Can one individual really make money on Ebay?

My blogging marathon continues. My third blog of the day will focus on whether I can make any money on Ebay.

I've already laid the foundation of five auctions. To be fair to each product, each will be allowed seven days to see what revenue comes in.

Since I'm involved in the mini fashion doll community and I love to craft, I put up some cute little doll outfits on Ebay. I'm not going to post links to every single item. One link to my About Me Page on Ebay - View Items for Sale should suffice. All items will be promoted to social media though.

As you can see, I have five items up for auction and two already have bids. There are only three days left in the auctions, which end Friday afternoon. This means that I'll have made at least $20 US for my efforts. I can only hope that the other three items will receive bids and sell.

These items are listed in the "Dawn Doll" Category on Ebay. Around 1998/1999 when Ebay selected the name "Ebay" for their site name the collectors petitioned Ebay for their own Dawn Doll category. It took a few years but eventually our own category was created. Today there are 1402 items in the Dawn Dolls category. Most of those auctions will last for seven days on the site. I'm going to calculate that about 200 new items are added each day. I'm saying that the odds of selling in this category are quite high. If we look at an electronics category on Ebay, for example Cell Phones and Accessories, there are over 500,000 items today.

Perhaps the secret to Ebay is finding your niche. Let's also keep in mind I've been on Ebay since before it was called Ebay. Established sellers likely do better due to reputation on Ebay and in the collecting community.

I'll post a follow up on Friday afternoon to let everyone know how my auctions did.

Can one individual really make money on the internet?

I need to spend one day marathon blogging but that's a lot of writing. After all, ten posts on cute cat stories could get boring. No? Okay so I'll leave the ten cat posts for next week. 

Over the past few weeks I have been exploring ways to make money as a writer, particularly over the internet. I realized that while I may not necessarily focus on making money as a writer for the subject of this blog, making money on the internet is a fantastic subject for several blogs.

I started by deciding on which websites I would promote my products. Ebay and Craigslist are the main ones. Last week I started on Fiverr, an unknown for me, so I'll relate my own experiences with that site. Gigbucks is another of the main microselling sites, so I'll sign up and give it a try. I needed a fifth idea. Many of the other suggestions online took me to deleted or hacked websites. That's no good, I need to deal with reputable sites, plus the onus is on me to not take my readers to some site where their identities will be stolen. In the end I decided that Google Adsense was a good fifth choice.

One listing per website probably won't provide me an accurate indicator of success. Five posts should do it. After all, it takes time to take the photo and upload it, write out a description, edit the listing, preview and post. Each item needs to be promoted via Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest at least once. (Boy are my followers going to love me this week!)

Please follow me over the next week or so to see whether an individual can sign up for a bunch of websites, start listing products and see if any actual money can be made.

Being a Science Fiction Writer Means Writing, Not Waiting

I'm reposting this entry from two years ago, since it's still valid for writers today. I've added some updates too.

Many readers don't realize that I have written over 150 published and paid non-fiction articles. A good 3/4 of those were about annihilating your credit card, before it annihilated your life. The remainder were a miscellany of topics surrounding jewels, green living, and the 2010 Olympics. 

Besides writing some guest blogs and working on my own blog I've switched over to fictional writing.

When I was about 15 I wrote this rivetting story about the end of the universe. I wish I hadn't trashed it but it was the first science fiction story I ever wrote.

I started up again around the early 1990s with Dr. Who fan fiction. Many of my stories appeared in Mythmakers and DWIN's (Doctor Who Information Network) Enlightenment magazine.

Last year I had my short story, "Zombies Against the Confederacy of Steam," published in Marion Margaret's anthology entitled, "Confederacy of Steam Vs Zombies".

This year I've had another short story accepted to AlfieDog.com. It's historical Egyptian fiction centering around a single parent family that lives in the City of the Dead. You can click here to download it. It's around $1 to buy "The Glass Marble". The short story is family-friendly and can be read to younger children. The editor felt that adults may also wish to read the story, hence its genre on the site.

I have about seven other short stories at publishers, hoping they will be accepted. I also am editing a YA novel that needs to go somewhere before spring starts. I am working on a non-fiction fictional book, if that makes sense? I've created a whole new genre! I intend on setting up a fun new website, which will require written content. I also continue to work on this blog, which hasn't generated a lot of income for me, perhaps a hot chocolate or two. So, lots of projects in progress.

What is my main writer's block? It's insomnia! I can't sleep at night, so I lay there, feeling sick and crappy. I finally get to sleep for a few hours, get out of bed and feel horrible the rest of the day. While I've trained myself to be on the computer even when I feel crappy, the time spent in bed, and the time spent sleeping all add up. I'm still trying to work on fixes for this situation so I can double my writing and work time. You can say it's a work in progress.

What it all comes down to is that being a writer is more than merely dreaming, being a writer is actually doing. 

If you are reading this, please click the "Follow" link at the top to keep posted. If you already have a Google account, it's super easy to join.

