Friday 17 August 2012

Taking baby steps

I chickened out. Actually I'm thinking it's a smarter way to go, rather than going straight to the big guys that I had mentioned in my last post, I think I'll start small.

Someone posted on BC Artisans page on Facebook that there is a store in Vancouver that carries local artisans' products, so that's where I'm starting. By starting with the smaller companies I can try and hone my writing skills as well as my actual crafts.

My big problem right now with my soaps is wrapping it well to keep it from getting glycerin dew. I guess I'll just have to keep re-watching the Soap Queen tv video on how to wrap.

My "dove" soap

9 comments:

  1. Sounds like a good plan! Good luck!

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    1. Thanks Michelle! It's probably a better route for me for now unless I hire some marketing whiz but who can afford Coke or Nike's marketing team? ;)

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  2. I think you just need to use regular plastic wrap and a heat gun to wrap it well...just be extremely careful since you don't want to melt the soap. So, yeah, go watch A-M's video.

    As for starting small, I think I may have thought that way once upon a time, but as my first foray into publication showed me, it doesn't hurt to start big at all. The tiny, hardly-paying market rejected my story (and has since folded, in fact), whereas the editor from Cricket Magazine Group personally called me to tell me she wanted the story. PLUS, they pay 25cents per word, still one of the best payment around in the magazine world. I know that a lot of first time writers try to go for nonpaying markets to get bylines and work their courage up to approach the big guys, but my strategy is to start at the top and work down. You've got nothing to lose but a heckuva lot to gain!

    Certainly do whatever makes you the most comfortable, but don't be afraid to dream big!

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  3. I've been careful but obviously not meticulous enough with wrapping. Maybe I need a dehumidifier for the basement to keep the moisture level to a minimum.

    You certainly have a good argument there and yes, I need to take the plunge and hit both the large and small markets. But again, you had a great story and the fact the tiny market is no longer around just shows they didn't have very good taste.

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  4. I love your dove soap! It's beautiful!! And I love T's story about going big and working her way down. Why for you wanna hone your writing skills when you have a writer in the family??? lol

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    1. Thanks Grace. It took a bit of time and a lot of cursing but I do like the way it turned out. I know it's good to know that you can go for the gusto and succeed.

      I can't afford Teresa's cost to write for me, that's why. :)

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  5. And Monica, it's not that I'd charge you, but I don't write good enough copy to help you! :}

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    1. I'm sure you would do an incredible job of it but you also have your own writing to do.

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