This has been a very challenging year. I’m not going into details again, but basically my entire life fell apart and had to be put back together. But in the middle of all of this, I managed to publish 2 books, write 200,000 new words, and obtain a certificate in Digital Art and Graphic Design. I am very proud of those accomplishments.
But as the year ends, I want to turn my sights to 2025 and discuss my goals and other things that I am excited about.
This year, writing books took a backseat to other things, like school. I still produced new words (obviously) but it wasn’t the focus of my time, and to be honest, I kind of missed it. I’ve gotten my process down to doing 4 2 hour sessions per week, during which time I can produce 10,000 words. It’s not really a stretch to do that. So, in the new year I’m going to schedule those sessions on Monday-Thursday, and then take Fri-Sun off every week. That will allow me time to get the writing done, but also not to get overwhelmed. I might take some artist date like day trips. Also, I’m committed to doing more in-person events in our local community, to get out there and meet people in the art/writing/queer communities in the Northstate.
My yearly word count goal for the year is 400,000 words. This will allow me to take 8 weeks off during the year. I would love to go visit my bestie in Indiana the last week of June, so I plan to take two weeks then. My parents and I are likely to be moving at some point this year, so I’m saving two weeks for that. I’ll take the last 2 weeks of December off, which leaves me two weeks to sprinkle in as needed.
I plan to publish three books this year that are already written. Beneath the Silent Stars, which is the fifth and final Broken Stars book. I just got the manuscript back from the editor, so that looks like it will be ready to go in March. I also have World Enough and Time, a sci-fi romance novel, and The Lion and the Sparrow a sword and sorcery romantasy. I’m already on my editor’s schedule for both of those, so I’m thinking June for WEAT, and September for TLATS. Don’t hold me to those dates, but that is my intention.
As far as writing goes, in the first part of the year, I want to write Valley of Storms, which is the 2nd Ascension Apocalypse book. Book 1 is my best-selling books, so it was about time I got back to that series. In the second part of the year, I want to draft The Radiant Tomb which is the sequel to Curse of the Onyx Heart. If I have time left over, I’ll start the first book in a new sci-fi series called Guardians of Forever. Think Star Wars but make it gay.
One thing I plan to do this year is post more about and actually market the books. So, every Tuesday I’m going to pick a book to focus on in social media posts. Also, I’ll do a monthly kindle countdown deal paired with a Written Word Media campaign for a different book. I can’t find my audience if I don’t let them know I exist.
I’m also going to work, with my new graphic design skills, at creating ads and graphics for the different books and events I’m involved with. I made the following using adobe tools and will probably post it for the Circle and the Shadow series promotion as that second book gets closer to its release.
I am very excited about 2025. I know it will have its challenges, but I am prepared for them, as well as I can be. All the bad stuff I was worried about for years has already happened. I’m not going to say things can’t get worse, because that feels like calling down a lightning strike, but if I can survive 2024 nothing will actually kill me.