Kate M. Colby's Blog, page 21
January 11, 2016
The Pressure to Be Super Human
During my time as a Sociology major, I took a few classes that focused on gender and family. In these, we learned about the changing roles of women in society, and how modern women often feel pressure to work a “Second Shift” to fulfill their roles. Decades ago, women only had to focus on being a wife and mother. In modern society, women are still expected to thrive in the domestic sphere–while also holding down a full-time career. In other words, they can (and should, in most people’s opinions) do it all.
But this article isn’t about Feminism and the roles of women. It’s about authors.
Decades ago, the life of the author (or, more accurately, the romanticized view we hold of it) was quite different. You simply jetted off to Paris with Hemingway and Fitzgerald, got rip-roaring drunk, and spouted your brilliance. A publisher then plucked it from your hands and sent it out into the world, where your deserved fame and ample royalties followed.
Again, that’s the romanticized view. But it’s still what a lot of people associate with authorship.
Today, a new author has emerged, of which I am one: the indie author. As an independent author, we are expected to write and edit our own books, format them, design covers, publish, and market. Or, of course, hire professionals to assist us. And until we finally figure out the magic formula to full-time authorship, we have to do all of this while working full-time jobs, maintaining our households, and keeping our social relationships in tact.
In my imagination, the ideal indie author — the person I should be — goes through the day like this:
Wake up at four or five a.m. Devour coffee and write for at least an hour. Go to work (while writing more, reading/listening to books or podcasts, or marketing during the commute). Take a lunch break (with more writing, reading, or marketing). Repeat the commute home. Eat dinner and spend a short amount of time with family. Write until midnight. Sleep four to five hours. Repeat.
Is it just me, or does that sound insanely difficult? I mean, I need my sleep…for everyone else’s safety.
Okay, reality time. That schedule is probably slightly exaggerated. But there are plenty of “famous” indie authors who have done something similar. There’s Hugh Howey, who wrote Wool while working in a bookstore. There’s Joanna Penn, who scaled back her day job to four days a week, gave up television, and got up incredibly early every day to write. Listen to any mainstream self-publishing podcast, and you’ll find the success stories.
That’s what it takes to make it to the big leagues. You’ve got to want it so badly that you make huge sacrifices, that you keep pushing even when you’re exhausted, that you devote daily practice to writing and studying the industry. And for most of us, myself included, just thinking about that kind of rigorous routine — even with our burning desire for its rewards — makes us light-headed. I mean, that’s a lot of pressure.
But that’s the formula for success as an indie author — work hard enough that you make your own luck.
So what do we do?
I guess we figure out how to do it for ourselves. I haven’t quite tackled being super human just yet (I’ll let you know when I do), but I think we start somewhere like this:
Find the discipline to wake up an hour earlier (or stay up an hour later)
Find the energy to knock out some words during our lunch breaks or after work
Remember meeting our goals is more satisfying than another Netflix binge
Listen to an audiobook or podcast instead of the radio on our commutes
Turn wasted minutes or free time into time spent being creative
Cut personal expenses and treats in favor of time off work or business-related costs
Search out others with the same goal and feed off their determination
Recognize that we will always have more work to do
Forgive ourselves when we fall short of our goals
Keep trying to do better
When I break it down like this, it feels easy — but we all know it’s not.
This is the part where I start to flounder, where I deeply feel my own failings, and where I feel intense pressure to do better. I know what to do, I’m just not sure how to cram it all into my own life. I pump myself up, get into a frenzy of motivation, make progress, then peter out, whether after a day, a week, or a month…
But I’m working on it, and I’ve already seen marked improvements in 2016.
I guess the point of this post is: fellow indie authors, fellow day job grinders, fellow insecure creatives — you are not alone. I’m right there with you, straddling the tightrope between the present and the authorship dreams. And one way or another, we’ll all end up on one side of the rope or the other.
I know which side I want to be on. It’s going to take a few years of penny-pinching and late nights (and getting Daniel through graduate school). It’s not ALL in my hands, but it mostly is, and I’m going to try my hardest to get there.
Where are you right now? And which side will you be on in five or ten years?
If those questions make your chest tight, remember: you’re not alone. And if you need someone to rally around, I’ve got your back.
