You know you want to write a book. I can help.
[image: little-boxes]As I approach post #400 (this is #398) I thought it time for a few changes.
As I focus more and more on writing fiction, I’m doing less and less free coaching and publishing support. Gone, sad to say, are the days of everything I know is free, all you have to do is ask. Busier writing means I need to make every minute count.
Here are a few of the changes, with a great big ask down below.
[image: pause and reflect]Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we drove 600 miles.
Each day.
Yesterday, I didn’t even know what day it was.
Today, I’m sitting in Phoenix while it rains.
In Phoenix. In late April.
Back home, we left 70 degree weather. Which turned to a day-long blizzard the next day.
Schedules are good. Habits are good. Plugging along, doing the work — also good.
Sometimes, though, it makes more sense to pause and reflect. Or just pause.
I’ll be back with my usual brilliance next Friday. In the meantime, if there’s something you’d love to see me write about, tell me about it down in the comments.
It’ll give me something to reflect on when I’m done pausing.
And the 1st step is the most important.
There’s more. Lots more. If you feel that way too, sign up for my newsletter.
[image: Get Your Book Out of the Someday Box in 2014]These were the most viewed posts on the Someday Box blog in 2014.
[image: A Long, Hard Look – a Chandleresque cozy](and hopefully, thereby, my books)
In order to concentrate on my writing, I’ll be spending less time teaching for a while.
Late last year Best Beloved and I started an experiment: could I make a living writing fiction? Or at least, could my fiction contribute enough to our income to be a business rather than a hobby?
Original plan was to release 4 books this year and see what happened. It’s a race between my children’s book Ginger, the Ship Captain’s Cat, and my first Jake Calcutta mystery anodyne to see which will be my third book this year. (If yer the betting type put your coin on Ginger.)
Three isn’t four, but it’s more than some other numbers I could name. But one year isn’t long enough to see the impact of those books. Marketing for A Long, Hard Look is just picking up speed, and that for Into the Fog is barely begun.
Five months ago we agreed that this needs another year, so I’ll still be focusing on fiction through 2015. A year from now, we’ll talk again. Maybe sooner.
Beginning now, the newsletter will go out the first of each month, unless I have reason for a special edition.
There will be a new blog post every Friday. There will be links to the past handful of posts in each newsletter. A month is a long time. Consider dropping by the blog once a week just to read up, eh?
We will only be working with one Someday Box self-publishing client at a time.
Chief Virtual Officer’s Social Media Marketing for Authors program has a good support team, so they’ll be able to take on up to 6 more clients. Email Sue for more information.
I’ll be far less active on Facebook and LinkedIn.
But I’m always available by email (joel@somedaybox.com) if you have questions or just want to chat.
Oh, and you can buy my books anytime.
I’m still considering writing Commonsense Zero-Cost DIY Marketing for Authors but I want to see whether there’s a need, and if so, what specifically would help other authors.
Would you take this 1-question survey, and share it with as many authors as you can?
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MWYKSV8
I’m aiming for 1,000 responses in order to get a real feel for what’s missing in the indie author market.
[image: Cliff Young] Cliffyoung1983. Via Wikipedia.Immediately after urging Best Beloved to take it slower, consider her health, self-care blah blah blah, I started stressing about the post I’m supposed to write today about my Goodreads giveaway.
Pot. Kettle. Nobody here but us kitchen utensils.
I plan to get back to the Goodreads giveaway education I promised by next week, but today, I’m going to spill a bit about what we’re doing and why I’m taking it slow today.
Years ago, Best Beloved almost died of pancreas problems. Couple years later, she almost died of complications from the previous issues.
For 7 years, her primary symptoms have been fatigue, a lack of stamina. Past 6 – 9 months, it’s been extreme fatigue, general pain, and mental blur. Doctors are looking into everything from fibromyalgia to hepatitis. No reason for excessive concern yet, just do the research, find the source, and then decide what action to take.
Into the Fog, the sequel to my very first mystery Through the Fog, will be ready before the end of summer. Yeah, that’s only 3 weeks away.
Watch for preordering and other info at my personal website.
Watch for the special announcement in the newsletter.
If you’re not already signed up for it, now would be a good time.
Here’s a hint:
[image: Commonsense Zero-Cost DIY Marketing for Authors]
[image: step by step]If you scroll down and look left, you’ll see the 16 most popular posts here at Someday Box.
7 are from the “story in 9 sentences” series.
7 are my core marketing posts.
The other two are a guest post from Rosanne Bane and a meander about Nero Wolfe. I know why the former is on the list. The latter, no idea.
Seems to indicate where interest lies: getting stuff written, and getting stuff sold.
More specifically, tools to make the writing and marketing processes less “random willpower-driven flailing” and more follow-the-steps.
In the spirit of endless experimentation to find the sweet spot between what I have to say and what you want to hear, it’s time for a course correction. … more … “The Ongoing Experiment: Chasing Change”
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