1. The Publishing Wheel:A Career Development Tool for WritersMelissa A. Rosati, CPCCMelissas Coaching Studio, LLC917-628-4547melissarosati@me.comOctober 2011

2. Chariot Wheel in the ancient Sun Temple at Konark, Orissa, IndiaHere the language of stone surpasses the language of man.--Rabindranath Tagore, Poet 3. IntroductionWriting is an awe-inspiring act of courage. I open this presentation with the Chariot Wheel from Indias prized SunTemple because it speaks to every writers journey. Just as the sun god Surya wanted to be visible to people and afriend to all, every writer wants to share a connection with readers. Whether the medium for this connection is theprinted page or mobile device, writers must have the time, skill, and resources to create their works. The wheel oftime waits for no one. Thats why I chose the wheel as a metaphor to help you manage your publishing career.The eight spokes in the ancient chariot wheel serve as sundials. The shadows cast the exact time of day. The eightspokes in the Publishing Wheel represent the core elements of a successful career path. The Publishing Wheel isa self-discovery tool that will help you clarify your goals, identify your strengths, and point to areas that need furtherdevelopment.Heres how to get started.On the next page, I provide you with a before and after Publishing Wheel. Notice the blank wheel is divided intoeight sections. Each section is labeled by a core element for success. The circles dividing lines have nine hashmarks.The center point in the circle represents zero (0). The rim of the wheel represents ten (10). For each section, giveyourself a score between 0 and 10 by placing a dot () on the corresponding hash mark. When you are nished, usea line to connect your dots around the wheel (see example).To guide your thinking about each section score, I provide you with questions and statements. These are guidelines,not hard and fast rules. The objective is to get a total picture of where you feel you are. Theres no A wheel. It iswhat you make it. Use this exercise whenever you want a snapshot of your progress. 4. The Eight Core Elementsof the Publishing Wheel Publication credits Finished proposal or manuscript Publishing network Personal support network Income to support selfTo help you with eachelement, I provide Enjoyment of the process questions and/orstatements on the slides that follow the Role models and benchmarkswheel example. Budget of time and effortLets Go! 5. Publishing Publishing CreditsCredits Role Models/Role Models/Finished ProposalBenchmarks Finished ProposalBenchmarksor Manuscript or ManuscriptBudgetof Time Publishing Budget Publishing& EffortNetworkof TimeNetwork & Effort Enjoyment Personal PersonalEnjoymentof the Process SupportSupportof the Process NetworkNetworkIncome IncomeTo Support To SupportSelf Self Blank Publishing Wheel Completed Publishing Wheel In this example, the completed wheel represents the writers self-assessment of her publishing goals. If this were a real wheel, how bumpy would the ride be? 6. Name:Email: PublishingCredits Role Models/ BenchmarksFinished Proposal or ManuscriptBudget of Time & Effort PublishingNetwork Enjoyment of the ProcessPersonal SupportNetworkIncome to Support Self 7. Now, Its Your TurnOn the next slide, youll nd ablank Publishing Wheel.On the slides following the wheel,youll nd statements and/orquestions to help you assessyour score for each element. 8. Checklist for Publication Credits You have a dened process for sending work out on a regular basis. You publish entries on your blog several times each week. You contribute articles to blogs owned by other people. Within the last three years, have you published short stories in literaryjournals? If you are a nonction writer, do you publish articles on a regularbasis?On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is _______. Now, mark this score on your wheel. 9. Checklist for a Finished Proposal or Manuscript Did you participate in a solid critique group? What was your process for incorporating the feedback? Did you establish criteria for a marketing panel of reviewers for theirsuggestions? Did a professional copyeditor, one with experience and references from acommercial publisher, edit your work?On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is _________. Now, mark this score on your wheel. 10. Checklist for Your Publishing Network What writer conferences do you attend? How do you follow-up with key contacts? Is your prole in professional networking sites such as LinkedIn and MediaBistro current? Is it 100% complete? What publishing blogs do your read on a regular basis? Do you comment onthem? You have a list of the key contacts you know within the publishing industry.You also have a list of contacts you know with relationships to professionalsin the publishing industry.On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is ________. Now, mark this score on your wheel. 