Recent Lessons Learned (or at least Noted)

1. I should do my novel planning *before* I need it. Which is to say, I should plan my next novel (or two) while working on the current novel. Otherwise, I'm going to have downtime (AKA "days I'm not writing") between novels.
 
It's possible that the downtime between novels isn't a bad thing. I expect I'll always take a few days off between novels. But I didn't expect to take nearly 3 weeks off.
 
It's also possible, though, that it's *hard* to plan Novel B while writing 3000-4000 words a day on Novel A. I guess I'll find out.
 
2. I shouldn't sign up for short story contests and then almost forget about them and/or wish they would start later than they will. Or have.
 
Maybe I should just go back to my previous stance of "Don't sign up for (or otherwise participate in) writing contests." I mean, sure, prizes are nice…or they look nice. I've never won a prize in a writing contest. I don't take direction well, which is something of a handicap in writing contests.
 
I think the short story contest looked more interesting/doable in December, when I wasn't working on anything in particular. Now, I'm working on stuff in particular, and the contest feels a bit like an imposition. But I will write my ghost story with claustrophobia and send it off. And then forget about it. Unless I actually proceed to the second round. That would be weird. Cool, maybe. But weird.
 
3. I shouldn't check my book sales so damn often. My goal is to put off checking my sales numbers until the end of February. And then, hopefully, be pleasantly surprised.
 
It's not like checking sales reports makes the sales come in faster. I mean, duh.
 
Sometimes I might end up seeing sales-related information. Like when I had to log in to CreateSpace to complain about a misprinted book. But I will not seek out such opportunities and will try to ignore whatever information is there.
 
At my current rate of sales, checking the numbers is a lot like watching paint dry. Or watching cold molasses pour out of a bottle.
 
I expect sales to trend upward over time. I don't have much control over how much time, unfortunately, so I cope as best I can. Which means checking less often. A lot less often. And writing. And getting more books ready for release (The Door to the Sky is coming soon).
 
In other news, which has nothing to do with any lessons learned, I started writing GoSH1 today. I hit 3003 words. I finished the first draft of chapter 1 and started chapter 2 (out of 20 total chapters). I'm getting into the voice/mindset of the first of the main characters, and having fun defining her relationship with her little brother. Writing in the voice of 13-year-old Stevie Buckbee was fun. Writing in the distinct voices of three new 11-year-old girls should be a lot of fun too. If I can pull it off.
 
Onward the writing!
 
-David