Filed under: Indie Publishing Tagged: author, goals, independent publishing, indie author, indie publishing, inspiration, motivation, self pub, self-publishing, venting, writer, writer life, writing
January 7, 2016
The Power of a Writing Streak
If you can’t tell by my listed and categorized New Year’s resolutions (not to mention the countless other organizational habits I reveal through my website…), I’m a big fan of using efficiency, logic, and positivity to “trick” myself into being productive. And luckily for me, it’s still early enough in 2016 to do just that.
That’s one way to keep me at the keyboard…
Every day this year (yes, all whopping six of them at the time of this writing), I have written on one of my works-in-progress. Now, for you more seasoned authors, or you enviable full-time creatives, this probably isn’t impressive. But for those of you stuck in the day job grind or the continuous battle with “the muse,” you know that, sometimes, maintaining even a measly six day writing streak can feel like climbing a mountain. And with how much hell Desertera #2 is giving me, I feel like I’m tackling every inch of Everest.
I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m an “all or nothing” person. If I’m going to do something, I put all my energy into it and do the best job I can. If I don’t think I can do it well, I usually don’t even try. Is this a great philosophy? Obviously not. I’m continuously working on it, but for the time being, I’m learning to work with it. And if you want to accomplish your goals, whether writing or otherwise, you need to sit down, psychoanalyze yourself, figure out your weaknesses, and find a way to turn them into strengths.
Learning to manage this personality quirk has been one of my greatest accomplishments over the last few months. Slowly, but surely, I’ve seen a quantitative increase in my writing and a qualitative increase in my writing itself and my attitude towards it.
For those of you needing a little inspirational boost, here are some of the many benefits my writing streak has given me:
A sense of purpose
Increased confidence in my writing ability
Less “staring at the blank page” time when I start a session
A healthily growing word count
A sense of accomplishment
Greater creativity in other aspects of my life
Closer bond with my best friend (who is my alpha reader)
Validation of my authorial aspirations
And here are some of things my writing streak has taken away:
Guilt at not doing my creative work
Feelings of self-doubt and self-loathing
Time spent binge-watching Netflix
We’re only six days into 2016. I know I’m still in the New Year honeymoon phase, and I know this streak cannot last. But what I do know is that I’m making progress toward my most important goals, putting something good into the world (even if the world can’t experience it yet), and feeling better about myself in general. And all it takes is actually sitting down at the keyboard and putting in the work. Some days, it may be a struggle to get there, but if I can remember my strategies to get started…and the feeling I had while writing this post, I know I can keep hacking away at my goals, one word at a time.
As for you…if you want to join me in this honeymooner bliss (or stay here with me), you’ve got to commit. You’ve got to be brutally honest and figure out what’s keeping you from your ambitions. Fear? Laziness? Poor time management? Don’t be ashamed – we’re all human, and we all fail. Victories come one day, one minute, one word at a time. Find your weaknesses and learn how to beat them.
What goals are you working toward? What keeps you from writing or doing other creative work? How can you find the motivation to overcome your weaknesses?
Filed under: General Writing Tagged: creative writing, goal, goals, inspiration, motivation, new year resolutions, positive thinking, positivity, writing, writing goals
January 4, 2016
Month-End Update: December 2015
Much like November, I do not have too much to report from December. Most of the month was spent getting through busy season at work and enjoying time with friends and family (though the latter through phone calls). Therefore, I’ll keep this short and sweet so we can finish off 2015 and focus on 2016!
As those of you who are reading this on the website will notice, I’ve already started on my 2016 resolutions by giving the website a fresh face. I’d love to know your thoughts (as well as if you notice any broken links!).
Writing/Drafting
Blog Posts Written — 6 (plus one reblog)
Fiction Words Written — 9,776
# of Days I Wrote Fiction — 9
# of Days I Wrote Non-Fiction — 6
Outlines Written — 0
Editing/Revising
Drafts Revised — 0
# of Days I Revised — 0
Misc. Editing — N/A
Reading
Books Finished
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Ariel by Fia Essen
Stone of Fire (Arkane #1) by J.F. Penn
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
Wool Omnibus (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey
Books Begun/In-Progress
N/A
Books Reviewed
1001 Islands by K.T. Munson — read review
Ariel by Fia Essen — read review
Author Business Activities
Worked with a graphic designer friend on covers for my non-fiction project(s)
Emailed a feedback survey to my newsletter and analyzed the results
Shipped signed copies of The Cogsmith’s Daughter to generous readers!
Goals for January
Redesign website (done!)
