Alyson Mead

Becoming an Expert

One of the most profitable niches to exploit as a writer is as an expert. Whether you've created a fail-safe program to help people lose weight or invented a new device to stop smoking, branding yourself as the go-to expert on a particular subject matter... Read >

Building a Platform

If you write it, they will come, or so the prevailing wisdom used to go. If you had an idea for a great non-fiction book, you may have been able to get a decent deal from a publishing company who would pay you to write it. But the window on those types ... Read >

Representation: Pros and Cons

As an editor, I've heard it said so many times. "Can you help me get an agent?" my clients ask, breathlessly, as if an agent is the only thing standing between them and life itself. Agents are certainly very helpful, if you are trying to publish a ... Read >

Conflict Resolution for Writers

Sooner or later, if you work as a writer or editor, you are bound to come in contact with at least one Difficult Client. These are defined by the following behaviors: 1. Impatience & Irritation 2. Angry Emails 3. Yelling 4. I... Read >

Five-Year Plans for Creative Types

"I don't feel like it," you say, reaching for another cup of carefully brewed cappuccino. "Planning is for other people, and besides, it might ruin my street cred." Nothing ruins street cred among creative types like having to work a menial job into... Read >

When Do You Need an Editor?

According to many of my clients, writing is one of the hardest things in the world. They spend some time staring at a blank monitor and blinking cursor, they space out, they regain consciousness and curse to themselves, at how difficult it can be just to... Read >

Catch the Wave: Building Web Sites for Fun and Profit

It was Andy Warhol who said that, "In the future, everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes," spawning countless imitation quotes, and secret wishes that certain people's fifteen minutes would be shortened to, say, seven and a half. At last count, t... Read >

Memorial Day: Defending the American Dream

We have a habit as Americans to get so wrapped up in the time-off from work thanks to holidays that we lose sight of why a holiday was established in the first place. Case in point: Memorial Day. The point of Memorial Day is to remember the sacrifice b... Read >

When Thanks Just Doesn't Cut It: Showing Your Appreciation

"Thanks," we all say, when someone does something nice for us. But do we mean it? Sometimes, we rattle it off in a rushed way, which communicates anything but what we really want to convey. And normally, we wait until November to truly show our thanks. ... Read >

Because I Said So: An Ode to Mother's Day

Your Mom made you take out the trash. She made you sit up straight. She told you not to speak with your mouth full of mashed potatoes, and it's served you pretty well so far. You may have even used that mashed potatoes tip on your last blind date, am I... Read >

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah: The Art of Listening

One of the most underused skills we have as humans is the art of listening. We may think we listen, to music on the way to work, to our boss' droned speech about company morale, or to our significant others when they're telling us the details of their da... Read >

Treating Yourself as a Business

If you have a Virtual Assistant or other home-based business, chances are you work from home, and may not consider yourself as much more than a person working for him or herself. But if you are dedicated to the idea of building your customer base and mak... Read >

Budgeting and Contingency for Your Business

Small businesspeople have their perks. They can work at home, in pajamas if they want, and seldom have to take orders from anyone but themselves. But with the fun part of the job comes certain responsibilities, in the form of budgeting for your (hopeful... Read >

Getting the Word Out About Your Business

You have decided which services to offer, you have filed your sole proprietorship paperwork. You have gotten all the office equipment and software you will need to build a great business. But sometimes, if you build it, no one comes. It is not you, the... Read >

Establishing Healthy Boundaries

One of the biggest challenges for anyone working at home is establishing healthy boundaries. In general, boundaries exist to create space between two things, or to stop one thing in its tracks before it interferes with something else. You are gonna need... Read >