“A pivot is a change in strategy without a change in vision.” ~ Eric Ries

30 Years, 3 Pivots... Values and Commitment Unchanged!

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Hello there!

Your Literary Prose, Colleen and Peter, is back!

We never actually left, but our online presence was almost nonexistent. Our website was no longer user-friendly and needed restructuring and rewriting, which took WAY, WAY longer than planned. As entrepreneurs, we know when it's time to make a change, make it quick, or technology will make it for you.

"A stumbling block can be a stepping stone, depending on how you use it." ~Ian Stewart, President of the Done + Dusted Group

Through these last 30-plus years, we've turned several stumbling blocks into stepping stones! My entrepreneurial journey began in 1996; home-based businesses were really ramping up at the time.

My background and knowledge of word processing (yes, after the typewriters, but before the sophisticated computers with memory), as well as other office skills, a background in chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology, and pharmacy, gave me the tools to go for it. I started my medical transcription company, and I loved it. That business lasted 18 years. As technology advanced and outsourcing became more common, I knew it was time to pivot or close shop.

My background as an office administrative assistant helped me pivot to virtual administrative assistance: transcription for corporations, focus groups. You could say I was a "girl Friday." Give me a task, and I'd make sure it was completed - fast, but accurate. I knew networking with professionals in the industry was critical, so I joined a professional virtual assistant networking group and discovered the publishing industry's certification program for helping authors and speakers. I applied for a scholarship and won! I've always loved reading, and editing and proofreading came naturally. I could spot grammar and spelling mistakes in books and articles, and as a medical transcriptionist, it's essential that the notes are error-free.

Peter joined the business after college, and the blocks kept popping up, but we didn't miss a step. Peter rocks at technology, and frankly, everything, and with our certification to help authors publish their books and speakers get on stage, we pivoted once more to offer Certified Author and Speaker Assistant services - Your Literary Prose.

At Your Literary Prose, we craft our services to focus on authors, magazine editors, and other professionals who need writing services such as:

1. Professional Editing and Proofreading,

2. Certified Publishing Services, and

3. Personalized Marketing.

Peter and I were presented with an opportunity we couldn't pass up. We partnered with a trusted colleague, CaZ (Candy), and purchased the certified author and speaker courses we've taken and created The Author's Voice, adding new courses for authors and publishing professionals. Enter our third pivot.

Now, The Author's Voice is our trusted partner in education with focused classes on author education as well as training in the publishing industry through The Author's Voice Association. One thing we've always said is that while authors can publish their book on their own, there are over 60 tasks to publish a professional book, and as hard as people try, no one can be an expert in everything. That's why we created The Author's Voice Association: to connect authors with trusted publishing professionals from across the industry to help them reach their goals.

An office manager I used to work for once said, "Colleen, change is inevitable. Nothing stays the same." Yes, change happens. We can choose to adapt, or we can let the blocks trip us up. We choose to adapt. What about you? Drop us a comment on changes you've had to make in your life or your business.