One Aim...One Target

So what I have I been doing?

If you haven't noticed my more recently doings, I managed to share a free short story most weeks for the last few months, until I ceased my Free Fiction Friday for a bit of hiatus. That's a fun way to share my own fiction. I do plan to reactivate it once I get a few more important matters squared away.

I've also announced that I'm stepping back into freelancing, and even ghostwriting--albeit this process is a rather slow one since I am way out of touch with the way things operate these days, having been away from freelance writing and the like for several years now. So, a new learning curve there.

Another, more recent event, was the launch of a Patreon page that would be about one goal: Helping me go full-time as the publisher at Founders House Publishing, my indie book company. That has also had a slow start. While I'm a bit surprised at that given the sort of rewards and benefits I'm offering, I guess maybe I have more to learn about appealing customers of Founders House books in order to convert them into patrons. 

I've been busy looking at various approaches to my problem and trying to find the one that would free up the most time in my day so I could focus on building Founders House by publishing authors like John Michael Greer, Catherine McGuire, Ralph Meima, and others as well. Plus, I'd have time to add my own works to the publication schedule. 

I've ran into obstacles and have been dealing with lots of complications at my current primary income that have added a bit more urgency to my quest. A certain amount of single-mindedness has taken over. There's one aim...one target...in my mind right now. But, perhaps, I'll have to re-cultivate a little old-fashioned patience too.

Regardless, there are lots of books planned for release this year. Here's hoping all stays on track to finish strong.

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The Shape of 2018

Now that it is a few weeks into the new year, I wanted to write something here. Like many of you, I have lots of hopes and maybe a few plans in place for what I'd like to accomplish in a brand new year. That's what resolutions are about after all. A new year. A clean slate.

For me, there were things that were put into motion in 2017 that will be done in the early part of this new year. As a publisher, I have several books already in the pipeline for publication. In fact, that is taking up more of my time than anything else. This isn't new; I've mentioned how writing has taken a backseat. So far, I've completed one short story this year.

Once I get a big chunk of the work I have currently in front of me, I have a writing challenge in mind. As a regular reader of long-time writer Dean Wesley Smith, I've learned a great deal about challenges. All kinds of challenges. One that appeals just now is to commit to writing a short story a week all year long. I'll admit that I tried to jumpstart that challenge at the beginning of the year, but I missed last week. You can refer back to the heavy publishing workload for part of the reason why. There are others.

You see, I have 'a lot of irons in the fire.' Or, I'm wearing a lot of hats.

I consider my role as Publisher at Founders House Publishing my main one. It's swiftly followed by the role I have as Editor of MYTHIC: A Quarterly Science Fiction & Fantasy Magazine (A Founders House project nonetheless).

But neither of these focuses is bringing in enough to make them my sole living. For that, I have another job unrelated to either that takes up far more time than I would like at present.

Writing is getting the short end of the stick these days. I'm not happy about it either, but the fun I have with the publishing and book designing and reading story submissions for MYTHIC somewhat makes up for it.

Still, I do plan to make a return to writing. That's why I might try to restart the writing challenge. It may  keep the story-a-week format I started with or it may change over the course of the coming year. Regardless, I will be writing.

I have big ambitions for what I'd like to see happen this year. Honestly, I a big part of the reason why is that this is the year I turn 40 years old. A milestone year...and a wakeup call. There is an urgency to it somehow. Some of my goals are bold. Many of them will require help and support from those who have benefitted or appreciate the work I've been doing in editing and publishing.

There are lot of things in the works. I will try to tell you more about them as we proceed further into 2018.

Writing In 2015 - Setting Goals?

There's nothing particularly original about setting goals. I mean this is the time of year when people make all sorts of goals and resolutions for change and setting new habits in the new year. This is the time for wiping the slate clean. We release a deep sigh and mouth the word "do-over" with a hesitant smile on our faces. Or at least some of us do.