Continue working on Desertera #2
Finish (and, pending cover designs, publish) my first non-fiction booklet
How did your December go? Did you accomplish all you wanted to in 2015? What are you looking forward to in 2016? Share your progress in the comments!
Filed under: Writing Updates Tagged: Author Business, blogging, book review, books, dystopian, editing, goals, independent publishing, indie author, manuscript, revising, self-publishing, steampunk, writing
December 31, 2015
My 2016 New Year’s Resolutions
I love making New Year’s resolutions. If I were to claim two nerdy, organizational hobbies, they would absolutely be making lists and setting goals. There is something so intrinsically satisfying about writing down meaningful objectives and then crossing them off, knowing that your life is incrementally better for it. Needless to say, I’m stoked it’s that time of year again.
In our household, we follow my husband’s New Year’s resolution tradition. His rule is that you make one resolution for every year you have been alive. Last year, I made 22 goals and accomplished 11 of them. While I do have a few regrets about how I managed my time, overall, I am fairly satisfied with what I accomplished. If you’d like a good chuckle (I certainly had one looking back), you can see my 2015 resolutions here.
Anyway, now on to 2016. Like last year, I’ve categorized my goals by the facet of my life to which they belong. However, for a bit of fun, I’ve also added new difficulty levels. E for easy, C for challenging, DD for damn difficult, and LOL for, well…you get the idea.
Here’s to hoping I can hit over half of these 23 bad boys.
WRITING
1. Write five days a week (C, but based on past experience, LOL)
2. Finish Desertera #2 (E)
3. Publish Desertera #2 (C)
4. Write Desertera #3 (DD)
5. Publish Desertera #3 (DD)
6. Write a book for fun (LOL)
7. Write all nonfiction booklets (E)
8. Publish all nonfiction booklets (E)
9. Publish nonfiction compilation (C)
BUSINESS
10. Publish two blog posts per week (C)
11. Read 50 books (C)
12. Make $1,000 from my author business (C, maybe DD)
13. Adhere to my marketing plan (C)
14. Send two email newsletters per month (C)
15. Update my author website/platform (revise each quarter) (E)
PERSONAL
16. Keep Daniel and myself student loan free (DD)
17. Keep migraines to one per month (or less!) (DD)
18. Exercise for 30 minutes, 3 days a week (LOL)
19. Record my three daily gratitudes (C)
20. Visit a new state (E)
21. Go to the 9/11 Memorial in NYC (E)
22. Visit home (summer) (C)
23. Visit home (Christmas) (E)
And that’s all, folks. Feel free to cheer me on in the comments (I need all the encouragement I can get!), or during my monthly updates, which I intend to keep posting. I’d also love to hear YOUR New Year’s resolutions and other goals. If you’re not sure where to begin, here are a few tips on crafting realistic, attainable New Year’s resolutions.
Most importantly…happy New Year!
Filed under: Musings and Fun Things, Writing Updates Tagged: ambition, author, dreams, goals, motivation, new year, new year 2016, new years resolutions, resolutions, self-publishing, writing
December 17, 2015
Awesome Indie Book Covers
A nice shout-out to The Cogsmith’s Daughter on Genre Reader!
Hey there! Once again we’re here to champion AWESOME indie book covers. Let’s ignore the disasters and celebrate the triumphs. See one that tickles your interest? Then get clicking on those links, buddy:
The Cogsmith’s Daughter by Kate M. Colby
The Immortality Game by Ted Cross
Venus Rising by Christopher Holliday
The Never Hero by T. Ellery Hodges
Does YOUR indie book look sexy as hell? Let us know!
Click the pic to join the mailing list for FREE BOOKS!
Filed under: Uncategorized
December 16, 2015
Mid-Month Check-In: December 2015
Well, everyone, we made it. This is my last mid-month check-in of the year. I’m not sure if I will do these again next year (if you feel passionately one way or the other, feel free to let me know in the comments), but I will keep doing the month-end updates. Anyway, as a special treat to all of us, I will keep this one short and sweet.
WRITING
I am currently working on two writing projects — Desertera #2 and a nonfiction project that I hope to reveal at the end of the month. I have created a writing schedule for myself and am trying to balance the projects. So far, things are going well, but I know they could be better. Given that I can’t go home for Christmas and almost everyone we know in New Haven will be gone, I’m looking forward to the holiday so I can get some major work done.
BUSINESS
I am still letting the business side of things stay quiet. The main project I am working on is sorting out the cover design for my nonfiction project, which I believe is well on its way. Other than that, I’ve finally finished my entire book review list, and I’m happily reading purely for my own enjoyment and education again.
