One of the early visitors to my web page asked if I was going to have advertising on the page or pages. He also asked if I had a business model for my new enterprise. It was a good question. I thought about advertising, but not for very long. I do not want pop-ups or bars on the page. I have a great fear that some night I shall look up at the stars and see a slogan glittering in the sky. I fear it is only a matter of time before rolls of toilet paper have an endless stream of printed messages. We will have cars that are driverless, but capable of sending endless messages to a captive audience. I decided to pass on the advertising idea.

As far as business models are concerned, the answer to that question is no, I do not have a model. At my age, I am tap dancing on banana peels. The model I do have is getting up tomorrow morning. I am always happy to start a new day.

Maybe there really is a model in this effort, but it is not a business model. I started out working as a newspaper man before I had any intention of becoming one as a career. In fact, I never thought of it as a career. It was a job. It paid a wage, though usually a very meager wage. The work was interesting.

Not long after I started working on a weekly newspaper, I developed the idea that it would be a good idea to own my own paper.  In time, I considered owning my own magazine. After that, it was a publishing house. I failed dismally at numerous attempts to make it happen.

Now, in my dotage, I find that it is all coming together. This little web adventure becomes my publishing empire. I have finally closed the circle. There is still no money. On the other hand, I am not losing money.

The only plan I have is to do the best work I can and put it up for the public to see and maybe read. I shall work hard to publicize the web page. That way, I am promoting all my books with the same effort as promoting one. If I am successful at building the number of people visiting the site, then perhaps something good will happen. I would, for example, consider all offers for film rights to any part of my work. If a film sale happened, then we could say that I have a great business model. I also have a ticket for tonight’s lottery.

 

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