How to be an Indie Author: Final Thoughts

There is a lot to writing a book. There is a lot to publishing it, whether you go the traditional route or decide to go indie.

I hope that over the course of my indie author series you were able to gain some insights to the process and learned a little bit about what it takes, where mistakes can happen, and how to do better. Ultimately that is the goal.

It takes time to be successful in these things. It's been five years since I started down this path, and despite spending hours daily on writing, publishing, marketing, and researching, there is so much more I could know. There are so many more things I have to try, to work on, to evolve. The list is endless. And I question my decisions often, not necessarily out of doubt, but because I want to confirm they are still the right path for increasing success.

As you move forward in your writing career, remember these lessons that I learned the hard way:

1. Sometimes you just have to do it. Even if it's shitty. Even if it's messy. Sometimes you just need to do it to prove to yourself you can.
2. Yes, there are some really famous authors who are actually hacks. There are some no-names who are God's gift to literature. Ability has nothing to do with success.
3. Re-evaluate often. You'll thank yourself. It helps guarantee your improvement.
4. If you give up, you will not succeed.
5. If writing brings you joy, just effing do it. Who cares?
6. Everyone has an opinion and at some point, one of them will hurt. Bad.
7. Find your ideal fan and give them what they want.
8. Forgive yourself when you screw up. It's okay. You can always rework. You can always improve.
9. Any review is better than none (haters are good.).
10. Even if no one values your work, I do - because you're doing it. And that's awesome. It takes a lot of effort and resources and discipline to pull off a manuscript. Drink a beer (or tea - whatever!). You deserve it. And message me. Let's talk writing and publishing.

I'm serious. Message me. Tweet me. Facebook something. I love talking about writing and publishing. It's a lonely road and we authors need to stick together.

If you missed any of the posts in this series, bookmark this round-up of HOW TO BE AN INDIE AUTHOR:

1. Beginning 
2. Process
3. Editing
4. Formatting
5. Publishing Ebooks
6. Publishing Print
7. 44 Marketing Tactics

I wish you much love and success on your writing journey. And do keep me posted. I want to know how things work out for you. Seriously.

How to be an Indie Author 6: Publishing Print

This is the sixth post in a series about self-publishing from ideation through sales. To check out other posts in this series, click here.

Last time I covered a lot of ground when discussing digital publishing. This time I'm going to explain a few of the differences that you need to consider when publishing for print a.k.a. print-on-demand a.k.a. POD.

Nuts and Bolts

The biggest thing at issue here is formatting your manuscript. As I mentioned in the formatting post, that will make or break you. For POD, it takes me at least two days when using a template. Assuming you've done the hard work of formatting your manuscript (and I really recommend using a template, typically provided by the POD printer/distributor) there are a few other concerns that make the POD process distinct from digital publication:

1. Book type and
2. Distribution channels
   

Book Type

I'm using "book type" as a shorthand for page size and binding type. No doubt you own a few different sized books. Some genres tend towards larger sizes, where others tend to be smaller. Some make sense with a spiral binding, where others really need a traditional spine. Think about the genre of your book and typical sizes/binding types. Whatever is normal for your book's genre is what you want for your book.


The book size and binding type will dictate the manuscript template you need. They must match. If you got the wrong size or weren't thinking about things, you're going to need to reformat. Suck, I know, but necessary.

This will also dictate the kind of cover you need to have. Some POD printer/distributors (like the one I use, CreateSpace) have cover creation applications on their sites where you can plug in high res pictures and some text without too much hassle. If you want to have a custom cover, they often have templates you can use to make and upload your own. Typically I do a hybrid version where I have a full cover image and then the spine and back are "plug and play."

Distribution

After you've got your ISBN, your cover is made, your files are free from errors, you finally get to proof your book. Sometimes this means you have to purchase an author proof. Sometimes it means you get to view the book for free digitally. Whatever the case, you make your choice and the book gets proofed. Now you're ready to publish the book which means several things:

1. Selecting categories (should be the same as you had for your digital version)
2. Setting price (should be high enough that you make royalties but low enough that readers will buy it)
3. Selecting distribution channels (so the most readers can access your book)

Categories and pricing are important when considering distribution. You want people to be able to find your work. The more websites that sell it, the more libraries that carry it, the better. At the very least, it needs to be on Amazon because of the wide reach of the site. CreateSpace is an Amazon company, so when I publish my books, I get both a CreateSpace store (where I get maximum royalties) and my book gets added to the Amazon market quickly. I also have expanded distribution options where libraries and booksellers can purchase copies of my books.

Now, I should explain why I chose CreateSpace. I wanted something easy that didn't have any upfront costs. I liked that I had an ISBN that didn't require extra fees and I didn't have to order a hundred copies of my book when I didn't know how many people would be purchasing it. Anyone can go to my CreateSpace store and buy a copy of THRIVE: HOW I BECAME A SUPERHERO, for example, and the book gets printed immediately for them. That is the beauty of POD.

There are a lot of other POD printer/distributors and authors have a variety of reasons for choosing those companies. In fact, some small presses use them because the cost is so much less than ordering 1000 copies of a book. It honestly doesn't matter which ones you choose, as long as they connect with major channels and have the features that work best for your goals and situation. Ultimately that is joy of being an indie author - one size doesn't fit all.

Publish the way that works best for you, because that is what will give you the greatest fulfillment and the highest probability of success.
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Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the POD process as well as any tips and tricks you've picked up on the way!

Also check out my next post in this series where I will begin discussing the marketing and sales process. 
 
Visit my website to donate, become a patron, or buy my books! I recently made some serious updates to the site and I'd love your thoughts. Be sure to check out my updated Amazon Author Page. You can get all the fiction there as well as THRIVE and TRANSFORM TO THRIVE, my tweets, and more! 

How to be an Indie Author 4: Formatting

This is the fourth post in a series about self-publishing from ideation through sales. To check out other posts in this series, click here.


Last time I wrote about editing, which most writers think of as the bear in the process. I'm here to tell you, that formatting is just as tedious, if not more so. This is where the real work for the indie author begins.

The Indie Difference

Indie tools: coffee, notepad, pen, & laptop

Formatting is a serious difference between traditionally published and independent authors. The reason is simple - this is the beginning of the publishing process.