Ever the big fan of veteran pro writer, Dean Wesley Smith, I'll include a link to his latest blog post, a new installment in his ongoing "New World Of Publishing" series. Smith has made it a habit to give some end of the year tips about goals and such to help propel writers in the coming year. Check out the blog post, "New World of Publishing: Failure Must Be An Option." It's the first of a set that'll be coming along during this final week of 2014.

I've said it before though, I am lousy at setting and hitting goals. I've failed in much the way that Smith illustrates. However, I can't let that become a reason or an excuse to quit or to give up. Failure's a built-in dynamic of this writing life and I have to be ready to take a hit when it comes my way. I have to remember what's within my control and set goals that reflect this common sense idea.

Being the writer, I can actively set goals for writing and finishing projects. While life's complications may make it necessary to rethink certain aspects it is still more than possible to write and finish something. I'd say it's fair to mention Heinlein's Rules of Business, a guide that many writers have used to make money in the writing business. I keep a copy of them right in front of me in my office and you can find one in the right column on this site.

Those rules might be a good place to start when it comes to making plans and setting goals for your writing in 2015. At least I think they are. Honestly, if there's any place I should make a more serious effort is in apply those simple (on the surface) rules to my own work.

No matter what sort of plans or strategy you have in place for executing goals in the coming year, I wish you the best in your endeavors. If you have a way you'd like to share with me, please feel free to comment.

Catch you next time.

2013: What's The Shape Of This Writer's Year?

I'm really going to refrain from any attempt at prognostication about how my work life as as writer will shape up this year. It's a fresh, brand new year and I am thinking about what I would like to do to fill it with exciting projects. I've even done some groundwork at filling my schedule.

Design Work

In fact, I enrolled as a student in an Associates program in graphic design.

You might be wondering what that has to do with making strides as a fiction writer. On the surface, maybe nothing at all. As a freelancer in general I've had a rather erratic year. I've been pitched up and down, gained prospects at consistent work, lost them, and have been tossed around. It made me realize that I needed additional creative skills. I could think of nothing better than to revive my dormant visual art skills and funnel them into computer art and graphic design.

After I pick up the skills, gain, the knowledge, and develop the expertise, I will have a viable freelancing channel to add to my writing. I like having options and means. It's a far more resilient position to be in, as a self-employed person. I intend to focus my attention on book design too so I can be more effective for projects coming through my small publishing company. I say two birds with one stones on this one.

Writing

I've been on a small break from writing, trying to assess the way going forward. That hasn't been an easy process. I've been bouncing around in different moods weighing the whole project in different ways depending on my mindset at that particular point. When the nonfiction freelance dried up or bottomed out, I felt stressed out about it. The writing had no fun left in it--a dire prospect for any creative writing. I've not done much fiction since publishing my last novel, A Kingdom Of Shadows.

I want to write again. I want to fiction this year.

I don't know exactly all that I want to write. I've thought about mixing it up with short fiction, novellas, and regular length novels. It may end up that way but I've been trying to come up with some goals. I read a good series of post by Dean Wesley Smith about it. You should visit his site.

If I were making a goal for 2013--when it comes to writing--I think I would take a modest approach. I have to be realistic. Certainly, I have a whole year stretching out far before me. The expanse holds limitless potential. So what am I going to do?

The thing I think that makes sense is just to say that I plan to write 6 novels this year. That's the sum of it, at the moment. Six, brand new and fresh works from my little old imagination. It sounds good, doesn't it? Will I stick with it? I'm not sure. It's a good starting point. Heck I could change my mind in a week and say I'm just focusing on writing novellas for the whole year. (I've certainly thought about it.)

Still, I'm sticking with it now: My goal is to write six (6) new novels in 2013.

Other Matters

While, I  will not get into it here, I have other things happening this year of a more personal nature that will doubtlessly shape the year in some regards. Wish me luck, both on navigating through them and in reaching the end of the year with the goal (whatever final shape it takes) accomplished.