“Every week Money Spinners column inspires me to start a home based business of my own and make money. Somehow, things don’t move,” Divya was sad. “Things will never move unless you do something about it. What’s your problem?” I asked Divya.

Divya replied, “I am a housewife. I have a computer and an Internet connection. I can spend 4 hours a day on my business. I am ready to learn how to develop a website and promote it. After this point, I am unable to conceive of anything. I feel like a river that cannot find its sea.” Sounds familiar?

“If the river keeps flowing after removing all the obstacles, it will ultimately find its sea. Developing the content for the web is a creative work. I believe this is your problem,” I said.

“Yes. When I was a student my creative skill was at its best when I wrote ‘leave letters’ to my class teachers. Though I am a graduate in BA English literature, I cannot write even one paragraph of original content in English. How can I create content and make money! I have just ideas. Only if I have content-rich websites I can attract visitors, display ads and make money,” Divya said and asked, “I see many excellent articles on the web. Can I use them?”

“Don’t even think of copying others’ content without their permission. Plagiarism is a felony.” I cautioned her and said. “Fortunately there are easy ways to overcome this content-creation problem. Do you know what public domain content is?”

Divya replied, “I have no idea.”

I explained, “Law says that some content can be freely used by all. For example, anyone can use Shakespeare’s works without seeking permission from others. There are millions of such copyright-free articles. They are known as public domain content. If you use the articles that relate to your theme, you can make a good start and your visitors will have a reason to come back to your website. But you must clearly understand that nothing can beat original content. I suggest this method to make you an online entrepreneur somehow.”

“Has anyone been successful with public domain content?” Divya asked me.

“Thousands are making money. Matt Furey, an American entrepreneur, used ‘Catch Wrestling’, a 1914 book on self-defence, to create a manual and sells it for $500. Rebecca Fine, created a success course based on a 100 year old classic book and has sold it to customers from 114 countries through her website. You can check these facts on the Internet to develop confidence in yourself,” I replied.

Divya said, “I want to develop a website on Life Response. I know millions of Indians believe in it though some would ridicule it as superstition. We believe in cause and effect in life events. For example, if you do something good, life will respond to your action by bringing good things to you. These events take place unconsciously. Life Response is about understanding how an act and an outcome are related and doing that act consciously to create the outcome. For example, I know that money and cleanliness are closely related. If I want life to give me money to meet my genuine expenses all I need to do is to clean my house thoroughly. Many useless superstitions exist along with such really effective principles. I want to weed out the bad ones and write about effective ones. Is it possible to get public domain content for this theme? ”

“What a 1000-page report cannot convey, a short story can do effectively. You can take a famous novel from public domain content and illustrate the principles with the events in the novel,” I replied. “That’s a wonderful idea. I love Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I will place that story on my website and write about Life Response principles,” Divya said.

“Wow, just now you added 300 pages of highest quality content to your website! I am sure the entire world will visit your website,” I said happily.

Two months later, Divya told me. “I told about the project to a well-to-do friend. She immediately requested me to accept her as a partner and has given me Rs.15,000 for the seed idea. She will pay me Rs.3,000 a month until the website takes off. I am working hard on my website. I will launch it in a matter of a few weeks.”

I asked her, “What did you do with the money?” With a smile she replied, “My husband bought two silk sarees with the money I earned and presented them to me on this New Year day.”

For a list of public domain content resources, click here.