Writing is an awe-inspiring act of courage. I open this presentation with the Chariot Wheel from India’s prized Sun Temple because it speaks to every writer’s journey. Just as the sun god Surya wanted to be visible to people and a friend to all, every writer wants to share a connection with readers. Whether the medium for this connection is the printed page or mobile device, writers must have the time, skill, and resources to create their works. The wheel of time waits for no one. That’s why I chose the wheel as a metaphor to help you manage your publishing career.

1. The Publishing Wheel:
A Career Development Tool for Writers
Melissa A. Rosati, CPCC
Melissa’s Coaching Studio, LLC
917-628-4547
melissarosati@me.com
October 2011

2. Chariot Wheel in the ancient Sun Temple at Konark, Orissa, India
“Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man.”--Rabindranath Tagore, Poet

3. Introduction
Writing is an awe-inspiring act of courage. I open this presentation with the Chariot Wheel from India’s prized Sun
Temple because it speaks to every writer’s journey. Just as the sun god Surya wanted to be visible to people and a
friend to all, every writer wants to share a connection with readers. Whether the medium for this connection is the
printed page or mobile device, writers must have the time, skill, and resources to create their works. The wheel of
time waits for no one. That’s why I chose the wheel as a metaphor to help you manage your publishing career.
The eight spokes in the ancient chariot wheel serve as sundials. The shadows cast the exact time of day. The eight
spokes in the Publishing Wheel represent the core elements of a successful career path. The Publishing Wheel is
a self-discovery tool that will help you clarify your goals, identify your strengths, and point to areas that need further
development.
Here’s how to get started.
On the next page, I provide you with a before and after Publishing Wheel. Notice the blank wheel is divided into
eight sections. Each section is labeled by a core element for success. The circle’s dividing lines have nine hash
marks.
The center point in the circle represents zero (0). The rim of the wheel represents ten (10). For each section, give
yourself a score between 0 and 10 by placing a dot (●) on the corresponding hash mark. When you are finished, use
a line to connect your dots around the wheel (see example).
To guide your thinking about each section score, I provide you with questions and statements. These are guidelines,
not hard and fast rules. The objective is to get a total picture of where you feel you are. There’s no ‘A’ wheel. It is
what you make it. Use this exercise whenever you want a snapshot of your progress.

4. The Eight Core Elements
of the Publishing Wheel
• Publication credits
• Finished proposal or manuscript
• Publishing network
• Personal support network
• Income to support self To help you with each
element, I provide
• Enjoyment of the process questions and/or
statements on the
slides that follow the
• Role models and benchmarks
wheel example.
• Budget of time and effort
Let’s Go!

5. Publishing Publishing
Credits Credits
Role Models/
Role Models/ Finished Proposal Benchmarks Finished Proposal
Benchmarks or Manuscript or Manuscript
Budget
of Time Publishing Budget Publishing
& Effort Network of Time Network
& Effort
Enjoyment
Personal Personal
Enjoyment of the Process
Support Support
of the Process
Network Network
Income Income
To Support To Support
Self Self
Blank Publishing Wheel Completed Publishing Wheel
In this example, the completed wheel represents the writer’s self-assessment of her publishing goals. If
this were a real wheel, how bumpy would the ride be?

6. Name:
Email:
Publishing
Credits
Role Models/
Benchmarks Finished Proposal
or Manuscript
Budget of
Time & Effort Publishing
Network
Enjoyment of
the Process
Personal Support
Network
Income to
Support
Self

7. Now, It’s Your Turn
On the next slide, you’ll find a
blank Publishing Wheel.
On the slides following the wheel,
you’ll find statements and/or
questions to help you assess
your score for each element.

8. Checklist for Publication Credits
• You have a defined process for sending work out on a regular basis.
• You publish entries on your blog several times each week.
• You contribute articles to blogs owned by other people.
• Within the last three years, have you published short stories in literary
journals? If you are a nonfiction writer, do you publish articles on a regular
basis?
On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is _______. Now, mark this score on your wheel.

9. Checklist for a Finished Proposal or Manuscript
• Did you participate in a solid critique group?
• What was your process for incorporating the feedback?
• Did you establish criteria for a marketing panel of reviewers for their
suggestions?
• Did a professional copyeditor, one with experience and references from a
commercial publisher, edit your work?
On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is _________. Now, mark this score on your wheel.