11. Checklist for Your Personal Network You can easily name several people who support you without judgment. Who is genuinely happy for your successes? When you encounter obstacles, you have a list of people who will help youbrainstorm alternatives. Do you participate in hobbies/interests outside of writing? Do you enjoy some quiet time each week to recharge?On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is ________. Now, mark this score on your wheel. 12. Checklist for Income to Support Self Do you treat your writing as a business or a hobby? Do you establish an annual budget for how much money you are willing toinvest in your professional development? How many article pitches do you make per month? Do you take advantage of earning opportunities by writing for Internet sites?On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is ______. Now, mark this score on your wheel. 13. Checklist for Enjoyment of the Process You have an established writing practice and you stick to it. When you share your writing, you look forward to comments from others. You participate in open reading events. You seek out opportunities to learn new marketing skills to promote you andyour work. When necessary, you have a reliable person to delegate administrative tasks,freeing you to focus on your writing and/or marketing.On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is _______. Mark this score on your wheel. 14. Checklist for Budget of Time and Effort Your treat your writing time as a commitment that is as important as otherprimary responsibilities. You write without guilt. You never think about what else needs doing. You set completion dates for your projects and assess your progress on aregular basis. You have a budget for professional services to cover costs such as editing orresearch.On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is ____. Now, mark this score on your wheel. 15. Checklist for Role Models/Benchmarks You have a clear denition of your genre and a well-crafted persona of yourreaders. You know who the most popular writers are in your genre. You know who the most inuential writers are in your genre. Youve invested the time in researching the career paths of two of your authorrole models. You have a mentor to help you improve as a writer and as a business person.On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is _____. Now, mark this score on your wheel. 16. Congratulations!You Completed the Wheel! 17. Score Summary: How Smooth or Bumpy is Your Publishing Wheel?ElementScore Publishing CreditsFinished Proposal or MS Publishing NetworkPersonal Support Network Income to Support SelfEnjoyment of the ProcessBudget of Time/EffortRole Models/Benchmarks 18. How Smooth is Your Publishing Wheel? Journal your thoughts about this exercise. Identify your best scores and reect on how youve been successful withthose elements. What have you learned along the way? For elements where youve assessed a lower score, pick one that you wouldlike to change immediately and prioritize the others. For the element that youwant to change now, what needs to happen? Is it asking for help? Is it makinga schedule change? Identify what it is for you. Use this wheel as tool. In 60 days, take it again. See how your scores change.Use this self-knowledge to establish goals and to celebrate your successes. If you would like to discuss your scores in more detail, consider scheduling acoaching session with me. 19. About Melissa A. Rosati, CPCCMelissa A. Rosati, CPCC, is a certied professional co-active coach (CPCC). She is the CEO of Melissas CoachingStudio, LLC.Melissas clients are writers, artists, creative professionals, and social entrepreneurs. With a keen interest in creativity,collaboration, and innovation, Melissa develops coaching programs to help people move their lives in new directions.Her services include executive coaching, team coaching, and staff training for organizations.A former publishing executive, Melissa brings a solid background in marketing, publicity, and media relations to hercoaching and consulting clients. She knows how to put her ease and how to help them connect with their audience.Her professional background, with publishers such as McGraw-Hill International (UK), Routledge, andHarperCollins College, is in strategic planning, reorganization, partnerships, content acquisition, online productdevelopment, contract negotiation, staff training and development, and publishing in international markets. In additionto her business, she is an adjunct professor of publishing at Pace University, where she co-leads executive trainingprograms for publishers located throughout China.Melissa earned her coaching certication from The Coaches Training Institute, San Rafael, CA. She is a member ofthe Creativity Coaching Association and the International Coaching Federation. She also serves her communityas an Ambassador for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.She lives in New York City.P: 917-628-4547 E: melissarosati@me.com W: www.melissascoachingstudio.com T: @melissarosatiL: linkedin.com/in/melissarosati FB: facebook.com/melissarosati B: www.melissarosati.com Radio Show: CreativityMatters Now! Skype: melissascoachingstudio M: www.melissascoachingstudio.mobi