MARITAL
Daniel is almost done with finals, and I’m looking forward to his break so he can tackle a few projects we’ve been neglecting. My day job is still taking up most of my time, but we’ve managed to fit ourselves into a comfortable routine. I’m not sure that I will ever fully adjust to living in New Haven, and there are still plenty of rough days, but I’m okay for now.
HEALTH/WELLNESS
I really really really hope I don’t jinx anything … but I haven’t had a full-on migraine in about two months (maybe longer?)! I’m not sure what exactly is the cause — I’m still a bit stressed, my sleep is worse than ever (thanks city noises), and goodness knows this move didn’t make me happier — but if lessening migraines is my one reprieve, it’s a pretty good perk. Otherwise, I’m still walking two miles a day (thanks commute) and eating relatively healthily. Hopefully I can add onto those good habits in 2016.
Well, folks, that’s all I’ve got for you. Let me know how your goals are going, and enjoy the rest of your 2015!
How are your new year’s resolutions going? Have you been keeping up with your own writing goals? Share your progress and/or commiserate as needed!
Filed under: Writing Updates Tagged: Author Business, blogging, book, book launch, dystopian, fiction, goals, health, marriage, novel, personal life, reading, steampunk, writing, writing goals
December 9, 2015
Book Review: Ariel by Fia Essen
Ariel by Fia Essen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this novel without the expectation of a review. However, I have chosen to review the novel, because of how much I enjoyed it.
In Ariel by Fia Essen, the reader meets the title character well and truly at rock bottom. Three years after an abrupt break up, employment termination, and building up a pile of credit card debt, Ariel still finds herself trapped in a web of lies (not to mention apathy). However, as the novel progresses, Ariel is able to begin rebuilding her life, with the help of her friends and the mysterious Muse Agency, who are known in the expat community for helping down-and-out individuals turn their lives around and even become wildly successful in their fields.
The best way to describe Ariel is a “feel good” novel. Despite the rut that Ariel is in, she remains an engaging and funny narrator, and the reader is easily charmed by her. While at times I found her monologues a bit repetitive, they were still entertaining, and I actually began to accept them as a quirk of the character rather than just narration. Likewise, Essen has given Ariel realistic flaws – she often is blind to the truth around her, judges herself and others too harshly, and has a habit for lying. Watching Ariel recognize these traits in herself and grow out of them is an incredibly satisfying experience.
Moreover, the other characters in the novel are very well-written and have plenty of complexity. Their relationships with Ariel are believable and elicit emotional reactions within the reader. It is easy to envision these characters existing in their own worlds, and several of them would make for interesting protagonists in their own right. Perhaps the only character that I would have liked to have learned more about is “her Colin” (the love interest). Yes, he is handsome and charming and clearly a wonderful human being. However, I did feel like he lacked depth in comparison with the other characters.
Setting sets Ariel apart from other “chick lit” novels. The novel is set in Singapore, and perhaps it is my American background, but I have not read many novels set in Asia, so the new surrounding was a welcome change. Similarly, the fact that Ariel and her family are expatriates ads another interesting (and educational) component for the reader. Seeing how her experience as an expat and world traveler affected Ariel’s perspective was one of my favorite aspects of the novel.
Overall, Ariel has everything you want in a “chick lit” novel. There’s a spunky female protagonist with a great growth arc, funny and lovable sidekicks, a bit of adventure (in the recollections of Ariel’s travels and her unique lifestyle), and of course, a satisfying (and tasteful) romance.
On a personal note, as I finished Ariel, I couldn’t help but think that this is the most fun I’ve had with a novel in a long time. Perhaps it’s that I, too, feel a bit stuck in a rut right now (though, luckily nothing so dramatic!), or perhaps it’s that Ariel exhibits a similar theme to my own novel (rock bottom female protagonist coming into her own and finding potential for love along the way), just in an entirely different genre. Either way, I’m very pleased that I read Ariel when I did, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, fun and charming read.
If you are interested in reading Ariel and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it through my Amazon Associates Store. By doing this, you will not pay a cent extra, nor will the author receive a cent less, but I will receive a small commission on the sale. Simply click the book’s title or the book’s image.
