Keeping it real

I could write my goals and progress on a scrap of paper, or even in a nice leatherbound planner, but what would be the fun in that? Who would laugh at me or poke at me for not hitting my targets? That’s correct: nobody but me, and I’m not nearly hard enough on myself.

My goals for the next few months are ambitious. I would like to complete the beta reading/re-revising process for The Gideon Effect by the end of June. Earlier would be great, but I’m not sure how fast to expect the beta readers to read and critique each chapter. I’ve scheduled a week per chapter. Concurrent with the beta reading, I’m educating myself on the next steps in the publication process. I have some significant decisions ahead:

• Whether to try traditional publishing or go the Indie route. I expect to choose the latter, but it’s not a done deal just yet
• If I go the Indie route, whether to hire an editor after the beta readers are done
• Decide what I’d like for a book cover
• Design the cover or have it designed
• Learn about converting Scrivener files to various eBook formats
• Start promoting the soon-to-be novel
• Figure out what will be involved in adding a bookstore to this website.

Many of these goals will take time and/or are contingent on one another. Right now, the whole process feels slow and cumbersome. I want be in good position for some of the later tasks to take off in a few weeks.

So, here are my objectives for this week:

Novel

• Incorporate beta reader feedback into Chapter 1 of The Gideon Effect, and revise Chapter 2 as needed
• Work out the details of the brainstorm I’ve had on one of the troublesome plot points, and add some foreshadowing to the first 3 chapters. (~80% of the feedback I’ve received so far has been incorporated. The rest of my week’s goals for the novel are at about 50%)
• Send Chapter 2 to beta readers by Friday

Short Story

• Add 2 scenes to the fairy tale story.  I’ve been neglecting this project the last couple weeks.

Blog

• Finish Carnitas recipe article for the Play With Your Food blog and publish it on or before Thursday
• Write Sourdough Rye article and publish it on or before Thursday
• Compile and post the Weekly Roundup on Friday, focusing on topics I need to become more familiar with (~50%)

Book reviews

• Post a book review on the blog, Goodreads, and Amazon

Networking

• Continue researching and identifying blogs of interest.
• Subscribe to at least 3 new blogs
• Join another online writers group and get involved
• Participate in Nanowrimo Promo Friday

This is all a fair amount of effort, and I’ve found that the novel and blog are taking up so much time that I’m not making the rounds on my anthropology newsfeeds. I’d like to fix that!

I’ll post my progress at the end of the week, and we’ll see if pointing and laughing are called for!

photo credit: ENZO’S PAPERBLANKS via photopin (license)