Drafting. Editing. Sending the manuscript for professional editing. Biting my nails and hoping she likes it and doesn’t rip it apart. Sighing with relief when she does. Making those changes. Sending it back. Repeating the cycle.
Setting up business details like an LLC, a bank account, and other accounts that will turn the wheels of production. Running a presale campaign.
Uploading to the printer. Approving the proof. Ordering my own copy for physical evaluation. Approving that. Ordering the first boxes. Marketing. Receiving the first boxes. Marketing. Sitting at home with a stack of books, a list of names, messages, and addresses and signing and thanking those who’ve made this possible. Marketing.
And probably more. I don’t remember at this point. All fueled by chocolate, pop, determination, and encouragement from friends and family. Oh, and sleep and real meals every now and then, too.
Hearing my friends and family rave – some of them messaging me after finishing every chapter!
There’s time to write still, right? Yes, somehow. That somehow is by setting time aside explicitly for writing. If you bother me between 12:30 and 2:30 pm (Arizona time) any day of the week, you will most likely get ignored or told I’m busy. I might send a reaction emoji. Not because I’m annoyed, but because I’ve dedicated that time to writing and editing so I don’t become the next George R.R. Martin and never announce the debut of another book.
It has helped Detective Ellison’s next story evolve from the messy draft started in 2012, to the messy draft it became while I waited for edits for Midnight Splash, to the a little more organized draft it is now.
Sometimes I start before 12:30, some days I look at the clock and it’s somehow 4:10 and I’m still writing.
But setting aside that time means I continue to write my next project while marketing Midnight Splash, looking into festival and bookstore appearance, and outlining projects that will come far into the future after this second book. It’s a big project that needs time devoted specifically to the task.
What is a big task or a even a fun hobby that you set aside time for to make sure it gets the attention it deserves? Let’s talk on Facebook!