A quick update:
My sequel to You Will Never Be Him has been sitting on the side for a bit due to some serious writer’s block.
My critique group suggested I take a break instead of forcing words onto the page. So I started working on another project and hoped that inspiration would strike.
I’m excited to say that as of this week I’m finally working on draft number two of I Will Never Be Her!
I’ve had a lot of readers asking when this next book will be out, and unfortunately I’m still nowhere close to having an answer to that question. I would LOVE to have it out this year, but life outside of writing is a *bit* chaotic right now to say the least.
It’s a week of new routines as I try to keep myself accountable for
producing new content
engaging readers
keeping the creative juices flowing
challenging my writer’s block
When I first decided to try my hand at writing I purchased this amazing book of prompts
Then I started my novel and literally only completed one prompt. ONE.
So I propose another themed day…Writing Prompt Wednesday!
Each week I will choose a prompt and share it with my audience. Throughout the day I would love to see what others write in response to the prompt. At the end of the day I will share my take. It may be a few sentences, it may require an entire blog post to itself. We’ll see how it goes!
I’m cheating with the first one and will share my response from a year ago on the following prompt:
A man jumps from the 40th floor or a building. As he passes the 28th floor he hears a phone ring and regrets that he jumped. Why?
You can respond here on the blog or on my Facebook Page. So what’s the story?
In addition to including a few books every month in my newsletter, I am excited to start a new tradition on my Facebook Page. Each week I will post a free or discounted book with the hashtags #FreebieFriday or #FridayFeature.
This isn’t a paid service and will be done on a first come first serve basis for each date. If you have an upcoming book deal you’d like to promote please contact me by email or through Facebook.
2018 is underway, and I have no idea what I’m doing with my life!
I’m very checklist oriented and making my lists public keeps me even more accountable so here are my 2018 goals.
Writing
Publish a newsletter (no matter how small) during the first week of each month.
Finish the first drafts and have in the editing phase three pieces of work
I Will Never Be Her
Hallmark submission
Undecided third W.I.P.
Publish at least one piece
Create a presentation for high school / teen writing clubs on the self-publishing process
Attend some form of writing conference or class in person or online.
Be better about blogging
Personal
Get in shape. So cliche I know…trust me I know. However, I’ve reached the point where I have no choice but to get in shape or I’m going to go crazy. I think I’ve finally found the missing piece to the fitness puzzle for me: Strong Heart Fitness Ministry. I have never been so motivated or stuck to a routine this well (I’m only two weeks in…I’ve usually given up by now).
Go on a ‘vacation’ with my husband. By vacation I mean maybe a long weekend kid free. In 2017 we did this for the first time in the 8 years we’ve been together. We canNOT wait another 8 years.
Figure out what I want to do for a “real job”. I keep meaning to write a post on the crazy roller coaster I’ve been on in the job realm, but life keeps getting in the way. Let’s just say this is a difficult topic for me and I am really struggling to make decisions.
Be better about blogging. Yes, I see this as a personal goal as well. I have several other blogs / digital journals that have been neglected lately and that needs to change.
I didn’t either! Until my writing critique group this week.
I think I’m going to give it a shot!
One problem: I don’t regularly read or watch Hallmark.
From what I’ve heard they have a pretty standard “formula” that should be easy to follow. I think this would be a great opportunity to collaborate with other authors or Hallmark enthusiast who have an idea, but lack the time to write it.
Friday was my official launch day for You Will Never Be Him. I cannot thank my friends and family enough for helping spread the word and share on social media.
So here’s the good, the bad, and the crazy of my first book release:
The Good
My copies arrived ON launch day instead of January 3rd like the shipping initially said. I thought I would cry instantly, but it was delayed due to disbelief. It felt unreal holding something I wrote. At first all I could do was stare at the cover as I tried to figure out what to do next. I skimmed a couple pages and kept thinking I saw misspelled words. In a panic I reread each line and realized it was just me overreacting. Then it hit me: I wrote a book.
I WROTE A BOOK!
Now I have a stack of copies I can share with friends and family. Can anyone guess what they’re getting for Christmas 😉
The Bad
The only thing that didn’t turn out the way I thought was the back cover. The text blew up huge and was not aligned like I had set on the outline. Still trying to figure out what happened, but honestly that being the only bad thing isn’t THAT bad. I plan to edit and upload the revision this week. I keep telling myself this is all new to me and mistakes are bound to happen.
Not quite what I had in mind…oops!
The Crazy
That’s me! Seriously, I feel like a crazy person. I have not had the time to focus on my writing and promotion of this book like I had hoped. Changes in my job and schedule this past month (that’s a whole other post I need to get written) have drained me. I haven’t had time to do much of anything aside from sleep and work which isn’t great for my family, household, and writing endeavors.
Whether this book does well or not I want to keep writing for my own sake and not having the time to invest makes me feel pretty crummy. I’m praying this is a short season of my life and that the feedback I get from readers will encourage me to keep going.
So if you haven’t already, I would love for you to buy You Will Never Be Him and let me know what you think.
I feel old…Twitter has always been the one big social media thing I wasn’t in to. Aside from Jimmy Fallon’s weekly segment on hashtags I’ve never understood the point.
Apparently even using the word “hashtag” is now an old thing…I can’t keep up!
But alas, I’m trying to cover all bases for my book release.
So follow me…I’ll follow you…and we’ll be one big happy Twitter family.
Oh! Also today I got my Newsletter subscription officially up and running. It’s all beginning to come together! A release date for You Will Never Be Him will be announced soon.
Until I started typing this post I didn’t realize how truly nervous I am to release my book. I mean, I knew I was nervous, but this is a whole new level!
Anyway, I’ve decided this is the week I will be unveiling my cover for You Will Never Be Him.
Be sure to follow my Facebook Page for the piece by piece reveal. Each day (starting today) will come with a fun fact about the book or a character.
kls-collective.com 