Before we were working on the content. Editing, is really polishing content. Formatting, however, is making sure content is accessible in whatever form a manuscript takes.

For the purposes of this discussion, I'm going to talk about both digital and print-on-demand publishing. While there are many options in the wide world of digital and POD publishing, I will dive into the reasons why I made the choices I did for the distributors I did etc.

Digital

First, it should be noted, choosing a distributor will change your formatting process because different distributors do different things. For the most accessibility, I recommend the following things:

1. Set up a style throughout your manuscript (for example first line indent for text body, chapter title/heading style for section titles).
2. Get rid of any extra spaces unless they are necessary for content readability (extra lines, extra spaces, extra indents).
3. Embed fonts if you're attached to them.
4. Include a message at the beginning of your document reminding people if they got your book for free, to buy a copy because it was a lot of work to produce the book.
5. Include an "About the Author" section at the end with a little bio about you.
6. Include a "Connect Online" section that has all the major places readers can find you online.
7. If you're really tech savvy, create hyperlinked table of contents that allows readers to jump easily to chapter headings (I'm not tech savvy, so I don't have this in my docs because every time I try things explode.).

Keep in mind, different file types will look differently in digital readers. If you have a reading app on your phone, ereader, or app on your computer, USE THEM. This is especially important when you're starting out because you won't have a system in place. That said, once you've done this a few times, it will become second nature, and you may decide to skip the ereader review altogether (like I do, for better or worse).

Also important to note is different distributors have different capacities. Some will only provide a single file type, like MOBI or EPUB (the most common). If you have to choose one kind of file, choose an EPUB file. However, I would strongly recommend that you not limit yourself to one type of file or one place to be read.

That said, if you have any confusion around formatting, or the distributor rejects your document for some reason, most have a guide or FAQ that you can reference for assistance. Smashwords, my ebook distributor, has a ton of resources for authors (and readers!) which are very accessible and easy to understand.

If you read all this and it stressed you out, however, you can pay someone else to format your work for you or buy a template to use. The cost varies significantly, and I cannot make recommendations this way because, well, I've never been a la cart. I've always been a bootstrapper (If you have recommendations for formatting services or templates, please comment below!).

Print-on-Demand

The second kind of formatting fun is, well, worse. Formatting for print is, as a friend once said, an art form. To format from scratch takes finesse and deep knowledge of printing.

Before you go through the nuts and bolts, make sure you include - just as you did for your digital copies - "About the Author" and "Connect Online" sections at the end of the manuscript.

Now that everything is where you need it, be sure you have selected your printer/distributor. Formatting requirements vary widely from company to company, and one set of formatting choices may not translate to another company.

In my next post on publishing, I'll talk about the reasons why you might choose one printer/distributor over another, but for the purposes of formatting, let's just recognize the two choices available (similar to digital):

1. Use the template provided by the printer.
2. Pay someone to go through the process for you.

If you use the template provided, make sure it matches the size of book you want (6'x9' for example). Make sure the pagination places everything on the correct page. So, the title page should have the binding margin on the left. The table of contents should start on a page with the binding margin on the left, etc.

If you pay someone else to do this for you, make sure they are comfortable with the printer/distributor you plan to use and you clearly communicate what size book you intend to have (5'x8' or 6'x9' or ?).

Even if you pay someone else to do this for you, check every chapter. Make sure there are no pages with a single word on them. Make sure the chapter headings are consistent. Make sure the fonts are what you want. Make sure the pages are tracking. Double check that binding margins are where they need to be. THIS IS IMPORTANT! If anything is wrong with the formatting, it will slow everything down. You will have to change the document, go over it again, and possibly again.

I cannot stress the importance of formatting. Once you have this process down, it makes everything easier and faster. But it does take some time to get comfortable and confident in this (I'm just now comfortable with POD and it's been almost 4 years since I started doing it!).

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Do you have any tips or tricks to make sure your formatting is correct? Have any horror stories to share? Leave a comment below!

Check out my next post in this series on publishing where I will talk about why I chose the distributors/printers I did. And to support your local, lovely indie bootstrapper, visit my website to donate or buy my books! All the links on my site give me maximum royalty percentages, as opposed to supporting big companies. Buy a book there and see how my formatting went (or didn't!).

THRIVE Book Launch Week 9: Why Everyone Needs This Book

Despite suffering, I thrive.

THRIVE is radically different from anything I've written thus far. It is memoir - and a highly personal, highly revealing memoir at that. I share things about myself in THRIVE that I have not shared to any single person, with one exception.

Christian is the one person who knew the whole story - every detail and emotional reaction.

My friends and family knew pieces, but not everything. They learned everything the first time they read the book.

And it is not an easy read. It is painful. It was painful to write. Up until this point, I have hinted but not stated explicitly. Here I will explain why. The following is just a taste of the contents of THRIVE:

• I was molested as a toddler by an older boy.
• I suffered overt misogyny and abuse at the hands of boys while growing up, even as I suffered silently with the aftereffects of my molestation.
• I was so ill in a third world country, I brushed death.
• I suffered every kind of attack a woman can suffer - stalking, following at night, verbal, emotional, and physical abuse. I was also raped by a friend in college.
• I lived in possibly the worst apartment in the developed world, which was sold to Christian and I as a reasonable place to start married life (think: no AC in a bombed out section of Phoenix and you begin to get the picture).
• I was unemployed for more of my adult life than not, including a time when multiple student loans were coming due.
• I suffered homelessness right after giving birth to my son, and struggling to accept unrealized expectations - the American Dream was my American Nightmare.

This is not everything. This is just a peek at what THRIVE contains. The book is graphic. It is not an easy read. And yet... I lived through these things and more (for details, you need to get a copy). You would never know it if I didn't tell you.

I have done so much more with my life. I am so much more than the difficulties I've experienced. And that is what this book is about. It is about using these difficult things - taking the bad and ugly, along with the good, and becoming more than before.

That is why I wrote the book. I chose to reveal these difficult, painful things, because I could not stand one more person getting blamed for their suffering. I could not stand to sit by, watching people around me not understanding the depths of pain that any person might experience, despite their station in life. I couldn't stand watching others ruined by difficulties. How could I let someone else struggle longer than they needed to when I could show them a way to not only manage, but harness their suffering? How could I stand by when I had strategies and tools at my disposal that could make a difference in the lives of individuals and their communities?

