Monday, February 14, 2011

The time my love for lists came back to bite me... oh yeah, that's now.

     I have alot of things floating around in my head that I need to get done this week. I mean - ALOT. I keep meaning to make a 'to-do' list and just haven't which is funny because normally I would've made a master list and then broken it down into categories and posted it where I can easily access it to check things off. Yeah, I like lists. But I haven't. I think because I'm afraid in this case, I won't get to check off nearly as many things as I'd like. And I hate not being able to check things off. So instead of sitting in my house making my list quietly, I'm here writing a blog, which is definitely working against me in the 'time management' arena.

     So how about we kill two birds and I'll just post the list here. Yeah, so then if I don't get something done, EVERYONE will know. Maybe that'll motivate me. haha. First and foremost is to WRITE. Of course. But also I need to take a look at my synopsis and see where it's all going just to remind myself and keep on track. I've been thinking about that lately, too. I'm constantly analyzing the way I do things, so I can try and streamline the process and learn how to write faster but still write better at the same time. I think the trick is in the synopsis. If I wrote a VERY detailed one before hand, I could probably write 'smoother' without getting stuck. The problem is that I like to change things as I go, from what I originally planned. I'll get a better idea and run with that and then it would probably change alot of future things, too, so I'm not sure if that would work. But I might try it on the next book. Anyway, that's off topic.

     Back to the list. Next, I NEED to get on Twitter (or Angeline is going to get me - not sure how but she does critique my rough drafts so I want to stay on her good side) and then I have to learn how to use Twitter which will probably take like 3 days or something. And the other thing I feel I need to do is revisit my book descriptions. I feel like they could be better - especially Across the Galaxy. I feel like maybe that could help with sales (I mean, it can't hurt) since the cover is AWESOME, and the description is the only other tool I have for first impressions. Besides, I wrote that description when I was still a very new writer (I mean, I still am but not as much I guess) so I could probably do a better job now. I plan to try and tweak it. Also, I need to talk to my cover artist about some things. One, a head shot that I can post on my site and also maybe a web banner - I'm jealous of Angeline's and a couple other's I saw. =)

     Oh and top priority - get this damn paperback cover approved on CreateSpace. I want to beat my head against a wall over that one! It's taken me weeks to figure this thing out and just when I think I finally did- I get an email this morning saying my spine is 'off center'. WTH??!! How much more can I center it?? I've already used the 'center' button.... I don't really know what I'm going to do with that. I read somewhere on Susan Bischoff or Kait Nolan's sites - can't remember which - that they have a really hard time with CreateSpace approving their covers, too and eventually in the process they have to call CS and get them to manually approve it. Maybe I'll try that. I'll let you know how it goes. Cross your fingers because I am OVER this paperback cover! If it wasn't going to make me money, I'd have scrapped the whole thing days ago. But money motivates me, even when I want to slap somebody, so I'll do it.

     I think that's the major list. There might be some little things but those are the priorities. I do still want to try and do some other marketing things. Visit message boards, etc, yadda yadda, but I need to focus on these things right now. Oh and i wanted to say thanks to everyone who reads my blogs. I checked my stats this morning and I got over 200 pages views last month. Thanks guys =) If you're feeling supportive, find my author page on FaceBook and friend request me there, too. I just got it functioning last night. (That's one thing off the to-do list).

     Oh and sales are still sitting at Across the Galaxy -4 (or 5 if you count Amazon UK) and DreamKiller -5 but I know that it's going to start slow and build steady and I'm okay with that.

6 comments:

  1. I notice that my writing goes so much quicker and smoother when I have done detailed plotting. Without it, I get stuck and feel like I'm just writing "fillers" to get to the next plotted part.

    Haha! I love that you're taking my requests for Heather via twitter seriously! Muahahahaha (That was supposed to be an evil laugh). I think it would be cool for you to have a header of your book for you blog, so you should get it done.

    That sounds really frustrating about the Createspace cover fiasco. I have yet to publish, so I can't really help you with this one. However, when I do get to that point, I can come to you about it! lol

    And, I laughed sooo hard about you wanting to slap somebody!

    Angeline Kace

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  2. My long term to-do list includes reading your book!! With mine coming out this week, and my piece for the Twelve Worlds anthology (plus edits) I've been swamped. I promise I'll get to it. (It's on my Kindle and desktop!)

    As for Twitter, I also have one, but I hate it :P I never have anything to say, nor the time to look at what other people are tweeting. Mine just sits there, all lonely and untweeted. Ah, well.

    J. E. Medrick

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  3. medrick- no worries about the book, i know you'll get to it when you get to it. And at least we all have that never ending "to do" list.

    Angeline- your evil laugh scares me. signing up for Twitter this a.m.

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  4. Ladies! You must download TweetDeck. Best thing since sliced bread!

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  5. Great post! Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog as well. :-) I'm glad you enjoyed the post.

    Good luck to your own journey of self publishing.

    Isn't CreateSpace through Amazon as well? Do you think it is better than going through some place like Lulu.com? I was thinking I'd want some physical copies of my books as well. There's something about the physical presence of a book. For instance, my favorite authors, Clive Barker and Brian Keene -- I have to collect all their books and have them physically on my shelf. I can't explain why...I'm a bit neurotic that way. ;-)

    And CONGRATS on selling a few copies! Ten copies is still ten readers, and ten readers can easily turn into twenty, twenty into forty...once you start selling, the sky's the limit! :-)

    Best,

    Nicholas La Salla, Living In Fantasy: An Author's Journey

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  6. Nick- I don't know anything about Lulu. I've heard other indies mention it but I do know that CreateSpace is free and Yes, they are owned by Amazon. I like it for any potential readers that don't own a Kindle yet. This way, they can purchase a tangible copy and I don't lose sales because it's only available to e-book readers. You should give it a try. =)

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