End of June 2019 Report

As is now tradition, this is the post of the end of June. I am still putting my money where my mouth is.

RECAP OF THE UPDATED 2019 GOALS

1. Write 500,000 words in personal, non-school related projects.
2. Complete and publish Felix #2, Felix #3, Des O’Neal #1, Des O’Neal #2, Des O’Neal #3, Jovian Marines #1, Jovian Marines #2, Jovian Marines #3, Mech Warrior #1, Mech Warrior #2, Mech Warrior #3.
   1. Complete and Publish VRMMORPG
3. Correct cover for Felix #1.
4. Write four blog posts per month
5. Give Felix #1 and Tokyo Tempest #1 a proofread.
6. Complete and submit to market Terran Marine Raider short #1, Terran Marine Raider short #2, and RPG Death short.
   1. Added goal: complete and submit to market, JSS Leda (New title From Planet Everdark), secret short #2 and secret short #3.
7. Earn $1000.00 a month from novels.
8. Relaunch publishing company with a new, stronger name.
9. Get 1 client for editing services.
10. NEW GOAL: Lose 90 lbs and get healthier.
11. NEW GOAL: Write for 365 Days in a row of at least 100 words per day.

JUNE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. I wrote 42,886 words.
2. I have written for 182 days in a row.
3. I spent most of this month working on my VR story.
4. I have passed the 50% mark in total yearly words at 253k.
5. Waiting to hear back if my short story with the previous title, JSS Leda (New title From Planet Everdark) is accepted or not.
6. Working with a local cover artist for a bunch of covers for books.
7. Edited Secret short #2, reading it for submission.
8. Working on the edit for Mechwarrior #1.
9. Wrote 4 blog posts during June.
10. Starting weight 286lbs, weight today, 263lbs.

EXAMINATION OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. I wrote just over 42k words in June. Total word-wise, it is not the best that I have done, however, once you split it up into per day averages, it is the second best that I have pulled off. I managed to write a few 3k and 4k days to make up the lackluster numbers of other days.
2. This is still the longest days in a row I have written by far as well as the longest yearly word count. I count that as a win. My goal is to write 365 days in a row.
3. I have finished editing the short story. It is short story set in a post-apocalyptic world where Yellowstone Supervolcano exploded. It is about Captain Adele of the SV Wanderlust and her goal to deliver expensive cargo to its destination and to defeat other Captains who want the shipment for themselves. Once it is submitted and accepted, it will get a full blog post. For now, this will have to do.
4. I am working on editing Mech Warrior #1.
5. A local cover artist, not my wife is working on what I am calling “art assets.” These are so my wife can turn them into beautiful covers. They will be works of art on there own but will have no titling, which is why I need my wife.
6. My blog posts are still happening.
7. I have been on this new diet for a month now. My energy is high, however, I crave chips.

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

This month was harder than most. I feel like I’m starting to burn out, yet I need to ramp up my efforts and get more stuff done. The summer session semesters at school was split into two short semesters with the first part completed. Now with only one course, it should be easier to get other things done and to look after myself, as well.

I did get a lot of other stuff done. However, nothing published. The hold up is covers and editing at the moment. I have the one book, Missed Drop Zone, ready to go. But there is no real rush. I want to do things right and not make mistakes.

I have started to edit other works, the short stories as they come up. They are a good distraction in some ways, a poor one in others. I have the feeling that I am not going to get my goal of getting all of those stories published. I’m going to run out of time and word count. But there is always next year, as long as I have manuscripts done.

I have created an editing schedule, but it is hard to keep on it. I am hoping to get at least three more novels edited by September. It is a hard target to hit, but I think that it is possible.

The VRMMORPG story is going well. I’m at 60k out of a target of 100k. So things are progressing nicely. It is not going to be a stand alone. I tried. It’ll be a trilogy; if not longer.

So the plan, work on VRMMORPG, edit other novels. Get covers. Get books published.

If you like what you are reading and wish to support me in my endeavors, please sign up to my newsletter, visit my Amazon Author Page and purchase one of my books. Or buy me a coffee. Your help and support are much appreciated.

End of May 2019 Report

As like the post for the end of January, this is the post of the end of May. I am still putting my money where my mouth is.

