
This has been a truly learning experience and has helped me grow both personally and professionally.
Learning Experience Face
Anonymous
drove to closure horse
Took a very complicated and dynamic set of realities and personalities, surfaced underlying issues, facilitated a robust and healthy interaction, and drove the process to ...
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Anonymous
Took a very complicated and dynamic set of realities and personalities, surfaced underlying issues, facilitated a robust and healthy interaction, and drove the process to closure and action.
drove to closure horse
Anonymous

Cathy Perme