So Much to Write - Trying to Balance it All
Even machines have a redline when pushed to their limits.
The goal was to finish writing VII, the first draft of Fury, get started on finishing Skeletal on Inkitt, and start a new book for the Reedsy writing course, all before the end of December. Yeah, that’s not going to happen. Four books in addition to fixing up four blogs, three YouTube channels, the podcast, and the work I do for GreenGeeks is just a bit much.
So, although it is incredibly disappointing, I am reeling back on a few things to keep my goals more realistic. For one thing, the stress was starting to get to me. Technically, out of everything I do throughout the week, GreenGeeks is the most vital. I don’t really make much on anything else, and they pay my mortgage. That means the sheer amount of stress I usually feel is all self-imposed.
Mostly, that’s because I feel like I’m letting people down if I don’t try to grind myself into a thick, sticky paste. I know that a lot of my regulars understand that I just have a lot going on at any given time. But it still makes me feel like I am not doing enough.
But when you’re spread so thing, all of those other projects aren’t getting the full attention they deserve.
The Focus for December
In an attempt to not drive myself to burn out, I am reeling back on a few things and changing up my schedule a bit.
First, the two priority books right now are Fury and the new one for Reedsy. That’s because Fury is the second book in the Witcham series and the new book is what I’m writing while learning from the master class.
I started a new book simply because I learn better by implementing things from scratch. I’ll eventually go through and polish up Fury a bit before handing it off to the beta readers. But the new book is what I’ll use to set up a video, blog post, and perhaps the Kindle Vella project I wanted to start. So, there’s an awful lot tied to this new book.
Not to mention that I’ve been working a bit closely with Reedsy on this particular project, especially when it comes to the videos on YouTube.
Something else I’m going to keep in the back of my mind is that I don’t absolutely need to stick to an 8:00 am to 5:30 pm schedule. I can write in the afternoons instead of binge-watching something on Hulu. That’s because I truly enjoy working on books, blogs, and videos. Most of the time, I enjoy doing these things far more than just watching something online.
So, the focus to end the year is Fury and the new book. If I have a few moments, I might squeeze in a page or two for VII. Still, it is nice to just relax with a glass of wine and not have to think every once in a while. I’m no good to anyone if I stress myself out to a frazzled state.
Hardcover for Kingmaker
I spent about two hours trying to get the hardcover version of Kingmaker up on Amazon. Since the printing process is a bit different, I had to make quite a few adjustments to the original image. I also uploaded a much lighter version as the paperback cover was incredibly dark.
As the printing fees for hardcovers are so high, I’m only going to make about $1.90 per sale. I could make a bit more if I increased the price. But I’m not one to bleed someone out for a debut novel. Especially since I can already tell that my writing has vastly improved since Kingmaker was published.
There I go again; cutting myself short.
In any event, I’ll write a post here once the hardcover is verified and active on Amazon. I’m not sure how long it’ll take, and I’ve already had to re-submit the book twice. You’d think that Amazon would put more effort into the thing that made them the powerhouse they are today. If Barnes & Noble would polish up the Press feature and make things easier for publishers and readers, I have no doubt they would pound Amazon’s KDP platform for indie authors.
It’s Going to Be an Interesting Month
Between the books and setting up the merch for 2024, not to mention all of the other projects I have going on, December is going to be quite the busy month. While it is a bit of a stressful time, I am still having a blast. I thoroughly enjoy all of the things I do throughout any given day.
Every year has just been better than the one before it. While the growth is a bit slow, it’s still growing to some degree. And that’s the one thing you should really keep in mind. Things may not advance nearly as quickly as you want, but that doesn’t mean the journey is a waste of time.
The journey will be rife with blocks and speed bumps of all kinds. But it will also be full of grand opportunities you may not have realized when starting the path. The bottom line is that you’ll never know what will happen if you don’t take the chance and start walking. The opportunities are out there, that is as long as you’re willing to notice them along the way.