1st Jan 2016 is the perfect day to plan the year ahead. Start with optimism and who knows what can be achieved.
1. Read more and review more (As a new author I am desperate to get reviews, so it only seems right that I should put this into practice myself.)
How to achieve:
– I’ve signed up for the Good Reads 2016 reading challenge. 25 books. Not a big target, but it’s more than I managed last year.
– I have a brand new notebook to record the books I read and my thoughts on them. First book of the year is ‘The Iron Ship’ by K.M.McKinley.
– I’m a member of a local Waterstones Fantasy / Sci-Fi book group. We meet once a month and they encourage me to try new authors. Needing to finish a book to a time scale is good motivation.
2. Publish my next book – Working title Bloodlines ‘Search for the Sentinel’
How to achieve:
– The minute the kids go back to school, I’m turning off the computer, internet etc. I’m going to focus on the draft I’ve already printed ready and concentrate on pulling it into shape. I’ve worked on it previously, so hopefully it will only take a few months to prepare it for a beta reader – Cue long suffering husband?
3. Try to blog at least once a week
How to achieve:
– So far I have a couple of half started draft posts to fall back on. I need to build up a list of posts to do. It’s sometimes easier if you already have a title or a starting point.
– If I manage to start reviewing the books in my Goodreads library, that will cover a few blogs (hopefully 25!).
– I hope to blog about the process of editing and publishing my second book, focusing on things like the front cover selection.
– I hope to blog about the successes and failures of marketing my first published book – Visions of Zarua.
4. Finish the draft of another WIP – which will be another standalone fantasy currently called Child of Destiny.
How to achieve:
– NaNoWriMo in either April or November. For two years running I worked on Child of Destiny, completing 50k one year and 22k the next. It seems fitting that I finish the first draft during NaNo 2016.
5. Create new – short stories, flash fiction, new ideas for novels
How to achieve:
– A beautiful new notebook to write in and a lovely new Parker pen. It’s a start, then I just need to add a spark of imagination and I’m away…
6. Enter competitions
How to achieve:
– I have a handful of stories I need to finish polishing and make changes to after receiving some very helpful critiques during previous competition entries.
7. Consider publishing a novella
How to achieve:
– Develop my s/s Death Dream and see if the idea can be sustained through a longer word count.
8. Market Visions of Zarua and get reviews on Amazon and Goodreads
How to achieve:
– I hope to do a blog tour early in 2016 and get to know more bloggers and reviewers. Maybe run a giveaway or two.
– Goodreads Giveaway – already in motion and attracting a steady flow of entrants.
– Contact reviewers, I already have a couple lined up and some I’m hoping to approach this year.
9. I would like to tidy and redesign my website
How to achieve:
– Resist the urge to pull hair out, punch the laptop and swear head off.
– Muddle through as usual.
I’m already thinking 2016 is not going to be long enough for everything I’ve planned, and we’re only on day 1. The next job will be to print this plan and pin it on the wall by my desk where I can look at it and get inspired. It’s always good to have a plan…
Has anyone got any time management tips?
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Suzanne Rogerson Fantasy Author 