I’m a self-publish or Indie author. It means I make my own
deadlines. I almost did myself in, with a heavy schedule to get three books
published the first three months of 2019. When I set the deadline, I didn’t
realize how much family was going to play into taking time away from my writing.
Thankfully, I was able to get a couple of week-long retreats
at the beach which allowed me to finish a book and get another one well started.
I’m happy to say, my deadline will soon be over and I do believe, barring any
complications, book 3 will publish on time.
But as I stressed and worried over making my deadline, I
also realized that while I can work on a hard deadline and produce a good book,
I don’t like doing it. The rest of my year, I have loose deadlines. I know how
many books I want to finish by December 31st, 2019, but I’m not
putting out definite dates, knowing that this will be another transitional year
for my family and I’ll not have as many days of writing as I’d like.
While I have ideas and characters all lined out for 3 more
novellas, 4-5 more books in the Silver Dollar Saloon series, and 2 more Shandra
Higheagle books and 3 more Gabriel Hawke books, with more ideas coming at me. I
know I’ll be lucky to get one more of each out this year. Even though before all
the changes in our family, I’d planned to get more than those 4 projects
written.
Right now, I’m focusing on writing the best book I can. I’m
digging into the research, sifting through, looking for some wonderful nuggets
that will enhance the next book I write and coming up with characters that will
make the reader glad they read the book and look for the next one.
I had 2 book signings over the weekend and at each, readers
asked how I come up with the ideas. The ideas are easy. It’s finding the time
to put those ideas into an entertaining story that is the hard part. From the
first draft, to the finished product it takes commitment and staying in the
story to bring it to completion. When I’m pulled out of the story for several
days it’s harder to keep the flow. I’m hoping to get projects accomplished in
between other responsibilities and stay focused.
And that’s why writing is more than the words.