I couldn't. I couldn't any longer. I want my legacy to be something my son can take pride in - that will be a force for positive change in the world. To do that, I had to lay myself bare. I made myself vulnerable. And I know my life flies in the face of what many people think is reality. Which is exactly why I had to write THRIVE - because people have to know. Everyone needs to understand what is possible - both the levels of hidden suffering, and the potential power gained through such experience.

So please, for yourself, for your community, for your friends who have not yet broken their silence - read this book. It will open your eyes.

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LAUNCH UPDATE

Last week was big for me. I got a lot of big things accomplished.

• Published THRIVE in paperback.
• Published TRANSFORM TO THRIVE in paperback.
• Updated my author website.
• Finished revamped covers of Books 1-3 in KHLOE ALWELL series.
• Drew cover drawing for Book 4 in KHLOE.
• Finished coverart for Book 4.
• Published 2nd edition of THE BROTHERS on Smashwords.
• Published 2nd edition of LOVERS AND RIVALS on Smashwords.
• Blogged.
• Uploaded link to Patreon.
• Got 75% revamp of LILITH done.
• Pitched articles related to THRIVE to 2 different sites.
• Wrote and submitted guest post to a blog, set to go live in early July.
• Researched possibilities for audio books.

This week I would like to:

• Submit some more posts related to THRIVE
• Confirm when I need to follow up with people/media about pitches being accepted.
• Finish LILITH revamp and publish 2nd edition.
• Publish 2nd edition of KHLOE books to Amazon.
• Review potential publicist relationship.
• Pitch a guest post about women in fantasy.
• Get social media campaign figured out.
• Time to get videos done...about THRIVE?
• Blog
• Patreon

I hope this is another big week. I had a bit of down time over the weekend, and now I'm ready to jump back into the fray. I'm anxious to dig in.

Why I Love Khloe Alwell, and You Should Too

During my launch of THRIVE, I started the process of revamping - or rather rewriting - my Khloe Alwell series.

I fell in love all over again.

I had forgotten how rich and complex the books are. I forgot the nitty gritty of all the characters. I forgot how damn sexy the boys are. Like...really. I forgot how much I totally love Laran.

In talking with a friend about my love of Laran, she grinned.
"Have you ever heard Anne Rice talk about Lestat?" she asked, twisting her lips.
"No," I said, raising my brows.
"You talk about Laran the way she talks about Lestat. Like, you really love him." Her eyes sparkled and I grinned sheepishly.
"Laran is my dream man. If they ever did a TV or movie adaptation of these books, I might have problems. My marriage might be in trouble. I mean, I think I might fall in love with Laran. I might forget the poor guy was just an actor."

And it's true. But the other guys are nothing to sniff at. I mean, I love them all for different reasons. All my characters are family to me. But Laran is... something else.

And because I love him, love all of them, I had to publish a second edition. I didn't do the best job I could have when I first published these books, so I went back. Hopefully I'm doing my characters justice. I want readers to fall in love with Khloe. To hate her attackers, get angry with her, to bite their lips as she yearns, and to cringe as she tries to reject with grace. I want them to ache when Laran enters a scene. To grumble with Constantine. To saunter with Freyr. I want them to glow with Dani.

I want readers to get bloody and bothered and caught up.

This is why I am so pleased that second editions of THE BROTHERS and LOVERS AND RIVALS are now for sale on Smashwords (and soon after on all major online retailers).

If you haven't explored Khloe yet, I invite you dive in, see humanity as you've never seen it. Explore climate change in a way that you never imagined. See myth, faith, love, sex, and high school in a wild story of self-discovery and empowerment that shows what girls are made of - the stuff of legend.

THRIVE Book Launch Week 6: Temping

Keep moving. It's all temporary.

Recently I had an epiphany, which is strangely related to THRIVE.

I realized even though I still get freaked out, depressed, or angry, even in the moment I see the experience of those feelings as temporary. Before, I felt bad and it made me feel like the whole world was awful and there was no light. Now I recognize I am reacting to a specific situation, which will pass, and it does nothing to hinder my progress.

Before I might have wallowed. Now I give myself the freedom to feel, accept the feeling, and then move on to do what has to be done.

My core situation is solid - I have my family. We love each other. Everything else is dressing. Everything else is a game. I move the pieces. I try different things. I experiment. I have fun. I get annoyed. And at the end of the day, I come back to my husband and son.

While I haven't been in war, I've been torn down enough to know that I have what really matters in life. I have family, friends, and an extensive support network who surround me with love. In this, I have been extraordinarily successful. And I am profoundly grateful for this situation, and for the epiphany that everything else in life is just fun and games.

Really.

That is not to say that my actions don't matter, or that I don't want to have a legacy for my son, or a positive impact on my community, country, and planet. I do want those things.But I am open to how they play out. I am detached from a specific result. I intend to enjoy the ride. I intend to enjoy helping as many people as I can with THRIVE. I intend to enjoy fulfilling the purpose given to me. I intend to enjoy every moment of life, even the angry, sad, or anxious ones. All of these things are gifts. All of them are part of the experience - part of the game.

And it's all good. Truly it is.

