Month-End Update: November 2016 (Come Vote!)
November really got away from me. After learning the much-needed (but still a little painful) lesson of obeying my own writing process, I got a little off track for the month. However, despite taking a few steps backward in my fiction efforts, I was able to complete my final nonfiction project for the year (more on that soon!), as well as tackle a couple of books on my review list.
My main takeaway for November is that I need to keep streamlining my author routine and reevaluate my priorities going into 2017. I’ll talk more about this when I do my reflection posts at the end of December, but suffice to say I’m already working on resolutions and setting up systems for the new year.
To that end, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want this website to be. I started this blog in 2014, with the goal of chronicling my author journey and holding myself accountable to my writing. In 2015, it became my “author website,” with a strong focus on writing/publishing advice and book reviews. This year, it’s really started to feel like not just my website, but a part of a larger community. As such, in 2017, I want to make my author website work even harder smarter for you.
There’s a poll at the end of this post. Please tell me which kinds of articles would be most beneficial or entertaining to you going forward, and feel free to leave any other suggestions or requests in the comments. This is YOUR chance to tell me what you like, what you don’t, and what will help you most in your own journey.
But, before you vote, here’s what I accomplished in November:
Writing & Editing
Blog Posts Written – 5 and one guest post
Fiction Words Written – 11,228
# of Days I Wrote Fiction – 13
Nonfiction Prompts Written – None new
# of Days I Wrote Nonfiction – N/A
Drafts Revised – Proofread and formatted nonfiction book
# of Days I Revised – 5
Outlines Written – 1 (restructuring Desertera #3)
Days Without Creation/Production – 12
Reading
Books Finished
Dead Magic (Ingenious Mechanical Devices #4) by Kara Jorgensen
A Thousand Rooms by Helen Jones
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Omnibus Vol. 1 by Joss Whedon
Books Begun/In-Progress
From Hell by Alan Moore
Books Reviewed on Blog
The Art of Breathing (Scarborough Mysteries Book 3) by Kate Evans – read review
Dead Magic (Ingenious Mechanical Devices #4) by Kara Jorgensen – read review
A Thousand Rooms by Helen Jones – read review
*Remember, I review every book I read on my Goodreads page.
Author Business Activities
Put together prompts anthology
Goal-setting and administrative tasks in preparation for 2017
Beta-reading and reviewing books for fellow authors
Hosted part of a Facebook takeover event
Goals for December
Get back on track with Desertera #3
Properly announce prompts anthology
Wrap up pending book reviews and guest post commitments
Finalize plans for 2017
What did you accomplish in November? If you participated in NaNoWriMo, how did it go? What can I do to help you reach your goals in 2017? Share it all below!
Filed under: Writing Updates Tagged: blogging, fantasy, indie author, monthly update, NaNoWriMo, nonfiction, publishing, science fiction, writing, writing prompts
