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This last version sounds great, @tanja-osswald! It is very enticing. It's something I would enjoy being a part of.

I recently received the last pattern in Helen Stewart/Curious Handmade's The Shawl Society which is a six month mystery shawl club. I didn't get them all started or completed during the additional KAL but eventually I'll get to…[Read more]

> Do you have an idea what help you’d get exactly with marketing?

I think mostly I'd like to have someone find bloggers and podcasters who would be interested in reviewing my book. I tried to do that on my own last time and just couldn't get it done. (Partly I think it was my hesitancy in approaching other people but also just a lack of time i…[Read more]

Going well:
My Sample Sale is tomorrow, and I have the spreadsheet of items nearly ready to upload to my store.

Working on:
Finishing up said spreadsheet, filling a couple wholesale orders to get them out the door before things (hopefully) get hectic with orders from the sample sale, and planning how I'll manage to fill those orders on Friday -…[Read more]

Thank you, Jill, Dana, and Karen!

@dana-gervais, can you share what work you do with a pattern release?

@karen-robinson, that is so helpful! I have several tech editors but I'm switching between them depending on their schedules. Do you have an idea what help you'd get exactly with marketing? I think my problem is that I'm not quite sure about…[Read more]

So, what about that? I like your idea about the CAL, too, but I won't put that into the first announcement. It is getting rather long as it is…

2017 is My Year of Mitts! #myyearofmitts

Do you love fingerless gloves, and love making all kinds of patterns like cables, lace, and crocheting with beads? If so, join my new Year of Mitts Membership,…[Read more]

> What steps in the process from design idea to published pattern have you ever outsourced? Were you happy with the experience?

From day one, I had a tech editor. I did everything else myself. But I grew frustrated at some parts of the process that I just didn't quite have enough time to build the needed skills for, so I outsourced those as well:…[Read more]

My goal is to outsource:
*pattern releases (my pattern release process is extensive, so this is a big one for me)
*pattern layout
*opening tests
*moderating tests
*moderating my Ravelry Group.

Basically, I need to design, write and photograph the patterns; the rest can be outsourced

@tanja-osswald I agree with Jess that much can be outsourced, so it is is often a matter of what you can afford. I'll be thinking about this today and maybe have more for you.

Penny *hug*

Going well: I had a pretty good one-day fiber festival this past weekend.

Working on: Trying to find focus.

Help needed: Positive thoughts. I'm absolutely heartbroken (and frankly a bit terrified) for my country right now, but I'm also heartbroken because we had to put our 16-year-old cat, Merlin, to sleep on Monday. I would…[Read more]

{{hugs}} for all. that's all I have for today. ♥

I'm trying to meet a few (tech) client deadlines (biggest one is Friday) and I'm thankful this morning that they're there and providing some sort of focus and direction for today.

English is a lovely language, indeed!

Haha @tanja-osswald you're so right! I didn't think of that!

“Copy” also just refers to any piece of writing – like in newspaper terminology, the article you write is your “copy.” From the dictionary –

– written matter intended to be reproduced in printed form:
ex> The editor sent the copy for the next issue to the printer.
– the text of a news…[Read more]

Thank you, @jess-cook, those are helpful explanations!

“Copywriting is just what it sounds like” had me giggle, though. To me, it sound like you copy stuff from other people and write that. I know it is not what the word means but I think it is a very strange word.

Oh yes, even if you don't use Twitter yourself you can find a hashtag! Just make sure you at least visit Twitter in order to search the tag first, because you don't want one that's already in use by someone else.

Hashtags can also be used on Instagram and Facebook!

Hi @tanja-osswald!

You can pay someone to do your marketing in a variety of ways:
– Writing blog posts and email newsletters to feature your patterns to your readers
– Writing/posting on social media on your behalf
– Helping to run your Ravelry group
– Finding ways to market your patterns to other peoples' audiences (like getting your work in…[Read more]

Thanks, @jess-cook!
I can add photography to that list.

How do you outsource marketing?
And, I know I asked this before but the concept still evades me (it is a language issue, I think): What is copywriting?

I'm not a serious pattern designer but I can tell you there are definitely parts you can outsource:

– Pattern layout/design
– Tech editing
– Proofreading
– Marketing
– Copywriting

Hope that helps!!

Thanks a ton, Jess! I love your ideas!
As to your question: The individual patterns sum up to 48 Euro, so it is a 50% discount to buy them in advance. An important information to mention, thanks!
And I won't have the whole set available forever but I'm not sure whether to announce that right now. Maybe in November next year, or so, two or three…[Read more]

Thanks a ton, Jess! I love your ideas!
As to your question: The individual patterns sum up to 48 Euro, so it is a 50% discount to buy them in advance. An important information to mention, thanks!
And I won't have the whole set available forever but I'm not sure whether to announce that right now. Maybe in November next year, or so, two or three…[Read more]

Thanks a ton, Jess! I love your ideas!
As to your question: The individual patterns sum up to 48 Euro, so it is a 50% discount to buy them in advance. An important information to mention, thanks!
And I won't have the whole set available forever but I'm not sure whether to announce that right now. Maybe in November next year, or so, two or three…[Read more]