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LAUNCH UPDATE

It's a bit of a mixed bag, and I feel like last week was a blur. Maybe the stress of the marathon involved with this process finally caught up to me. Whatever it was, I was exhausted all week and had trouble focusing on tasks. That said, I was able to finish the following:

• Patreon blog post
• Patreon art upload
• Regular blog posts
• Incorporated magicworkers' suggestions into press kit
• Scheduled a meeting with a "connector" who has a lot of similar interests and influential friends
• Finished west coast press kit contact database (in hopes of speaking engagements)
• Reached out to connected friends at several universities
• Finished revamping LOVERS & RIVALS
• Determined ideal camera set up for videos
• Recorded prelim/video tests (need to redo for the perfect ones)
• 43% revamped LILITH & AMMON
• 75% done with "influences" page on author website
• Created "author ambassador" contact form and solicited from friends and other connections.
• Downloaded fonts for new covers
• Downloaded grammar extension for word processor

And the plan for this week is:

• Finish LILITH & AMMON
• Finish formatting THRIVE
• Finalize revamped covers for KHLOE series
• Patreon EXCLUSIVE upload of a short story
• Blog posts
• Finalize "influences" page
• Finalize first video set (especially Patreon ones)
• Upload KHLOE books with revamped covers to all outlets
• Upload new covers to website & blog
• Finalize east coast contact database
• Have meeting with connector and follow up on any relevant brainstorming/ideas

I think that's it...but I'm a little scattered at the moment. I'm experiencing that temporary feeling of anxiety the closer I get to pre-order day (May 15). In the end, everything will be what it will be...BUT, I still don't want to get caught with my pants down. I know that everything could always get picked and prodded more, and that I just have to let that go. I can't know what people will get riled about, or what will speak to people. I can't worry about it. In the end, it was my life. You can't argue with experience. It was. It speaks for itself. And I can't control what others hear.

THRIVE Launch Week 3: The Itch-Scratch Edit-Rewrite Cycle

Anyone who has eczema or suffered through chicken pox or even the seasonal mosquitoes of New Jersey knows...the itch-scratch cycle sucks.

You have to scratch, because you itch. And nothing is worse than itching. So you scratch - applying pain and pleasure in a single act to that itch source. For a little while it's fine. But you didn't satisfy the problem. The itch comes back. So you scratch. Then you itch. So you scratch.

You scratch so much you scrape your skin off....but you still itch.

There's a similar thing in writing - revision.

You can revise until you die.

That is the problem. You can revise and revise and poke and prod, but at some point you have to just accept your little creation for what it is. There will always be a better book somewhere. There will always be a worse one. There will always be a better edit. There will always be a worse one.

At some point, you have to push your baby into the world, and see if it will fly.

I, strangely, have the opposite problem. I'm overly eager to finish. I accept my creation, flawed as it is, much sooner than my other writing friends. How do I know this? Well, because I've recently become acquainted with some writers who have worked on the same individual manuscript for years. Some a decade.

I would go crazy. Actually certifiable.

We both have something to learn from the other: One needs to let go of the piece, and accept perfection is impossible. The other needs to honor the piece, and take care to let it shine for all its worth.

This is the lesson my beloved friend and editor is teaching me. And I am grateful, and humbled, and struggle with every second of this lesson.

For the most part I thought I was done with THRIVE, and in many ways I am. However, if I really want it to show its worth, I need to be willing to cut things out. I need to be willing to remove distracting bits or unpack distracting omissions. This is where editing and proofing are so important. This is what polishing is all about.

So that's what I did today, all day. I polished. And I thought. And I will have more to do tomorrow. It means the other things I wanted to work on will get pushed back, which is frustrating, but necessary. I need THRIVE to shine, so I need to polish.
 
Here is my progress from last week:

• 88% done proofing THE BROTHERS
• 95% done polishing THRIVE
• Wrote an intro video script
• Wrote a list of influencer/organization lists for press kits
• Revised my press kit
• Finished about half my novel descriptions
• Finished about three-quarters of my revamped LOVERS & RIVALS cover
• Did some sketch art based on the Khloe novels
• Brainstormed some social media campaign tags
• Uploaded new book descriptions to Smashwords on several novels
• Changed Smashwords category tags on several novels
• Confirmed website design
• Talked over revised press kit with beta readers
• Wrote blog posts

My goals for week 4 are as follows:

• Finish proofing THE BROTHERS
• Proof a shorter piece
• Finish revising THRIVE
• Incorporate feedback on THRIVE journal guide
• Incorporate feedback on press kit
• Upload sketch art to Patreon for fantastic patrons
• Write blog posts
• Upload revamped BROTHERS cover art and book to Smashwords

I think that's it...and I'll keep you posted. Scratch, scratch.

Life Success System

Transition can be so beautiful...

According to many business minded blogs, systems are the way to success. This is what many self-made people argue, and indeed, it would appear this kind of structure helps ensure focus. When a person has a system, a standard operating proceedure to fall back on, it guarantees that certain things get done no matter what.

It might seem a little awkward to talk about "personal standard operating procedures," after all, applying a business concept to one's life feels rather robotic. That said, I can say quite honestly that it works. I can say this, because in order to fulfill my promises to myself and ensure I achieve my goals, I have implemented a few systems of my own.

At first, it was a bit of experiment. I started off with some casual things. Once I experienced a little success with these smaller items, I decided to apply the same concepts to other areas of my life.

Because I hate veiled language and undelivered promises, I will explicitly share with you what I have done and then what I intend to do. In short, I'm going to give you my system. Keep in mind, it might not work for you. Just because it works for me, does not mean it will for you. The fact is, a system only works if it is used consistently. If you cannot follow it consistently, then do something else. This means you may experience some trial and error. I can attest that I have tried all manner of things and I have finally come up with something that works for me (and works for me in all aspects of my life).

The first thing I wanted to do was change a few habits. In order to do that, I downloaded a 21 day habit app (21 Days Effect from Google Play). I then chose three habits I wanted to establish. Each day I had to check into the app and choose whether or not I had completed the habit for a total of 21 days. At the end of the 21 days, I would input three new habits (or select one of the previous for another 21 days).

Now, I will openly admit that I need the check in. I need some accountability and I hate failure. Hate failure. I cannot stand being unsuccessful at something, thanks to a strong perfectionist streak. The check in, even if it is just within the app, is enough motivation for me to maintain focus on my selected daily goals for the 21 days.

I decided to choose some physical goals - like calorie counts and exercise quotas. Later, after a little success with the app, I added some professional goals. These I based on the things I feel called to complete in order to achieve my long term vision for myself.

My long term vision is a five year plan that includes my writing, finances, level of reknown, "day job," and family life. In order to realize that vision, I divided it up into yearly items. I realized I could only control myself, and so rather than worrying about how things would be received, I decided to ensure I did everything within my power to realize my vision every year, month, day, and hour.

This year, it meant applying to doctoral programs (check!), publishing a nonfiction piece (in beta reading as I write this post), finishing the Khloe Alwell series (80% finished with the manuscript of the last book!), finishing Andrew from the Rollins Pack, and completing related marketing/publishing changes for all related items. On top of all that, I need to assure my family is provided for. In order to do that, I need to have a way to make money consistently.