RECAP OF 2019 GOALS

1. Write 500,000 words in personal, non-school related projects.
2. Complete and publish Felix #2, Felix #3, Des O’Neal #1, Des O’Neal #2, Des O’Neal #3, Jovian Marines #1, Jovian Marines #2, Jovian Marines #3, Mech Warrior #1, Mech Warrior #2, Mech Warrior #3.
   1. Complete and Publish VRMMORPG
3. Correct cover for Felix #1.
4. Write four blog posts per month
5. Give Felix #1 and Tokyo Tempest #1 a proofread.
6. Complete and submit to market Terran Marine Raider short #1, Terran Marine Raider short #2, and RPG Death short.
   1. Added goal: complete and submit to market, JSS Leda, secret short #2 and secret short #3.
7. Earn $1000.00 a month from novels.
8. Relaunch publishing company with a new, stronger name.
9. Get 1 client for editing services.
10. NEW GOAL: Lose 90 lbs and get healthier.

APRIL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. I wrote 43,055 words.
2. I have written for 151 days in a row, which is also at the approx one-third mark in the days of the year.
3. I spent most of this month working on short stories and not on longer fiction.
4. I have started the first draft for a new story.
5. I have passed the 40% mark in total yearly words at 210k.
6. Edited the short story with a working title called the JSS Leda and submitted it to market.
7. Working with a local cover artist for a bunch of covers for books.
8. Completed edited Jovian Marines #1.
9. Wrote 4 blog posts during May.
11. Starting weight 286lbs, weight today, 268lbs.

EXAMINATION OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. I wrote just over 43k words in May. It is better than the last two months. I have managed to pull off a couple really good days that have helped bolster my poor days.
2. This is the longest days in a row I have written by far as well as the longest yearly word count. I count that as a win.
3. I have first drafted another short story. A secret project that I will keep secret for now.
4. I am working on editing my secret project.
5. A local cover artist, not my wife is working on what I am calling “art assets.” These are so my wife can turn them into beautiful covers. They will be works of art on there own but will have no titling, which is why I need my wife.
6. The edits of Jovian Marines #1 are completed. It just have to get a cover and I can publish it. As soon as I get it back from a proofreader.
7. My blog posts are still happening. Even when I forget.
8. I have been on this new diet for a month now. My energy is high, however, I crave chips.

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

This month was hard at some points, and stressful at others and flowed when it did. A new semester at school has started so new courses to distract me. I did get a lot of other stuff done. However, nothing published.

With Missed Drop Zone finished edited this month, I need to start editing other titles. However, figuring out a good editing schedule is difficult at best. I will figure it out. Having them first drafter is a feat on its own.

The VRMMORPG story listed above is an oops. I didn’t intend to start another story, however, it is flowing. I like the characters, I like the plot. I am hoping to keep this a stand-alone. It is me though. I tend to write long stories.

So the plan, work on VRMMORPG, edit other novels. Get covers. Get books published.

If you like what you are reading and wish to support me in my endeavours, please sign up to my newsletter, visit my Amazon Author Page and purchase one of my books. Or buy me a coffee. Your help and support are much appreciated.

End of January 2019 Report

In an effort to put my money where my mouth is, I have decided that at the start of the next month I shall go over what I have accomplished.

Recap of 2019 Goals

1. Write 500,000 words in personal, non-school related projects.
2. Complete and publish Felix #2, Felix #3, Des O’Neal #1, Des O’Neal #2, Des O’Neal #3, Jovian Marines #1, Jovian Marines #2, Jovian Marines #3, Mech Warrior #1, Mech Warrior #2, Mech Warrior #3.
3. Correct cover for Felix #1.
4. Write four blog posts per month
5. Give Felix #1 and Tokyo Tempest #1 a proofread.
6. Complete and submit to market Jovian Marine Raider short #1, Jovian Marine Raider short #2, and RPG Death short.
7. Earn $1000.00 a month from novels.
8. Relaunch publishing company with a new, stronger name.
9. Get 1 client for editing services.

January Accomplishments

1. I wrote 43,834 words.
2. I finished the first draft of Felix #2.
3. Finished editing Des O’Neal #1
4. Waiting on a cover for Des O’Neal #1
5. Worked on editing Jovian Marines #1
6. Wrote 4 blog posts during January

Examination of Accomplishments

1. With writing nearly 44k words in January, I have just passed the base January goal of 42,470 words. It is not large enough for the 46,500 words that I set for myself, but that is okay. I set the 46k goal to account for times when the writing doesn’t flow. In the 31 days of January, I had failed to write the daily goal of 1500 words nine times. The lowest daily count was at 140 words. To me, this is a good month and is something to be excited about.
2. I had started the manuscript for the sequel to my Phantom Sorcerer back in January 2018. I reached 45k words before I got distracted by other projects and life got in the way. Now, it is done at 73k words. It is in the pile of stories to be edited.
3. At the start of the month, I had finished the edits to the first Des O’Neal book. It will be called The O’Neal Saboteur.
4. I have been working with my wife, the artist, on a cover for the Des O’Neal book. It is coming along, and it will be a post once I can show something about it.
5. The edits of Jovian Marines #1 are ongoing. I have a title for the project, but no series name. I am not settled with Jovian Marines. I am thinking about the Odinite Campaign Saga. We will see what I settle on.
6. As you can see from my previous posts, I have written four blog posts with them going live on Sundays. I wrote about goals. In February, I will be discussing a different topic, which is currently undecided.

