Friday, January 22, 2016

Goals; Obstacles; Where are you 3 weeks into the New Year?


Rhobin came up with a great topic for our group this month. What are one (or two) writing projects you want to accomplish this year? What will be any obstacles you might encounter?  

Okay so two projects I’d like to accomplish this year. Number one is to advertise. So far I haven’t done any paid advertising. I was advised to write, publish and when you got four or five books, then advertise. I think I’m there. Now I need to research ads and cost, and cost effectiveness. Then budget for the year and plan the ads for the books and new releases.

Number two project is to start writing novellas. Novellas apparently are good advertising and people buy them.

So, besides the novellas, I also want to edit and publish a minimum of two more books. I’m sure I can manage that.

As for the obstacles, I’m already behind. The biggest ones right now are – I’ve had a cold, sinus, cough that’s lasted four weeks; sporadic wi-fi; and I’m still struggling with Windows 10 after my motherboard crashed and I had to but a new laptop. I’m already way behind. Also there could be budget constraints. The biggest challenge is everything is in US dollars. I’m Canadian and the Canadian dollar keeps dropping, so that could affect my plans for the year.

But I have a positive attitude. My health will return, my wifi will work and the Canadian dollar will improve.

I’m looking forward to the goals and challenges of or other authors and if anyone has suggestions for advertising, I’d love to hear them.
Check out the other authors for their goals and obstacles.

14 comments:

  1. Beverley, good luck with your health. I find that regular meditation and exercise keep me from falling to pieces.
    I find it interesting that you are talking about projects in terms of number and size, rather than content. That's a very professional attitude, but I just couldn't do that.
    :)
    Bob

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    1. This is the first year I've done that, Bob. I'm trying to be more business like. We'll see how it goes. Usually it's about the books I'm planning, and I have two ideas I'm playing with them, but I know I'll write one of them, and I'll finish Death Southern Style and publish it this year. The others will be a challenge for me.

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  2. Hope you are well sooner rather than later. Your promotion and advertising plans while working on your projects was interesting to read. Windows 10 is giving me fits, too. I'll get used to it.

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    1. Other than blogs and tweets I've never done advertising so it should be interesting. I much prefer writing. And I'm working with Windows 10. It's working - sort of.

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  3. I've heard the same comment about advertising Beverley. At some point this year it will be something I intend to get to grips with too.

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    1. Let me know how you do, Victoria. Maybe we can exchange how ideas work.

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  4. I've heard all kinds of horror stories about Windows 10 and crashing computers - makes me glad I jumped ship ten years ago and now use a Mac. But I do hope that is all behind you and the Canadian dollar gets stronger. I'm trying to write a novella for the first time too. A new adventure.

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    1. Thanks, Skye. Too late foe me. Mac would be another learning curve. I can only handle so many. :) I'm looking forward to writing a novella. I may take a workshop on it in February.
      Good luck with yours. let me kow how it goes.

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  5. Hi Beverley, I'm so sorry to hear you've been unwell. It's such a drain on your time as well as your energy.
    I admire how focused your are on your projects and your work rate. I can only ever write one book a year. I'm too slow to write two.
    regarding advertising - I'd heard Facebook ads can be used with some success, and I'm interested in giving this I try. I put some of my books up for free on Kindle last year and advertised on a few sites, with great success. Here's my post about it, if it's of interest http://helenafairfax.com/2015/07/31/making-a-success-of-your-5-free-days-on-amazon/
    Good luck with your projects, and I do hope you get well soon

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    1. Thanks Helena. I think I'm about 98% back. I was going to look into Facebook ads and twitter ads. Thanks for the helpful comment. I haven't put any books up for free, but I'm looking at trying it. I haven't even given away books as prizes. I appreciate your input. Thanks. And I'm off to read your post.

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  6. Hi Beverley, I've lost a lot of January, too, as I caught cold on Christmas Day and have only recently shaken the cough. Good luck with it all - looks like a v. busy year ahead, Anne Stenhouse

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    1. I'm sorry to hear you got sick, too. Sounds like we were on the same time frame. My cough is almost gone - finally. Hopefully I can now get to work on those goals.

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  7. So sorry to hear you were sick, Beverley! I hope your health will improve. And those are great goals. As for Windows 10, I was thinking of upgrading, but now I'll know to wait.

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    1. Thanks, Olga, I'm definitely improving. I think I'm about 98%. And I wouldn't rush to upgrade to Windows 10. A few months my computer tech said don't do it. But then my laptop crashed and i had no choice.

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