That seems like a lot when I write it out like that. Okay, actually it is a lot. But if I break it down into bite sized chunks, it isn't. Really. In fact, I plan to get it all done by July.

I decided the order in which to get these things done. First, my nonfiction book is in beta reading. Until I get feedback about that, I am unwilling to publish it. In the mean time, I can write a guest post or media packet item once a week related to the book.

Next, I decided to focus on Khloe. My Khloe fans have been waiting patiently for the last installment, and it's time I fulfill my promise. I gave myself several weeks to rewrite the 80k that was written, and then another month to complete the first draft. Then I gave myself a couple weeks to rewrite into a second/third draft. When that was complete, I would send it to a few beta readers. With feedback, I'd do another draft, give myself a day for coverart, and publish. I took less than a week to rewrite the 80k and already I am up to 92k. By giving myself very achievable daily goals, I am able to pace myself and maintain momentum. When I have more time and energy, I rewrite or write more. When I don't, I focus on reaching my daily goal.

By putting my daily writing goal into the app, I have added accountability. It is enough to make me feel like I'm in a race with myself, which is ideal for the competitive perfectionist.

Needless to say, I divided the tasks for Andrew in a similar way and will complete it when I send Book 4 to beta. After Andrew, I hope to have my nonfiction piece in hand, will rewrite it, and publish, along with a nice marketing campaign in relevant sites and blogs. I get my daily goals done before I do anything else, and I'm golden.

Once those book related items are done, then it is time to focus on developing a consistent income stream. In my five year plan, my books do that for me. Right now however, I need an alternative. This is especially true if I enroll in a doctoral program.

I have a TON of business ideas on any given day. In fact, it's a little crazy how varied my ideas are (products, services, websites, brick and mortar...you name it). There are several issues with this, however...

1. Isolating the best idea.
2. Hammering out the details.
3. Making it work.

In the past there was also the question of having enough energy to get started. Getting started is the first difficult thing. The second difficult thing is continuing before the idea builds enough inertia to be self-sustaining.

Getting started is scary for me, but I can do it. In the past my true hurdle was waiting for sufficient inertia.

I have written more than enough books to feel good about publication. I feel good about my overall plan. While I continue to follow my plan for writing, marketing, and publication, I need to decide what I idea to develop for a consistent income stream. That way, when I have finished my publication goals, I can transition seemlessly to my business/income development goals.

So far my system works. I'm moving along on a good clip. I am sure of my success. I just need to decide what that success will look like and then I can make it happen. I have a system for that.

Throw That Book: Celebrate Freedom

Freedom. Glorious freedom.
Liberation.
Independence.

Tis a gift to be free. Yes...or is it?

I'm not talking about the holiday coming up. I'm talking about the liberation of books.

FREE OUR BOOKS! BOOK LIBERATION!

A tweep of mine recently had her books show up on a piracy site and as many would be, was upset by this.

The first thing I thought?

I wish one of my books had enough attention to be on a pirate site.

Yes, I would probably lose some money on that book...but...I might gain some fans.

There is a tension between possession of a creative product and accessibility. I think of Louis C.K. who put up a special, DRM free, and had a tip jar situation. He made a bunch of money even though he didn't require payment. Was it a question of demographics? Celebrity? Product itself? Or was it simply the fact that he ventured to trust people enough with his craft they were so moved to support him despite its free price tag?

I have in the past made books free as well as had give aways. I have also given free chapters and of course, my ZEPHYRS short story has always been free. I don't have a tip jar, though I wouldn't mind listing a book on NOISETRADE (can I please?). All my books on Smashwords are DRM free. I did that because I want to trust people and encourage them to support art because it is good, brings them joy, and they want more of it.

On the one hand, if I was on a pirate site, I can see getting mad. On the other, would I be doing my job if my books weren't free somewhere...somehow? Probably not.

So while I don't require payment, I do expect some kind of compensation. PR will do nicely. Money would be good too. :-)

2014 Master Writer Plan Update: April

The 2014 Master Writer Plan is going...alright.

So far I've been consistent in reaching my weekly word count goals, which is FAN-FRICKIN-TASTIC! As I expected, I didn't get a book published or cover done in March, which was fine.

Here is where I am in April:

• 2 covers finished (for the first 2 books)
• Consistent blog posting and better interaction with readers/fans/followers
• 2 books edited, proofed, and formatted
• 2 other books are approximately half-way written (one non-fiction and another fiction)
• Weekly word count goals have been met/exceeded since declared plan even if some days are slightly lacking which means...
• Monthly word count goals have been met/exceeded

First I'd like to say that I am thrilled with my progress. I'm half-way through the writing portion of my goal (at least by book, by word...the biggest slog will be Khloe...*cringe*). I've started a non-fiction series which I think will be a great success (tied directly to my parenting blog).

There have been some bumps along the way. I've been working to add navigation to my books and I'm having trouble doing so. Needless to say, this has been incredibly frustrating and in order to get it right, I need a block of several hours to go through the book and write out all the section titles and assign hyperlinks to them and bookmarks. It's a pain in the ass (especially for the 52 Lists book...as you can imagine). That said, it's a good idea to do things like this because it makes it a lot easier on readers and the easier things are on readers, the more likely they will enjoy the book and recommend them to friends. So I cross my fingers and hope this is appreciated and not taken for granted (though if it was me, I'd probably take it for granted so...).

The nice thing is, the more I do these things, the easier they get. Writing more books? Easy peasy. Editing and proofing? Getting easier. Cover art? Easy. Formatting? Definitely getting easier and more streamlined (phew!). Publishing? Much easier.

Now I just have to get this mothering thing under wraps...

Delusional: The Indie Path to Success

Now more than ever I think it's a good idea to "get right with God."

I'm not talking about God here.

I'm talking about...well...I'm not sure if I can point to any one thing, and yet it is very specific. I guess I'm talking about clarifying my professional focus in order to achieve success.

This is a process I've slowly been edging towards, and I feel like I'm coming to an "aha" moment about the whole thing.  I'm listening to/reading motivational speakers as well as thought leaders in my interest areas (writing, religion, parenting, etc). I've been reading marketing and social media gurus. Once again I'm thinking about revising my whole approach to writing (and potentially public speaking).

