Mark K. McClain is the owner of Next Journey Books, where he helps bring your word creations to reality. He starts where your story is and moves with you as you shape your work into a compelling story making manuscripts shine and getting them ready for publication.
He offers his deep world-building experience to build your confidence as you strengthen your skills as a writer and published author.
For more information, go to www.nextjourneybooks.com.
Here we sit down with Mark, to know a bit more about his journey as an entrepreneur.
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
Mark: By creating my own business venture I can remain close to my dream. I grew up reading a wide variety of genres, then I happened upon The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. His work fueled my imagination and showed me what vivid worldbuilding and character development were like. I was hooked. From that early age, I realized writing and the written word would become my future.
How did you get started?
Mark: I started with courses centering on Young Adult Literature, which grew my skills in all things writing: world-building, character development, editing, sentence structure, etc.
Then I pursued a certification in book coaching, which rounded out my skills so I could offer a wide bench of services for writers. I stay quite active in the editing world.
What was your biggest startup challenge? What steps did you take to overcome it? What did you learn?
Mark: Writing is an isolationist venture. Thankfully, I have a community of other novelists, coaches, and editors around me — book nerds — which keeps the writing fires stoked when one of us falls into the doldrums. While writing, it is important to come up for air and connect with actual humans who are experiencing the same feelings you are.
What is the most memorable thing you’ve done since you started your business?
Mark: Taking my first client from draft to publication was an utter thrill. What an amazing feeling to have a hand in someone else’s creation. (It shows trust on the writer’s part to have them trust having their work put in front of me.)
When I heard my client’s spark of an idea and then just a few months later, watched as we collaborated and edited it into a final product, it was incredible.
What is one book you recommend, and why?
Mark: Only one? A tall order for a writer 😉 Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’ is an up-close look at a novelist’s life so that a new writer can quickly understand what to expect when they pick up the mantle themselves.
What are your top 3 favourite online apps, tools or resources and what do you love about them?
Mark: LinkedIn. Of all the media sites, it is the friendliest, most professional network. I focus my efforts on connections there and it serves me well.
Marco Polo. I love that there is a way to connect with my clients in a personal way on our own schedules so we can collaborate without needing to schedule meetings. Everyone in today’s world has time scarcity, and writers need a way to come together asynchronously. Marco Polo is perfect for this! (And, best of all, it is free.)
Link-in-bio (LIB) tools. I currently use Beacons but I have used others. A LIB tool is a simple way to collect all your online tidbits and put them out to your network for easy access. LIBs prove an incredible tool in our information-heavy world.
In terms of legacy, what is the mark you’d like to leave on the world?
Mark: I want to continue to add to the bookshelf of my own works. Also, I want to use that same knowledge and skillset to coach writers who are open to learning and growing as they go from aspiring author to published author.
In one sentence, what’s the best advice you’d give to someone just starting out on their entrepreneurial journey?
Mark: Find a trusted mentor to journey with in your new world.
To keep up to date with Mark and his journey, connect with him on LinkedIn.