Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in creative writing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with D.M. Ritzlin, CEO of DMR Books, located in Chicago, IL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I write and publish fiction of the heroic fantasy/sword-and-sorcery variety. The first books I published, the Swords of Steel series, were collections of fantasy stories written by members of heavy metal bands, so at the beginning, my customers were mostly metalheads. Later I branched out and started reprinting stories by classic fantasy authors like Robert E. Howard and Michael Moorcock, so I got the attention of a lot of people who grew up reading them. I've been trying to expand my audience by going to various conventions. I think a younger crowd would be interested in my books if they knew about them.
Tell us about yourself
I started because I came up with the idea for a book and thought it was so good I had to make it happen. I suppose I could have pitched the idea to another publisher, but that thought never occurred to me. For better or worse, I wanted to do things my own way.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Any business-related accomplishments are dwarfed by the personal accomplishment of writing a collection of short stories entitled Necromancy in Nilztiria. When I started DMR Books, I had no intention of becoming a writer. After editing and critiquing other peoples' stories, I got a much better idea of things like story structure and pacing, not to mention the benefits of clearly but poetically written prose. I started by collaborating with another writer for one of the volumes of Swords of Steel, and things took off from there.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Not making enough money. And dealing with assholes. I suppose those are common to every job, whether you own a business or not.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The most important thing is knowing what you're getting into. If you have a great idea for a business, it's not going to amount to much if you don't know what it will take to make it a reality. I spent several months doing the research before I even told anyone I intended to publish a book. If you just jump right in without a plan, you could end up wasting a lot of time and money.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://dmrbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DMRBooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmrbooks/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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