I feel schizo about it all. I keep having this same moment over and over again - this same quandry - and I wonder if I'm not avoiding the inevitable. I wonder if I'm not avoiding doing the things I should be doing.

In my head I have this ideal: I write. I get asked to speak about my writing. I write some more. I speak about writing more. People love me (and my writing). The end.

I've read from many authors all kinds of different thoughts on this. Some say just write. Just keep writing. Some say push social media. Some say have your own site. Some say do this, or that. Say this three times, spin around, while holding your tongue during a full moon.

Sometimes I think it's all bullshit - another person trying to sell their "magic bullet snake oil" for $385 an ounce. And I'm not having any of it.

But other times...

Today I have to question my previous conclusion. Maybe it's not all snake oil. Maybe I could be doing things better. Maybe I could research better, listen better, interact better. Maybe I could do more with technobabble and use all these crazy apps and sites to my advantage.

I could.

Ben Sweetland (my guru du jour) would say my Creative Mind will lead me to the right people, places, and actions to connect with my readers and grow my audience. Maybe coming across these things like socialmouths.com is happening because I should in fact follow their advice. I do need to implement something because in the past I was doing things haphazardly at best.

Let's face it...what I have been doing hasn't been systematic up to this point. In fact, much of it has been trial and error and a whole lot of stumbling (and I don't mean StumbleUpon).

I'll give you a run down of my marketing/publicity history:
- I started my blog.
- I started writing novels.
- I published my novels.
- I promoted them through Twitter (in a scattershot approach).
- I put links to them in my email signature.
- I started a second blog (Raising An Alien).
- I tried to set up a blogtour and wasn't able to get a hold of any bloggers from fantasy sites except one who only takes paper copies of books.
- I started my author FaceBook page.
- I tried some giveaways.
- I registered on GoodReads.
- I registered on blogger networks.
- I uploaded chapters free on Wattpad.
- I sent query letters to agents (over 30) and got one tiny nibble.
- I submitted short stories to over 10 literary magazines which were all rejected.
- I even offered to do Indie author book swaps to trade reviews.

Most of these things have resulted in little to no increase in sales. Frankly, most of them resulted in next to no responses. When I read through this list, it's a wonder I'm still at this at all.

To be fair, I have sold some books. I've more than paid for the monetary costs of the books. But I'm not yet anywhere close to where I want to be as a writer.

When I read articles by different people saying how much they didn't do, or how much they did, I have to wonder what the hell is going on!  It appears to be a total and utter crapshoot who finds success and who doesn't in the indie author world (in fact many authors say just that - just check out the ALLI site! I'm on my phone and don't have the link so humor me and Google it!).

My next attempt in this game, probably should have been my first. I'm going to listen to my audience and try to meet them where they are. I'm going to try to get my books in a few influential hands. I have a feeling this will be more successful than my previous plays. But if it isn't, I'll just go back to the drawing board because I've come too far to fail. That's just not happening. After all this, I deserve to be successful. I will win.

Self-publishing Cons - The Price of Indie

These days much of my writing work involves reading, primarily articles by other indie authors on various aspects of the self-publishing business. And this is often frustrating for me.

I feel, as one of the poorest indie authors you'll meet (at the moment) disgust, hopelessness, and frustration because of the general nature of self-publishing and the advice so frequently given. Why?

Disgust comes from the observation that everyone is out to fleece and make a buck on the backs of indie authors. This comes from swearing up and down authors have to have a given service. It includes paid subscriptions to social media sites developed by unsuccessful authors that are largely useless (from everything I can see). It includes graphics designers that develop by the box cover design that makes me want to puke. It includes promotional companies that tell authors they need to work just as hard as the PR company in such a way one wonders if they're even worth the hundreds of dollars spent.

Hopelessness develops after I've read yet another article stating "you need this...only $300!" Even if carrion eating scum do provide a service that actually converts to book sales, it is completely out of my reach. Despite having spent the last several years of my life devoted to writing and publishing 6 books, I don't have a dime to even pay for a printed proof at this point, let alone a crazy service that may or may not actually help me sell books. Hell, I'm pining over the fact that I don't have money for reading fees to submit my short stories to contests. And I know they're good...but it's hard to part with $15 when that could have been bread and milk for my family for one week. Yeah...so $300...forget it.

It's obvious then where the frustration comes from. I wish I could spend money on editing. I wish I could hire a PR person who is actually worth his or her salt. I watch peers have good blog tours and enjoy good editing in my rags at the window. I lick my lips and look pitifully in, completely ignored. I can do nothing other than what I'm already doing...writing. Blogging. Trying to maintain an online presence on social media sites that require more time than a mother can really give.

This is why traditional publishing is attractive to me...not many up front costs and the ability to focus on writing while the other bits get done by experts. It's probably why I've come back to the idea several times even though in *theory* it's not as lucrative.

Thankfully these articles I read about the need to pay for this or that are matched in number (or at least fervor) by indies maintaining one truth - the only thing authors should do is write. Ultimately that is the author's job, to write. By producing a regular stream of material, the indie author increases visibility and readership. All of the other stuff is fluff, or so say such writers.

My super lean starving artist self reads those things and turns away from the window with a deep determined breath. This is my path. I need to stick with it. It is arduous and hardly the cushy restaurant/hotel type experience of these indies with big bank accounts and 6 figure day jobs. I hold Amanda Hocking's experience in my sight as a model and a message - I can be broke now and be stupidly successful and widely read later. It may take a little longer and is by no means easy, but it does mean I get to do the thing I do best.

I just write.

Pride & Publishing the Short Story

Well I got another short story rejection letter. I'm beginning to think I'm doing too much of a spray and pray method as opposed to surgical strike.

Although this particular one I thought was a surgical strike.

Clearly I was wrong.

Or maybe they just couldn't handle the content.

Now I'm wondering if I should do what I originally planned to do, which was to publish a book of short stories. I almost have enough to make it worth while within a theme of women, children, and family. The question is, is that a good idea professionally?

My guess is no.

