Let’s just say, this week has been one I’ve dreamed of for a long time. No, I didn’t get that life changing publishing deal. No, I didn’t win the lottery (at least, I don’t think I did, I should probably check). I did, however, make the first public step on all those big changes I keep hinting at in these posts.
When I read The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss, I was expecting to get some productivity tips. What I actually got was the notion that you could fire your clients.
For someone who likes to eat and have a roof over their head, this was a pretty radical concept. So I pondered on it and saw that my biggest source of income was the thing causing me the most stress and inefficiency. Not to mention all that travel for meetings that meant I had not real energy to make the other opportunities in my life grown. So I tried to change it to see if it could be made into something better rather than a miserable status quo.
It couldn’t.
So this week, I’ve put into place the termination of that contract. I’ve got a few smaller, but more enjoyable, things to replace some of it. But the main benefit is that I get to write more lesbian fiction this year. Which hopefully means that I will be able to share more of it with you guys.
So, onto the roundup of the week…
Creative – new ideas and first drafts
I’ve finished the first draft of my non-lesbian short story this week. I think short story is the correct term, but it’s almost 20,000 words. So possibly a novella. Or a novelette, but I think that sounds more like a sanitary product, so I’ll stick with short story, now I come to think of it.
Anyway, I’ve really enjoyed writing in that snappy, punchy way. So I’m contemplating trying a lesbian romance of a similar length. I’ve got a story that has just enough of a plot to fit. I’m not sure if the novella market is strong (perhaps more so on kindle unlimited?), but I’ll make that my next first draft.
Editing – the slow, tortuous road to publication
Above mentioned shorty is straight into editing. There are some time constraints on this one and I expected it to be done by now (it turned out twice the originally planned length). On the bright side, I was more conscious of style than usual, so the editing isn’t quite as painful.
Publishing – and all the other bits that go on behind the scenes
Book covers and blurbs. I have people to help me with those, but the benefit of being an independent author is that you get to maintain creative control. Which also means you at least have to have a rough idea of what you want. Artistic vision in not my strong point.
Planning and dreaming – what’s coming up next week
I’ll be back in first draft mode with the lesbian novella. I’ll also be busy cutting some ties and looking for a place to spend a few months in the sun. Strictly for research purposes of course, should you speak to my accountant.
I’ve also planned out the release schedule for the next four books of The Lazarus Hunter series, which is great. Whether or not I’ll fit in the first draft of Book Five this year remains to be seen, but I really, really hope so.
Writing Best Bits
The euphoria of ending something that has been poisonous for a long time. Like any relationship, there is a time when you realise you have to let it go or it will drag you under. This is what I enjoy writing about, but it is harder to apply the same logic when it is your own life and there is money to feed your family involved. But actually making the break felt like a weight being lifted and, unsurprisingly, the other areas of my life became unstuck as a result.
Weekly success score: 9/10 – Any week when a first draft ends gets to be a good week. Throw everything else on top and it becomes a freedom champagne tonight kind of week.
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C.K. Martin / Cas Martin 