Filed under: Fiction Book Reviews Tagged: amreading, ariel, book, book review, chick lit, expat, fia essen, reading, review, romance, travel, women's literature, womens fiction
December 7, 2015
On Getting Started: How to Make Yourself Write, Even When You Don’t Want To
Let me get one issue out of the way right now. There will be those of you who read this article’s title and are already bristling. Why would a writer write when she is not inspired? Why would she try to force the muse? There are a lot of reasons (ie: I’m a copywriter for a living, and my boss doesn’t give a flying hoot about how inspired I feel.), but if you need me to explain them to you, then this article is not for you. This is for people who want to write…but just can’t get started.
I’m one of those people. I love the act of writing. As my fingers tap along the keyboard, I am transported to another world. It’s like meditation, only instead of pulling everything inside myself, I’m letting it out. Likewise, I love being done with a writing session. I feel satisfied, accomplished, and just plain proud of myself for having written.
What I don’t like is the time before writing. Often, I feel a plethora of emotions, most of them negative. I’m afraid of whether my writing will be decent or not; I’m dreading trying to figure out where to take my story; or I’m doubting whether I’m even a “real” writer. After all, wouldn’t a “real” writer be dying to get to the keyboard?
Recently, I had a bit of a revelation. Or, maybe let’s call it a mindset shift. Whenever I think about writing, I feel a mental wall come up. Steven Pressfield calls it Resistance. Some may call it writer’s block. I just call it my Wall. Some days it’s exhaustion, some days it’s fear, some days it’s simple laziness. But it’s always unproductive and always stubborn.
I like to picture my wall as a red brick slab with ivy crawling up the side. Go ahead. Picture yours. Describe it in the comments if you like.
Now that I’ve “personified” my mental wall, I’ve been thinking of tools to surmount it. Despite what some artistic souls will have you believe, logic is often a great ally to creativity.
Pole Vaulting
In this strategy, I focus on everything one step at a time. I know that I’m going to write, and when, but I don’t let myself think about it. At each moment, I only have to worry about that moment’s task (getting a glass of water, sitting down, turning on the computer, etc.). One step at a time, like pole vaulter running toward the wall. By the time I realize I’m about to go over the wall (write), I’m already in the air. Scrivener is open in front of me. I’m already here. I might as well write.
Chisel
Sometimes I get all the way to the point of writing, then freeze in front of the screen. In these cases, I tell myself that I only have to write one sentence. That’s it. Just chisel a tiny piece of stone off the wall. Not even an entire brick. After one sentence, I do another. Then another. Eventually, I get through the wall. I forget that writing is “work” and I get on with enjoying myself.
Dynomite
This strategy requires the most self-control. Basically, I just sit down and blast through it. No thinking, no worrying about quality, nothing but getting through the plot point as quickly as possible. It’s not always pretty, but on days when I can shut off my internal editor, it gets the job done.
Key
When I’m feeling particularly tricky, sometimes reminding myself of all the reasons I love writing works. If I can go through a list of reasons to write, eventually one will be compelling enough. This is my key, and I use it to unlock the door of motivation that emerges in my wall.
Reward
There’s no clever metaphor for this one, and it rarely works for me. However, if you can think of a reward for yourself that’s lying just on the other side of the wall, that can be motivation enough to blast through it, one way or another. The problem is…eventually, you just may run out of ways to tempt yourself into writing. Hopefully, you’ve developed a solid habit before that happens.
I’m still figuring out exactly which strategy works for me. It varies by day and mood and all the other factors of life that try to get in the way of writing. So far, I seem to be somewhere between pole vaulting and chiseling my way through. But, I think this list is a good start. I’d love to hear some of your strategies, too.
How do you convince yourself to write when you’re not in the mood? What mindset do you try to bring to your writing? Share your tips below!
Filed under: General Writing Tagged: motivation, resistence, writers block, writing, writing advice, writing mindset, writing tips
December 5, 2015
Indie Book Review: 1001 Islands by K.T. Munson
1001 Islands by K.T. Munson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
1001 Islands by K.T. Munson is a fantasy adventure novel that takes place in a sea-focused world with, you guessed it, 1,001 islands. The story follows several characters (everyone from a kidnapped princess to Elementals and witches to swashbuckling pirates), whose lives converge as rebellion rises within the world. With a full cast of characters, sword-fighting adventure, and two strong romantic subplots, 1001 Islands has everything readers of traditional fantasy crave.