So then the question is, what literary zines would print my stories and not require a reading fee? I'm to the point where compensation would be a dream come true, but maybe isn't realistic seeing my "lack of publishing credit." The problem is, I know my stories are good. So I hoard them. I want them to be published in good zines with high readership.

It's a problem.

Perhaps there's a compromise somewhere that I can reach - between my pride and zines. I know it's in my interest to have stories published. I'll just have to figure out who loves my writing enough to risk publication.

And then I'll need to do it another 7 times. Perhaps that would satisfy my publishing goal, even if it isn't whole books. It would certainly require less work than trying to write book 4 in KHLOE or finish ANDREW while jiggling an infant on my knee...or at least I think that's true. This is all theory at this point. Sheer conjecture.

And like all theories, these beg to be tested. So let the studies begin!

Crossing Genres: Poetry, Fiction, and Non-fiction

Well, I'm in the process of putting my toe into three pools. Some people say this is a bad idea, while others have done it quite successfully and encourage such an adventure.

Honestly, I really don't care what "they" say. I'm doing it. That's final. It's done.

I'm particularly inspired by the non-fiction work of several of my favorite "children's" authors - C.S. Lewis and Madeleine L'Engle. Both these individuals were people of faith and their spirituality profoundly influenced their writing - not just their fiction, but also their non-fiction.

I'm finding that to be the case for me as well.

It is good to write fiction. It is good to write good fiction. But how can I sit back and not put my two cents in on issues that matter to me in a non-fiction way? Yes, my blogs can do that for me to some extent. Perhaps they will at some point develop into some kind of book or series themselves (stranger things have happened). But a blog is a different kind of thing. The writing I'm talking about has a very different purpose, and certainly one devoid of the diary or even essay form that is so popular in the blogosphere.

It's for this reason I published my poetry collection. It's for this reason I am in the process of revising my world religion curriculum. Do they speak to the same audience? Maybe there is some overlap. I'm not sure. But I'm acutely aware that most of the readers of these three areas will likely not overlap. I'm comfortable with the idea that different people will need to be reached for these very different creations.

And that's okay.

I doubt Lewis or L'Engle thought their non-fiction pieces would be avidly devoured by the same readers of their most famous children's series. If they did, I think we would have labelled both of them "delusional." Were (are) their non-fiction pieces read as widely as their fiction? I doubt it. Does it make their contribution to spiritual discourse less valuable? Certainly not.

I don't write for fame. I write because my soul burns. There is too much to hold inside - it must find voice. It must find expression. I must call out into the dark, loud and clear. I would love more than an echo of response or a hollow nothingness. I would love to have a sea of voices saying "yes" to my words. But whether I hear them or someone else hears them a long time from now doesn't matter. I cannot know what my words do. All I know is I must speak them - I must write them. From then on, their lives are their own.

Poetry Collection Published!

 

This summer was rough. It was so rough that for a period of time the only thing I could do creatively was to write poetry. It's been a little while since I've written poetry exclusively (for years it was the only type of writing I did). 

Even though it had been some time since I'd written so much poetry, I found it was a bit like riding a bicycle. You never really forget.So for about a month I was writing only poetry. It was a cathartic process that helped me deal with the massive amount of hormones surging through my system while Christian and I went through a difficult situation that I wouldn't wish on any one. 

The result was this chapbook size collection of poems - UNCERTAIN TRANSFORMATION. The poems are about pregnancy, financial uncertainty, determination, and hope for opportunity.

Be sure to visit Smashwords to download a free sample as well as purchase the full collection today!

SWC: LILITH Revision & Uncertain Poetry Collection

It seems like every weekend has become a whirlwind. The end result is always my writing/work taking a dive while I recuperate for a couple days and then things pick back up.

As such, I have a little more than half of LILITH revised...and I didn't realize how much left I really needed to add to the manuscript. I knew I'd breezed through the first draft, but working through it a second time I realized how much I needed to plump up. So far I think I've added about 2000 or so words.

In other news, I finally got GIMP to a place where we're no longer fighting. As you may know, technology and I don't exactly get along well. The most recent iteration of GIMP and I have been...having differences. It came to a head yesterday when I was trying to finish a cover for my poetry collection and I almost threw my laptop. Of course, my frustration caused EVERY program to stop working. Literally. I was incapable of doing anything on my laptop.

Needless to say, my technopath husband came and saved the day last night, using his skills to do a little GIMP/Alexis conflict resolution.

This meant I was able to finish my poetry collection's cover (I think - though I'm going to have it checked by my test group before I reveal it). I've already researched digital poetry collections for word/poem counts and prices. Everything is pretty much set and ready to go formatting wise as well. Literally, once the cover is finished, I can set it up for preorders (a new feature on Smashwords! Woot woot!) and subsequent publication.

LILITH will be ready to go when this revision is complete.

Then I just have a few things left to do on a couple other books.

I'm realizing now that I might actually get 6 books out this year. I'll settle for 4 considering everything that's happened in the past few months, but the fact is I might actually reach something like my publishing goal. I'm cautiously excited as I cross my fingers that I won't lose momentum over the weekend. With any luck, you'll get to see a couple more books out by next week!

Selling Out v. True Blue

Recently I have been reading a particular YA author's latest addition to her bestselling series.

I have to say I was terribly disappointed.

While her original trilogy wasn't my favorite series ever, I enjoyed it generally. There was something to those first 3 books that grabbed me - the interactions, snarky dialog, and nerdy references were great.

And then she started writing for profit.

Or at least that's how it feels when I read her newer books. I feel like every cliche was drawn upon - stories were packaged and produced to achieve a given end. In short, they weren't written just to be written.

That, and sometimes a universe needs to be retired. Like seriously.

Seriously.

I'm saying these things because it reminded me of yet another reason why I chose the path I chose for publishing/writing. As I continue to read articles and interviews of other indie writers, I am convinced more and more that writing what you love for the sake of writing is the route to go.

Don't get me wrong. Readers are important. I heard from 3 people these week about how much they loved my books. I know...it sounds like a pittance to you, but to me it was HUGE.

You see, I feel like I genuinely earned those readers. My books aren't perfectly packaged. I haven't paid for bells or whistles (I can't...remember?). I don't have someone sheering off edges of my books or cutting out characters because they don't fit perfectly into the saleable marketing niche a publishing house is pursuing.

