In 2015 I set, and met, some pretty lofty goals for myself. I had a roller coaster of a year, including some great highs, some amazing sales months, and some real lows, like my publisher closing.
Last year I wrote over 600,000 words (a goal I met right at the close, December 29th), I published 7 books (and republished all but one of my former SCP books), and my original Dominion Falls trilogy (which are with the editor now for re-release later in the year). I tried some new promotional techniques, and both succeeded and failed. It was a year of change, learning, and growing.
2016 is here, though, and it’s time to set my new goals for the coming year. I already have a few set, and a few things in motion. I’m fortunate to have another PR setup started and a good feeling this new person will do bigger/better things for me. So, without further ado, my goals.
First, some overall goals to set the tone for the year…
- I’ve challenged myself to write 600,000 words in 2016.
- I will build my audience and work harder at promotion.
- I will regain my focus.
- I will face my demon/salvation – the one story I’m afraid of.
- I will decide by July if I will return to Lake Point in 2017.
- I will prep all the things for print. ALL. The. Things.
And next is my list of projects. The list seems small without all the Lake Point books of the past on it, but I’m sure it will change and grow over the year. The books in ORANGE are current works-in-progress.
- Into a Mirror Darkly (Morgana Chronicles 1) – 100k (~10k done)
- Switchback (Dominion Falls 6) – 100k
- Dead Man’s Switch (Dominion Falls 7) – 100k
- Red Zone (Dominion Falls 5.5) – 20k (~3400 done)
- The Raven (The Tribe #4) – 85k (~50k done)
- The Child (The Tribe #5) – 85k
- Auld Lang Syne (Lake Point 12.5 ~ Revisiting Old Stories)
- Secret Project 1 (Series Name Withheld) ~ 40k
- Escaping Humanity (Co-authoring w/ Mary Terrani) – 100k (60k done)
- Masked Hearts – Create new cover and re-release this one last SCP book
I’m definitely not taking it easy on myself this year. Being all Indie now means I’m working harder than ever before on all sides of every project. I thank my lucky stars all the time that my fabulous editor is still my fabulous editor, otherwise I don’t know what I’d do. I’ve already got a good head-start on the year, and hope to have books 4 & 5 on my project list done by the end of March, if not sooner.
Fingers crossed!!
You’ve set some high goals for the year, but you’re amazing and I’m confident that by the end of the year you’ll have met them all.