Initially, it took me a while to get into the story. The reader is thrown into the world without much explanation of “the rules” of the land, or who the characters are. There are several characters and plot lines to follow, and while they are each enjoyable and important, there is a bit of a whiplash sensation as the reader is tossed from one to the next. That being said, when they begin to link up, the story truly shines. The characters’ story lines are woven together nicely, each fitting next to the others like adjoining pieces in a puzzle, and highlighting the overarching themes of individualism, freedom, and revolutionary spirit.
As to the characters themselves, they were complex and well-crafted. Munson has written well-rounded, flawed individuals — from their back stories to their present actions. The female characters, most notably Emilia and Princess Roxana, are strong and independent-minded, yet still show deep love and compassion, which is particularly important to me as a reader. (The same can be said of the minor female characters as well.) Likewise, the male characters, specifically The Silence and Caliel, strike the perfect balance between brave hero/love interest figure and the person who needs saving. In short, the characters are extremely well-written, and to me, are what made the novel such a fun read.
While the majority of 1001 Islands kept me captivated (and even smiling) as I read, there were a few moments that sucked me out of the story. Some of this had to do with editing more than story telling, as there were a few errors and other writing issues throughout. However, I daresay, as an author, I am pickier about this than the average reader.
As for the actual story, the only thing that felt out of place was an intimate love scene between two of the characters. Personally, I have no problem reading erotic content (and this scene was perfectly well-written and logical within the plot), but it did take me by surprise, given the rest of the novel politely skirted around opportunities to directly show “adult” content. But truly, it wasn’t a big deal, and I only mention this because I know some readers are uncomfortable with graphic sexual content. To give a better picture, I believe my thoughts were: OH, we’re doing that? Okay, cool.
Last, I felt like the ending was too abrupt. Munson does say in a note that there is a possibility of a sequel, but I still wish more time would have been taken to bring 1001 Islands to a more complete close. As it stands, I think the novel needs the sequel to truly satisfy the lingering questions in the reader’s mind.
Overall, 1001 Islands is an incredibly fun story. It beautifully blends the lines between fantasy, adventure and romance — seamlessly incorporating the hallmarks of all three genres. With a cast of complex, well-written characters and a tightly-woven plot to boot, 1001 Islands is sure to delight readers of good, old fashion fantasy tales.
If you are interested in reading 1001 Islands and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it through my Amazon Associates Store. By doing this, you will not pay a cent extra, nor will the author receive a cent less, but I will receive a small commission on the sale. Simply click the book’s title or the book’s image.
Filed under: Fiction Book Reviews Tagged: action, adventure, book, book review, books, fantasy, fantasy world, fiction, pirates, reading, romance, self-publishing, witches
December 1, 2015
Month-End Update: November 2015
Unfortunately (though, fortunately, for the late hour at which I’m writing), I don’t have much to report for November. Mostly, this is because I had an extended holiday to attend an academic conference with my husband and also go home to visit my friends and family after a long, arduous four months in Connecticut. Therefore, in the spirit of not having much to say, I’ll keep this one short and sweet.
Writing/Drafting
Blog Posts Written — 4 (plus one guest post and one reblog)
Fiction Words Written — 25,690
# of Days I Wrote Fiction — 13
Outlines Written — 0
Editing/Revising
Drafts Revised — 0
# of Days I Revised — 0
Misc. Editing — N/A
Reading
Books Finished
Fiction Unboxed by Johnny B. Truant and Sean Platt
An Oxford Holiday (An Ingenious Mechanical Devices Short Story) by Kara Jorgensen
Let’s Get Digital: How to Self-Publish, And Why You Should by David Gaughran
How to Market a Book by Joanna Penn
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
Reader Magnets: Build Your Author Platform and Sell More Books on Kindle by Nick Stephenson
Books Begun/In-Progress
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Books Reviewed
No Quarter (The Ambeth Chronicles #2) by Helen Jones – read review
Author Business Activities
Free video series on growing a mailing list
Free video training on finding an audience
Shipping signed copies of The Cogsmith’s Daughter to generous readers!
Goals for December
Get back to a regular blogging schedule
Implement my new social media marketing schedule
Craft a marketing plan for 2016
Resume work on Desertera #2
Write 2016 resolutions (business and personal)
What have you accomplished this month? What are your goals for December? For *gasp* 2016? Share in the comments!
Filed under: Writing Updates Tagged: Author Business, blogging, book review, books, dystopian, editing, goals, independent publishing, indie author, manuscript, revising, self-publishing, steampunk, writing