My books are my own. And while I certainly want to dialog with readers about the books and the direction of the characters, I get that final say of what happens in my stories - not an agent. Not an editor. Just me.

The more I learn about the whole process, the more convinced I am that putting out work you feel strongly about, and continuing to do so despite everything is the way to go. Eventually people will notice. It won't necessarily mean you become wildly successful. You probably won't be rolling in the dough...but...you'll probably do okay.

It is possible. I see that happening for me in the near future. I feel it beginning. I know I just have to put out some more books (finishing a series would probably be good...namely book 4 in Khloe, which incidentally I have given a secret working title and have main plot points). I might focus on other media for a little while...namely when my creativity is zapped by the pooping machine I'll have in a month (print and audio books? Hmmm...).

Whatever I end up doing, I'm going to continue doing it my way because that's the best way for me to be. I figure if Macklemore can do it in music...who's to say I can't do it in literature?

SWC UPDATE: Publishing, Formatting, and Writing! Oh My!

I'm really excited. I updated my NOVELS page which now includes links to some of my older novels, as well as a summary of JEREMIAH. I also added LILITH's cover (which you can check out to the left!) because hopefully I will have the few formatting/rewriting issues completed by the end of this week.

And you know what that means...

PUBLISHING!

In addition to this, I started putting together a small collection of poems that I began writing since this horrible transition period in my life. They're about the struggles Christian and I have been facing, as well as my feelings about the pregnancy in general. I'm pretty excited about it because it is such a departure from what I've published previously...however I've always wanted to publish poems. Even though I don't expect much reader love for them, I do hope those who do read them can find some strength or voice when they're experiencing similar situations. That's really the goal - to give voice to those moments of crisis, and build strength for those who feel like they have none. Because let's face it, for a lot of people, that's happening now. And I feel it. I feel for them, and I want those people to know (perhaps you?) they're (you're) not alone.

I also uploaded the first chapters of THE BROTHERS and JAMES for FREE on Wattpad. About 30 seconds after I did that, I noticed I already had like 14 reads on each. Hopefully it will get some people interested in the books. I know, as my fans have said, that once you get hooked you can't put them down. I will likely do the same for both LOVERS AND RIVALS as well as JEREMIAH. Once LILITH is ready, that will follow as well.

I'm feeling like I have a little traction with this...so that's good.

Now I just have to figure out what to do with these goofy non-fiction pieces that I'm still unsure about (particularly as to their formatting).

I might actually get somewhere close to my publishing goal yet! It's sort of amazing, and unbelievable considering I only have 5 weeks left until my due date (and that's if kiddo decides to stick to the schedule...which how often does that happen?). I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be able to get these things together and make magic happen. Maybe I should channel Khloe for this. We'll see. All we can do is wait and see...

One Day at a Time

I don't have much of an update as far as personal progress. HOWEVER I do have an update as to motivation.

While this week has been insanely crazy and much of my time has been devoted to our basic needs, there is some light (which you'll be able to read about on Raising An Alien).

Because of this new found light, I'm in a much better place than I was two days ago. I can say that while I was unsuccessful in getting much done this week, I am ready to get moving after Sunday. I say Sunday because that day is fully spoken for. Hell, even Monday is spoken for. Okay...TUESDAY. I promise. I'll get to everything TUESDAY.

Sheesh, this is embarrassingly bad.

I've been told that press releases need to be sent during the morning hours, and at the beginning of the week. Obviously this isn't going to happen this week, but that isn't the end of my promotional efforts through Saturday. There's always the much discussed Goodreads. It seems if the press releases can't go out, at least I can look into the details of a giveaway.

I'll be honest. If there are a bagillion forms, I may run away screaming. This week I've had my fill of forms (no more forms! No more hoops! Please!).

Whatever the case, I haven't given up. There is still time (not much, but there is some). I will be able to put together some books. I may achieve half my original summer publishing goal despite everything that's been threatening to thwart me. We'll have to see.

I keep saying that, but really, it's all I can do. I can only do what I can. Each morning brings a new day, and I'll take that day as it comes. It's a difficult thing to accept, but it is how my life is destined for the immediate future...one day at a time...

SWC: Modifying Publishing Goals

I'm a bit embarrassed about how unproductive I've been thus far this week. Through a combination of appointments, meetings, exhaustion, heat, and a new supplement with a sedating effect, my schedule has been completely trashed.

Fortunately my resolve wasn't trashed along with productivity. If anything my resolve and motivation has been strengthened over the past few days. Through conversations with friends, blogging across my different blogs, and a great deal of introspection, I am even more committed to my plan than before, though I realize there will be some modifications.


It's become clear the blog tours aren't going to happen during the summer, though I wanted them to. Instead, I'm going to focus on press releases and giveaways. I may have some guest posts going at various blogs, but it seems the tours themselves may have to wait until after the baby, or possibly get scraped all together.

Print formatting is something I need to do for all my books. Even though every holiday brings more purchases of ereaders and various tablets, many people still prefer print books. Unfortunately formatting for print is the thing I procrastinate the most (typically I want to shoot myself in the face about an hour into actually doing it). That means I need Christian to at least be hanging around pushing me to get it done. This is a new lesson I learned about myself, but thankfully I now know what I need in order to get this part of goal done (and hopefully reach new readers).

I have three books I'm interested in finishing writing & publishing for my summer challenge. I've chosen to focus on these rather than other projects (the two non-fiction books that only have vague ties to my current focus areas). Two of these should be quick, even with some minor research (pregnancy related). The third is a fiction piece that has ties to my interests in religion (and has a fantastic first chapter that will get you seriously hooked if I do say so myself).

I realize working on these last three projects may push me a little against the wire, especially if I have more weeks like this one. However, tomorrow is a new day, full with possibilities. I can only do what I can do, and I can't berate myself for things outside of my control.

With that in mind, There are 3 focus areas I have for this next week:

• Print formatting completed for finished books along with covers etc. (bleh!)
• Writing the last three books
• Press releases for the finished books

 If I can get these things done this week I will be incredibly proud of myself and will feel a lot more secure about moving forward. Cross your fingers for me and I'll keep you updated!