Plan for the Future

Despite not hitting the publish button in the month of January, I consider the month to be successful. I start my day by editing for an hour before doing anything else. After that, I write my words for the day. Once those two tasks are done, I work on other tasks. At the end of each night, I write my tasks for the next day.

So far, it is working, and I won’t be changing a thing. If I keep going on this path, I will be successful this year. It is a long way off, and anything can happen.

I will post the February update at the beginning of March. Until then, enjoy the posts for February.

2018: Recap. Next up 2019.

It is 2019 and where has the time gone? Time is the most tremendous and greatest asset that each of us acquires in our lifetime. Every day we get deposited 1,400 minutes into our daily account, and we spend them throughout the day. By the end of the year each of us we will spend 525,600 minutes. That is a half million minutes per day, every day for a full year.

The question is, did I spend my allocated 2018 half million minutes wisely, effectively and did I make my 2018 goals.

The short answer is no.

The long answer is I handicapped myself. I allowed my anxiety, paranoia, and life got in the way of my goals.

I published four manuscripts in 2018, but my goal was for twelve manuscripts. I wrote between 200k to 350k words, but I didn’t keep track of my daily writing, and I am kicking myself in that regard. I have many books that are partially completed, but not published yet. It only matters when the button is pushed, and in order to push the button, I need to have the work in a publishable quality.

I have made mistakes along the way. I had published a book before it was ready, then removing it and scrapping it. I have published bad covers, lousy market copy, and other errors that I may not realize until it smacks me in the face.

Now, what is up for 2019? Am I going to limit my goals to something that I can get done?

This is me you are listening to. Remember one of my mantras?

If you don’t risk failure, then you don’t deserve success.

My goals for 2019.

1. Write 500,000 words in personal, non-school related projects.
2. Complete and publish Felix #2, Felix #3, Des O’Neal #1, Des O’Neal #2, Des O’Neal #3, Jovian Marines #1, Jovian Marines #2, Jovian Marines #3, Mech Warrior #1, Mech Warrior #2, Mech Warrior #3.
3. Correct cover for Felix #1.
4. Write four blog posts per month
5. Give Felix #1 and Tokyo Tempest #1 a proofread.
6. Complete and submit to market Terran Marine Raider short #1, Terran Marine Raider short #2, and RPG Death short.
7. Earn $1000.00 a month from novels.
8. Relaunch publishing company with a new, stronger name.
9. Get 1 client for editing services.

I have posted my goals on my cork board above my desk. They are staring me in the face every time I sit down at my desk, and I sit down at my desk a lot.

The break down of the goals.

Most of my goals will be completed by writing every day and completing and publishing the projects. The 500,000 words will finish the 11 books listed under number 2. Some of the books I have started, but not completed. I have started 7 of them. Again, in 2018, mistakes were made.

One of the mistakes was the cover for Felix the Swift: Phantom Sorcerer #1. The book is my strongest work published, and I feel that if I spend a bit of money I can get a stronger cover. The aim will be to rework the cover when I publish book 2.

I have dropped writing blog posts due to reasons, and it is a regret that I will correct.

I have noticed a few spelling errors in some of my books as well as a few misplaced commas. I will give the noted books a proofread and republish.

Some of the projects that I have been writing on is some short stories set in my science fiction world. I need to complete the stories and get them out on the market. There are a lot of indies publishing anthologies that I may be able to get them into.

Earning a monthly income from writing is a lofty goal, but if I can publish the books listed, there is a good chance that I can make that goal.

In regards to my publishing house name, I have never been happy with it. It is something that I need to think long and hard on, and a rebranding of it may be in the future. It may not be. We shall see what happens.

The last goal that I have deserves a blog post on its own, as well as a page with additional information. It is something that I strive towards, and I will go into it in the future.

Now the honest truth. Am I going to make my goals? They are very tall and very lofty. Plus I have a wife, two kids, and life to live. So am I going to make my goal?

At this moment, yes. I will make my goals. It is going to happen.

If you enjoy what I do and would like to help support me and my novels, feel free to buy me a coffee.