Things I Learned from Leaf-Raking

Yes, it’s that time of year. Today’s “garbage” day in our neighbourhood (although I think we should rename it, since every week we have recycling, and every week we have green bin pick-up, but we only have garbage pick-up once every two weeks and I say hooray for that!). Anyway, back to my original point; it’s pick-up day and the curbs and driveways are lined with brown paper leaf bags.

OK, another aside here – isn’t it interesting how society changes? When I was a kid, leaves went in plastic garbage bags. Brown leaf bags didn’t even exist. And then, when they eventually started to appear, it seemed impossible that people would pay to buy these bags (around $0.40 each) - which, since they only come in five-packs, need to be re-stocked several times during the spring and fall raking seasons – but, lo and behold, they did! And they do! And now leaves ONLY go in leaf bags. And Canadian Tire prints theirs up to use for street hockey practice, and we, as a society have converted.

So, obviously, we can change and we do change, sometimes. Now if we could just get as good about stopping smoking, and drunk driving and plundering the earth …

But, that’s not what this post is about. This post is about my son’s leaf-raking business and what you, as a writer, can learn from him.

(1) Have a goal! Of course, this is not news, but it’s important so I’m repeating it. My son’s goal is to raise $1,000.00 to protect the Beluga whale through the Earth Rangers program. He set this goal on his own, and it’s important to him – and it’s big – when you’re eleven-years-old, raising $1,000.00 is like writing a novel. Think of that …

(2) Be prepared to work hard. The very same weekend he signed up for Earth Rangers, my son created a Leaf Raking brochure. He designed, drew, copied and distributed it on his own. I wish I had a copy because it was great, and I only realized how great, when one of my neighbours said his daughter liked it so much she posted it on Instagram. If I ever find it, I’ll link to it.

(3) Ask for help. My son asked my parents if they’d donate to his Beluga campaign. They said yes, but first they wanted to see that he was committed and had a plan. Bingo! This was where putting his own work into it paid off – he was further ahead on both fronts.

(4) Show up. The first call came mid-week. Now, we’re very busy through the week – we have activities Monday through Thursday – BUT. My son asked for the work and it was being offered. So we pushed and shoved on the schedule and he went to do the work.

(5) Get known / Build a reputation. That was the one and only call that came from the flyers. But it was just the first of many raking jobs. The other jobs came when people saw him walking home, carrying his rake. “Oh yeah!” They’d say. “You’re doing raking. Can you do my lawn?”

So far he’s raised $75.00 from leaf-raking. Which, I think, is pretty good.

To apply all of the above to writing, it’s pretty simple. Have a goal – a first draft of a novel finished by the end of the school year. A short story written by Christmas. Whatever it is, choose it.

Sit down and write yourself but, also, tell other people about your goal. Get feedback, ideas and opinions (you don’t have to follow them all, but accept them). Maybe someone will offer to proofread your work. Maybe somebody knows of an anthology looking for submissions.

Keep doing the work. Keep showing up. Put the time and effort in. This is important because (a) it moves you closer to your goal and (b) it shows others you’re serious. At first they might wonder about the writing you’re dabbling in, but when they see you’re serious, you never know what other opportunities will open up.

And, with regards to marketing and promotion – yes, it’s important to get your base message out there (the raking flyers), but it’s work that begets work. Word-of-mouth and a demonstrated track record are what really pay off.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go rake our own lawn …