Steampunk Harlequin Hypnosis Show

The Steampunk theme of this show caught my monocle one day while I was cruising Facebook. Being an active member of the Vancouverites for Steampunk community, I'm always open to new adventures.

After perusing the Harlequin Hypnosis show website I chose their showing at the Inlet Theatre, Port Moody.

We donned our Steampunk gear and headed out for an evening of adventure.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect. About one third of the crowd were dressed in steampunk finery. There were gadgets and trinkets to buy. The theatre itself is in a fine civic building. We enjoyed viewing the 2013 photo of town council dressed in 1903 finery and all the vintage photos of the town.

The show was due to start. The story revolves around Katie, a little girl who is upset at being left with her governess, while her older sister gets to go on high adventures with their Dad. Katie suddenly goes missing, leaving the Captain, Navigator, Deck Hand and their minions to search for her.

Volunteers from the audience were chosen to be "hypnotized". Captain Rob, the lead hypnotist, put the minions to sleep. When they were required to perform their duties, they were awoken and made to do all sorts of crazy things. 

Much hilarity ensued. While they were counselled that they wouldn't have to do anything embarrassing, I beg to differ. Rob was kissed by one young lady. Some minions fought over the attentions of others. At one point Captain Rob's cat went missing. This had to be the funniest part of the show for me as the minions raced all over the theatre searching for kitty.

After visiting a lighthouse and an island full of hungry cannibals the crew realized that they had gotten sidetracked over exactly where Katie was.

The mystery was solved. Katie had been messing with the entire crew and she was in fact, not really missing. The whole spectacle had been a waste of time.

The minions were allowed to go home.

While we enjoyed the show, I wouldn't have minded a bit more back story and less audience participation. Some of the minions departed the stage early, as they were wearing out after an hour under hypnosis. How this can be accomplished I'll leave to the crew, whether through special effects or more acting from the hypnotists.

As the show played out it came to the point where I didn't really care where Katie was, but rather, where was that darn cat?

Vancouver Fan Expo 2014

Vancouver Fan Expo will be doing its third year run in downtown Vancouver on April 18th to 20th, 2014.

We are excited to meet many of the guests, from Bruce Boxleitner to Bruce Campbell! Robert Englund, Michael Rosenbaum, Charisma Carptener, Giancarlo Esposito, Ray Park, Karl Urban and Stephen Amell are also on the guest list with more RRSPs on the way.

A group of Vancouver Crafty Geeks from Nerd HQ decided to get together and buy a table for the Artists Alley. We are all very excited, and after our contract was approved, we have been hurriedly making nerdy crafts to sell on the table. 

There will be various knick knacks, small crocheted animals, needlepoint pictures, and geeky crocheted dolls. Also save up your cash for the TARDISes. That's right, there will be many limited edition Doctor Who items up for sale. From ornaments, to decorations to soap, there will be plenty of items to make you happy.

Fan Expo opens Friday night at 4 pm and runs until 9 pm. On Saturday the hours run 10-7 pm and on Sunday10 to 5 pm. 

No Pants Subway 2014 - International No Pants Day!

Did you participate in the International No Pants Day while on the train today? 

Just what is this event? No, it's not the promo for Shades of Grey, this is a silly flash mobbing for really no reason at all. In cities across the world, at an appointed time, hundreds of subway riders remove their pants and enjoy their train rides. 

Many photos and silliness ensued this morning. Generally the rules dictate that you're not supposed to talk to your fellow subway riders, but somehow, removing your pants leads to breaking the ice. After all, you're not the only one sitting there without pants on, so are all your fellow train riders!

This event is held twice a year, and started shortly after a New York resident skipped his morning cuppa, forgot to finish dressing, and then ending up riding the subway to work without pants. He reported that instead of being shamed - he was wearing undies after all - his fellow riders giggled and smiled. He continued the event as a yearly tradition with his friends.

Today, the No Pants Ride is organized by Improv Everywhere. There is a set code of conduct. Participants are to pretend they do not know each other and a code of decorum must be followed. If questioned, a participant must answer that they "forgot to put their pants on this morning".

I don't know about you, but this event could SHORTly be UNDIEmined by the No Tops day!

Confederacy of Steam Vs Zombies Now Available for Purchase!

Earlier this year Marion Margaret Press send out a call for submissions for their new Confederacy of Steam Vs Zombies anthology in the fall. I recalled that I had a Steampunk story in my folder that hadn't found a home yet. Since the guidelines said there had to be zombies, I decided to rewrite my story to fit the theme.

My short story is entitled, "Zombies Against the Confederacy of Steam" and is set in Victorian times with strong female characters. I decided to tell my story from the view of the zombies. I won't say any more than that, so as not to spoil the reading for my fans.

You can buy a digital copy for a mere $2.99 here on Smashwords. Next month the printed version should be available for purchase and I'll post further details on that date.

There will also be second Steampunk Air Ship anthology next year, and I do plan on sending a submission in. I don't have anything ready at the moment, so I'll need to write up something fantastic.

If you're tired of reading Cherie Priest or Gail Carrigar, please give this anthology a go, and thank you in advance for your support.