10. Checklist for Your Publishing Network
• What writer conferences do you attend?
• How do you follow-up with key contacts?
• Is your profile in professional networking sites such as LinkedIn and Media
Bistro current? Is it 100% complete?
• What publishing blogs do your read on a regular basis? Do you comment on
them?
• You have a list of the key contacts you know within the publishing industry.
You also have a list of contacts you know with relationships to professionals
in the publishing industry.
On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is ________. Now, mark this score on your wheel.

11. Checklist for Your Personal Network
• You can easily name several people who support you without judgment.
• Who is genuinely happy for your successes?
• When you encounter obstacles, you have a list of people who will help you
brainstorm alternatives.
• Do you participate in hobbies/interests outside of writing?
• Do you enjoy some “quiet time” each week to recharge?
On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is ________. Now, mark this score on your wheel.

12. Checklist for Income to Support Self
• Do you treat your writing as a business or a hobby?
• Do you establish an annual budget for how much money you are willing to
invest in your professional development?
• How many article pitches do you make per month?
• Do you take advantage of earning opportunities by writing for Internet sites?
On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is ______. Now, mark this score on your wheel.

13. Checklist for Enjoyment of the Process
• You have an established writing practice and you stick to it.
• When you share your writing, you look forward to comments from others.
• You participate in open reading events.
• You seek out opportunities to learn new marketing skills to promote you and
your work.
• When necessary, you have a reliable person to delegate administrative tasks,
freeing you to focus on your writing and/or marketing.
On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is _______. Mark this score on your wheel.

14. Checklist for Budget of Time and Effort
• Your treat your writing time as a commitment that is as important as other
primary responsibilities.
• You write without guilt. You never think about “what else” needs doing.
• You set completion dates for your projects and assess your progress on a
regular basis.
• You have a budget for professional services to cover costs such as editing or
research.
On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is ____. Now, mark this score on your wheel.

15. Checklist for Role Models/Benchmarks
• You have a clear definition of your genre and a well-crafted “persona” of your
readers.
• You know who the most popular writers are in your genre.
• You know who the most influential writers are in your genre.
• You’ve invested the time in researching the career paths of two of your author
role models.
• You have a mentor to help you improve as a writer and as a business person.
On a scale of 1 to 10, your score is _____. Now, mark this score on your wheel.

16. Congratulations!
You Completed the Wheel!

17. Score Summary:
How Smooth or
Bumpy is Your
Publishing Wheel?
Element Score
Publishing Credits
Finished Proposal or MS
Publishing Network
Personal Support Network
Income to Support Self
Enjoyment of the Process
Budget of Time/Effort
Role Models/Benchmarks

18. How Smooth is Your Publishing Wheel?
• Journal your thoughts about this exercise.
• Identify your best scores and reflect on how you’ve been successful with
those elements. What have you learned along the way?
• For elements where you’ve assessed a lower score, pick one that you would
like to change immediately and prioritize the others. For the element that you
want to change now, what needs to happen? Is it asking for help? Is it making
a schedule change? Identify what it is for you.
• Use this wheel as tool. In 60 days, take it again. See how your scores change.
Use this self-knowledge to establish goals and to celebrate your successes.
• If you would like to discuss your scores in more detail, consider scheduling a
coaching session with me.

19. About Melissa A. Rosati, CPCC
Melissa A. Rosati, CPCC, is a certified professional co-active coach (CPCC). She is the CEO of Melissa’s Coaching
Studio, LLC.
Melissa’s clients are writers, artists, creative professionals, and social entrepreneurs. With a keen interest in creativity,
collaboration, and innovation, Melissa develops coaching programs to help people move their lives in new directions.
Her services include executive coaching, team coaching, and staff training for organizations.
A former publishing executive, Melissa brings a solid background in marketing, publicity, and media relations to her
coaching and consulting clients. She knows how to put her ease and how to help them connect with their audience.
Her professional background, with publishers such as McGraw-Hill International (UK), Routledge, and
HarperCollins College, is in strategic planning, reorganization, partnerships, content acquisition, online product
development, contract negotiation, staff training and development, and publishing in international markets. In addition
to her business, she is an adjunct professor of publishing at Pace University, where she co-leads executive training
programs for publishers located throughout China.
Melissa earned her coaching certification from The Coaches Training Institute, San Rafael, CA. She is a member of
the Creativity Coaching Association and the International Coaching Federation. She also serves her community
as an Ambassador for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
She lives in New York City.
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