I'll find out if this is a success or not in a day or two...

[BarbaraSher]

but I *think* it will be good and anyway, I can't figure out where else to post this. Just started something I've never done before. Been working all day and am totally whacked. Y You can see it and tell me how you like it if you take a fancy. I'd be most appreciative. http://lifeofawriterspeaker.blogspot.com/

[Tituba]

Reminded me of the movie "Field of Dreams" - build it and they will come. Good blog post. Please make sure to post on the general board the NY details so those who can't afford a trip to France can participate. Any chance you'll have more domestic workshops?

[Scenario Thinker]

I think I found the inn in France. I kind of have a phobia about room mates, though (unless it's a girlfriend ). Barbara, is the interview process to see if the person has the talent you have? I would think it would be hard to teach what you do if they already don't have the gift. You could still teach the processes, tricks, tips, etc., though.

[BarbaraSher]

I don't think many people will want to share, so there are a couple of nearby inns for 'spillover.'

[paralegalgirl]

Hi Ms. Sher and everyone: I just read part of it and thought of something relevant. I hope I don't silly because Ms. Sher is a huge success because she has taken the time to "market" her work and I don't have much relevance because I haven't taken the time to market much of anything. With that said lately I've been doing a lot of knitting. Since May I've knit five baby sweaters, at least nine hats and recently fingerless mittens and today I'm starting on a hat. Also, since February or March I've beaded many braceletts, earrings and at least one necklace. Lately I had an overflow of hats and someone said to me that I should knit for the "gap" group. When I said I had enough people to give my hats to then she said I should sell my hats to her friends. Also a young woman was telling me I should sell my mitts at her store. Then the owner of the coffee shop said I should be making money from my knitting. They don't seem to understand that I could never make enough money to cover the things I make or the time I spend. I would have to sell the products for hundreds of dollars. One pair of mittens alone took two weeks to knit. Already this week I've spent $50 on knitting. With that said I gave the manager of Starbucks where I hang out a set of earrings, and they looked fabulous on her, really fabulous, and I was beading at an Einstein bagel store out in Brookfield (=exclusive suburb of Waukesha which is a big county outside of Milwaukee County) and an organizer of the Bead and Button Show introduced me to the owner of Ecclectica (=big bead store near the Einstein) who then came to talk to me the other day at her store and had someone show me the book she authored on wire wrapping. Also, I gave a hat to a really, really pretty redhead and now when I see her she always says hello. I too am getting old and I think it's neat for lack of a better word that I'm doing something cool that young people like and not just hanging out and being a nuisance. Now, with that said I can do all this stuff because lately I came up with a way to have the money to do it. Also, knitting and beading isn't the same as writing which can go unnoticed if you're not marketing yourself. You do have a product to show off and it's pretty and concrete. I wonder if you need something artsy to do that gets immediate attention. When I wasn't getting any attention from writing I tried photography. Photography has a lot of immediate benefits. "Old" people seem to love photography because they can email their pictures, and it's gotten easier and easier to make books. Personally I think too ofen now people are intrusive with their photography. It's a nuisance to have your relatives constantly taking your picture and the pictures show up where you can't get rid of them, but you might want to try some photography. Beading is expensive but wonderful. It doesn't take long to produce beautiful work you can give as gifts. Anyway that's my two cents, and I'll read some more in due time. PLG

[BarbaraSher]

What a wonderful story and way to live your life. I'm very impressed and moved. I've been pretty popular for awhile now and happily it's mostly because people like my books and hand them around. But every time a new world of people discovers my work, it's helpful. To find these new people, I've always known you have to market. Thing is, I've done my marketing (I hope). For over 40 years I always did whatever I could to get noticed. After that, I figured my work would sell itself -- or not. Now I'm well-known enough that I think I can stop marketing and just tell people what I'm planning to do. At least it's working so far. I used to watch documentaries on TV with Pablo Casals, the cellist, give 'master classes,' after he had partly retired. I loved seeing him pass on what he knew to younger cellists. I'm pretty sure he didn't advertise or try to pitch these classes. But even he had to do some marketing until most cellists knew who he was and wanted to learn from him without marketing. So that's where I am, and the classes are filling up faster than I expected. One of those 'build it and they will come' notions that I always laughed at. Maybe it's time for me to quit making fun and ride this next stage with some confidence.

[paralegalgirl]

I'm happy that you liked the story and are impressed. It's a lot of work to do all this handiwork. I hope you can fill your workshops without having to work too hard at it. PLG