One day in the mid-1970's a young man stumbled into adiner somewhere in the United Sates.
Slung over his shoulder was a kit-bag that containedeverything he owned. He was unshaven and needed ashower badly. He had very little money, but enough fora phone call.
He rang his bank and asked how much was in hisaccount. A woman's voice informed him - to hisamazement - that the balance in his account was fourmillion, three hundred thousand dollars.
His name was Richard Bach. Six months before, he hadsubmitted a short story, barely 10,000 words long, toa New York publisher.
For the last three months he had been living the lifeof a nomadic 'barnstormer', taking people on joy ridesfor $5 a flight and sleeping in fields under the wing ofhis bi-plane.
Hardly able to believe what he had just heard, he rangthe New York publisher to whom he had sent themanuscript.
"Where on earth are you?" asked a woman's voice."We've been looking for you for three months! Radioand TV want interviews with you, a publisher in Spainwants to buy the Spanish rights to your book..."
He had been completely unaware that his shortmanuscript, titled 'Jonathon Livingstone Seagull',had become a runaway best-seller.
Unfortunately, this success story had a sad sequel.Like many people who suddenly become wealthy, RichardBach knew very little about managing money. Heentrusted his new-found fortune to a financial advisorwho led him astray, to the tune of millions ofdollars.
Within a few years he was broke, and With the IRShounding him for unpaid taxes he was forced to declarehimself bankrupt. He signed away all future earningsfrom 'Jonathon Livingstone Seagull' to thegovernment, as well as the rights to any future books he might write, and began the arduous task ofrebuilding his life.
But there was a happy ending: he sacked his financialadvisor and wrote a string of new books that were alsobest-sellers: within a few years he was solventagain and able to buy back the rights to all hisbooks.
------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Southon has been writing for the Internet for over 3
years. He has shown hundreds of webmasters how to use this
simple technique to build a successful online business. Click
here to find out more: http://ezine-writer.com/
------------------------------------------------------------
A friend and I were talking the other day about... Read More
Great writing transports one vicariously to realms that the reader... Read More
The Internet has truly revolutionized the careers of writers worldwide.... Read More
The short-short story has been likened by some as being... Read More
So you've decided to crown yourself with a title that... Read More
If you are an aspiring writer, or you simply want... Read More
DEFINITIONSRetail margin is basically the difference between your book's wholesale... Read More
If you want to be a writer, you must write... Read More
Typically when falling asleep in bed at night great thoughts... Read More
I recently set up a website to promote a new... Read More
Not long ago, I took stock of my unrealized desire... Read More
Everyone has a book inside them, or so the saying... Read More
List-making is a favorite journaling technique and is often used... Read More
Choosing the wrong words can have a poor effect on... Read More
Hands up all those who'd like to have a successful... Read More
Often, time is an enemy of writers. Sales seem slow... Read More
We writers are a powerful lot. We control time. We... Read More
Writing engaging articles and energizing ad copy takes... Read More
I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of... Read More
There's a little known secret we writers like to keep... Read More
You may not remember this, but in the early days... Read More
IntroductionSometimes it may be beyond a companies or individuals budget... Read More
Writing better is critical for students. But it's even more... Read More
One of the most common weaknesses I see in day-to-day... Read More
I'm willing to bet that quite a number of you... Read More
Granger Lincoln Stretch limo rentals ..Short Story Writing Tips ?We all have different tastes in... Read More
As an editorial professional, I'm sure you're aware of the... Read More
Today it begins.I have always known I was a freelancer.... Read More
Whether you're interviewing for a new job, trying to woo... Read More
1. SECRETS TO SUCCESS2. MAKING A POWERFUL FIRST IMPRESSION3. AVOID... Read More
Suspense novels, unlike any other genre, need fast starts. Fans... Read More
Word processors are so widely used now that I tend... Read More
I've just come back to work after nine glorious, sun-drenched... Read More
The self-indulgent writer listens only to the mumblings of sycophants,... Read More
With the expansion and diversion of businesses, manufacturers, and even... Read More
I asked several writers how long it took them to... Read More
Freewriting is a release from the prison of rules. It... Read More
What a wonderful resource the Internet is!Students find information to... Read More
I've noticed a big shift away from traditional horror recently,... Read More
Did you know that your back cover information is, after... Read More
To write books for readers at an elementary reading level... Read More
Do you have a problem creating a focus in your... Read More
In the business of freelance writing, it's not enough to... Read More
If you are a serious writer who wants to publish... Read More
In the ten years that I've taught people how to... Read More
Screenwriting is a competitive trade. To distinguish yourself as a... Read More
What to do when you get rejected.You've just finished your... Read More
Before I became a teacher, I was a sports writer.... Read More
I do on occasion run out of ideas for my... Read More
Having problems writing? I don't know why. San Francisco Chronicle... Read More
Writing |