I know…it’s not the holidays but lists to me are a part of
life and lately, I need them more than ever to try to stay on track. Even more than that, I need a running list so
that on a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis, I don’t forget what it is I need
to do as I continue to release new books.
There are so many little details that can easily be forgotten and even
though I’ve released four books so far, all those little details can still be difficult
to remember.
I realized this a few weeks ago when I was checking on my
stats on Amazon and discovered that my paperback and eBook for Ties That Bind had not been linked so
that a reader would immediately see both options are available. Instead, they would have to actually look the
formats up separately to find them! That’s
not supposed to happen, they should always be linked together but what I forgot
is that I have to actually request
that they be linked together. It doesn’t
just automatically happen.
And I know I have that little tidbit on a list somewhere…problem
is, over the years I’ve made a number of lists and if I’m not looking at the right
one, well then, I can make a mistake by forgetting important details like that.
So last weekend and the weekend before, I went through all
the many folders I’ve compiled over the past three years relating to writing, marketing
and promotion, publication, motivation and time management.
I can’t believe all material I’ve compiled over the years!
I still have some organizing to do with my lists but
eventually I will have a final detailed list of what I could or should be doing
from beginning to end as I move on with each new project. Eventually, I’d like to share all the lists I’ve
made so that hopefully others can use them if it will benefit them with their
own work.
I’ve been working on three different projects lately and
some days it’s good to have the variety but other days, my head can feel like
it’s swimming with too many characters and details. If this were a regular season for me, that
wouldn’t be a bad thing, but this is not a regular season due to the grief I’ve
been trying to manage so I finally had to come to a decision to pick one
project and stick with it. I had already
started the fourth book in the Jorja Matthews mystery series before I began the
new young adult novel during Camp NaNo in April and before that, I had already
completed a short story last year that just needs to be edited, revised with
edits and gifted with a nice cover.
Obviously, it makes sense to finish and publish the book
that’s already complete so I’m going to manage my time around the short story
first. My short ghost story, 1313 Psycho Path, was around 13,000
words. My latest short story, which at
this time is simply titled 1111 (as
in, eleven-eleven), is actually twice as long and not a ghost story, but about
a woman trying to deal with a difficult marriage while also grieving the loss
of her young son. Or maybe 1313 is a novelette and my newest short
is actually a novella… depends on who you ask, I suppose. But as with all my stories, there is a twist in
1111 and the characters surprised me
with an ending I hadn’t expected. That’s
always the fun part for me and it makes publishing my work for others to read even
more fun.
So I will focus on finishing up the book that’s just itching
to get out there. Tomorrow is a new day
and the beginning of a new month so for now, June will be focused on finishing
up 1111, getting it published and
then moving forward with the other novels.
That’s not to say I won’t cheat and add to my novels if inspiration (or
characters) speaks to me, but that’s what’s so great about being an author…you
don’t have to limit yourself if you really don’t want to.
After all, “The only limits you have are the limits you
believe.” ~Wayne Dyer~
Have a great week!
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