Two weeks ago, I talked about some of my plans for 2017:
To recap, I set down the challenge to write either one book this year or no less than 10 short stories and submit them.
I decided on writing the book and have been working steadily on it since the turn of the year.
But writing doesn’t happen in a vacuum–although sometimes it feels like it. The truth is that every other aspect of my life has an impact, one way or the other, on my writing. Take, for example, last Thursday and Friday when I figured that a combined 4 more hours of sleep to combat the cold, or whatever the hell creeping-crud I had, was worth more to me than getting up at 5:30 am and getting words on the page.
Take care of yourself people.
So, figuring that it’s all interconnected, I thought I’d post my other plans for 2017.
Build on my momentum from 2016. In some respects, 2016 was a dumpster fire. I won’t go into details, but it also wasn’t all bad:
- I participated in the official Launch Party for one of my books last year. That got me in as a guest at a con I’ve never been to before. I got to meet some people that I’ve always wanted to meet, I crashed my first panel – bringing the total number of readings that weekend to two, and I’m walking around with the memory of someone asking if they could get a picture of me with them and my book.
- I had another book release in 2016.
So how do I build on that? More accurately, what can I do to influence an environment where so much is out of my control?
Keep Writing. Be Flexible.
There is a certain amount of “Right Place-Right Time” that goes on in the publishing business. Being able to capitalize on an unexpected opportunity, while not waiting (or hoping) for unexpected opportunities is key.
So is being able to get the word out about what is going on with me and my books, which leads me to…
Expand my Web Presence. Now, I’m already, kinda, doing this. I’ve got this blog and (this is important) I’m updating it regularly. While I’m not anywhere near being able to update it daily, I’m getting a post out once a week and that’s not bad. I just need to maintain that and, this year, I’m going to push myself to get more posts out.
Additionally, I’m a regular contributor to the Million Words website. I’ve got a schedule, but I’m not as active there as I could be, and I’d like to improve that.
I’m also on Facebook and Twitter. While I echo Twitter post to my facebook page, facebook is more for me. That leaves Twitter.
I started the year thinking that I could swing a tweet a day, but I fell off that wagon pretty quickly. Too many irons in the fire, that sort of thing.
The nice thing about Twitter is that there are tools that I can use to automate postings (like about a couple of books that came out recently). I’ve got to invest time in learning how to use them, but I think, in the long run, that time will be well spent.
Self improvement. About this time of year, just about everyone has something like this on their yearly “To-Do” list but, in 2017 there are some things that I really need to get a handle on and steer in a different direction.
I’ll admit it, so far, the year has gotten off to a rocky start, but there challenge is still there.
And I will rise to meet it.
If you get the chance, come on out and see me Next Weekend at ConFusion. I’ll love to see you!
Time: 12:56 pm-ish
Music: Howard Shore – The Riders of Rohan