Art by Alexandra Douglass

Full disclosure: I am not a businessman.

I’m not much of a salesman, either. Even selling myself has been a struggle in the past. But considering the direction in which I’m moving, I really need to work on those skills. Because I need to work harder on transitioning Blue Ink Alchemy away from a tiny little niche blog and label towards an actual brand and platform.

For years I’ve been using this blog mostly to promote what writing I’ve managed to do between shifts at the dayjob and trying to refine my critical skills. It was more my lack of self-promotional skills that lead to the continuing hiatus of IT CAME FROM NETFLIX! which people did seem to enjoy. As much as I would like to get back to it, there’s a problem with continuing a focus on that sort of work in this space.

I don’t think I’m going to stop doing reviews when I see, read, or play something relevant, because there’s nothing wrong with having a good library of examples to put in front of potential employers. I definitely feel in the midst of a career change, what with the job search and all. As much as I’m trying to nail down income as immediately as possible, a part-time job would be better suited to my long-term goals. I’ve spent more than enough time getting in my own way when it comes to bridging the gap between where I am and where I want to be.

I haven’t actually hammered out a business plan yet, but I do have a to-do list. On that list, including clearing some black marks from my credit, is a redesign for this very site. I want to put the blog (what you’re reading now) behind a front page that talks about my successful writing, lists my available services as a freelancer and copyeditor (I will read and red-pen anything!), and features a self-run online store. Even if I’m not processing the payments myself, and just referring people to Amazon or another outlet, I want to make sure the thing I do get the proper promotion. And nobody’s going to do that but me.

So watch this space! It’s going to change. Hopefully, for the better.