The Writer's Life

Moving Forward Through the Holidays


As I look forward to the holiday season, I have reflected on this past year and my accomplishments. I landed a new job that was on my dream board, attended a writer’s retreat, began writing in the second book of my series, secured a website for said series, and met with a photographer to start my marketing campaign. Sometimes, I feel as if I am not doing enough to complete and promote my materials, but when in fact, I am doing far more than I have ever done in the past.

I am pumped about this series of books I have been writing, and many of you who have had the honor of a verbal synopsis or two are demanding more. I was even further validated when I took the first book of the series to my writer’s retreat for an evaluation. Watching the reactions of others as they read my book was exhilarating. I obviously have done something right to elicit such strong emotions from avid readers. This has fueled my desire to be published, and I feel driven more than ever to forge ahead.

In my years down this path as a writer, I have spent much time researching, and the one thing that sticks out the most is that a writer must learn how to market herself. I have watched my numbers do a slow incline, but I need more. What better way to gain more fans than by giving them something in return?

In the coming months, you will notice subtle changes to my blog. By January 2016, I will begin to roll out my plan, announcing the name of my series and its first book. By February 2016, I will have a dedicated website running with regular post updates. And by August 2016, there will be a video trailer to entice even more readers, further pushing an urgent need for publication. Finally, I will submit to agents and publishers throughout the New Year and guide them to my strategic marketing plan. I want everyone in the publishing realm to know how serious I am about my works and what I will do to make a viable and marketable product.

Now that you know my timeline, stay tuned for weekly updates. You may never know what the next one will have in store for you!