Meet Eddie Jones | Writing Instructor, Author & Writer’s Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eddie Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eddie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
For me, there are two forms of risk to consider when launching a new endeavor: risks to myself and risks to others. Years ago, I made the decision to risk time and capital on a regional magazine without soliciting the input of my wife and, more importantly, her father. In the end, we preserved the marriage but lost the publication. Therefore, I would advise seeking as much input as possible on a new venture and then evaluating all potential escape options should the venture fail. Determine in advance how much time and money you are willing to lose to see your dream succeed. Have that number in mind. Let others know you have a risk budget. Then, pray about the decision. Give the Lord time to bring His answer to your decision. If you do that and the Lord says yes, proceed with confidence.

This same process works when writing a book. Know in advance what you are willing to risk. Predefine what success looks like. Is a book’s success established by a certain number of copies sold? Revenue earned? Reviews? Amazon rating? Awards won? Readers impacted? Establish that goal for each book, and then it will be easier to live with the outcome once you’ve hit that target.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Every career move was preceded by a door closing or increasing hardship. After graduation from college, I took a summer job working in construction. The onset of winter forced me to take a sales position in a field for which I had little experience. The job was straight commission. I had to succeed to eat. As an introvert, the desperation to escape job sites with temperatures in the teens drove me to career where I met countless people and learned to listen intently to their stories. This suited my education, for I’d studied to become a journalist. In listening and coming to know my clients, I succeeded.

When the company I worked for decided to abandon the type of account base I served, God opened a door for me at IBM. I had come to love looking at the source code of web pages and trying to manipulate that code to change how the page appeared on screen. This was in the mid-90s when many of my clients were saying the Internet was a passing fad. In teaching myself a very small amount of HTML, I landed work at IBM. That experience allowed me to transition into the world of the web.

When IBM sent my job to India, I launched my own web design and hosting company. When blogging took off, I sold my company and moved into writing and book publishing full-time. When book publishing became saturated, I moved into coaching writers because, in that first outside sales job, I had learned to care about and listen to people’s stories.

Every job taught me skills I’ve used for my next career move.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Let’s say they arrive on Friday afternoon or early evening. We’d catch drinks at a rooftop bar in North Hill’s mid-town. That would allow us to see Raleigh’s skyline and plan our weekend. Saturday morning, we’d hit the Food Lion, stock up on bread, meat, chips, and water, and come home to build sandwiches, packing them in resealable bags. These we’d store in the fridge.

With our weekend work complete, we’d drive to Dix Park, get a look at downtown Raleigh from a different perspective, then head to the Amtrak station and catch a train ride to Durham for beers and a burger near the Bulls ballpark. “Training” back to Raleigh, we’d head over to Moore Square and relax in the park while the sun set behind the tops of Raleigh’s not-so-high sky scrapers.

Sunday morning, we’d drive back to Moore Square, worship at Vintage Church, then after the service, we’d distribute food and clothing to those without homes—those who are not enjoying the abundant life Jesus promised. That full day would give us just enough time for a glass of wine at D’s Bottle Shop before they head home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This may seem odd to many, but any success I’ve enjoyed comes from the leading of my Lord’s Holy Spirit. He’s the one who opens doors and, more often, closes doors. Those closed doors are, in many ways, more important than open opportunities, for they prevent me from wasting time and resources. Guided by the Holy Spirit in my choices, I decline some clients while accepting others. That said, Uncorked Raleigh Wine & Coffee Cafe in Raleigh is a great place to have a glass of wine, write, and brainstorm on your next book. Even better, they work to improve the lives of those in our community, especially young men at risk.

Website: writerscoach.us / eddiejones.org / pirate-preacher.com / readersareleaders.co

Instagram: Instagram.com/authoreddiejones

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddie-jones-88a6314/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EddieJonesHumor

Youtube: youtube.com/@realitycoachingforwriters / youtube.com/@CleanYAFiction / youtube.com/@piratepreacher

Other: inspireafire.com (write for us!) christiandevotions.us (write for us!) acwc.live (Be inspired and encouraged. Join us at the Billy Graham Training Center for a weekend of writing instruction.)

Image Credits
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