Sometimes it’s easy to forget we’re only human. My latest reminder comes today when I realised, I forgot to post a blog last week. 0_0. Thank you for being patient with me.
I’ve been so preoccupied with life stuff, and editing Samhain Sorcery, things are getting a little away from me. I’m endeavouring to do better.
I have seven weeks until Samhain Sorcery goes to the editor, and the same amount of time to finalise my act and workshops for Denmark Festival of Voice. I will officially be reading several original children’s stories in “The Gnome, the Dragon and the Princess” (special thanks to my father for allowing me the right to use his work in this act), and I will be teaching my Build-A-Beastie and Fracturing Fairy Tales Workshops. I’m also performing at an Easter Market this weekend and participating in a Poetree, which I’m excited about. Expect photos on the blog next weekend, and on social media.
This week I wanted to talk about something I’ve learned from Indie Publishing, especially regarding marketing: planning is everything. Now that’s not to say that I flawlessly schedule and plan my working life out, nor does it mean that I can trust myself to stick to the plan (exhibit a, the non-existent blog post for last week…). But without a plan I would be even less productive than I am now, especially when my mental health plays up.
Having a plan and a routine helps boost my productivity and helps me achieve goals. It’s super easy to say, “I’ll do it” and then do nothing. “I’ll do it today” or “I’ll post every Monday” seems to work better for me. Planning what I’m writing, and when, helps me stay on track with manuscripts and publishing schedules, and while I’m not perfect, I’m getting better. I schedule the time in my diary, with notes as to what I want to get done, and have self-imposed deadlines. I really want to make writing my full time job, and so, I must treat it like a job. If I don’t do the work, then who will? If I don’t do it now, will I ever get it done?
I often get comments about how my writing career isn’t a job. I don’t make my income from writing, in fact I spend more on publishing and editing costs than I make, and I still work for a paycheck in a traditional job. People have told me they can’t believe I spend so much time “working” for so “little” reward. The rewards I get from Indie Publishing may not be traditionally considered rewarding, especially financially, but they are rewarding for me. And honestly, I hope that in the future they’re financially rewarding too.
Whether I publish my stories or not, I’m going to write them. It’s in my blood. I want to live a creative life and so I am. I don’t want to grow old and look on the past with regret. I’m chipping away at my dream, trying to make it my reality. People are never going to read my stories if I don’t write them. It’s incredibly rewarding to spend months or years on a manuscript and be able to hold a printed copy of your book. The Kingston Chronicles took nine years to write and produce. Samhain Sorcery has taken the better part of two. Each book gets written and produced quicker than the last. I find that rewarding; honing my craft. It’s incredibly rewarding for someone to walk up to me and tell me they loved my book (and it’s especially nice when they told me they bought it 
). It’s rewarding that my niece has been inspired by myself, and her other aunt who is also a novelist, to work on her own stories. It’s rewarding that I can teach classes and workshops to help people realise their own writing dreams. It’s rewarding that I can hold a give away and send a copy of my book to a complete stranger on the other side of the world.
While I plan on writing many more books, with The Kingston Chronicles out there now, I’ve realised one of my dreams. A dream I’ve held since at least high school. I wanted to be an author. Even if I died tomorrow that book will still be out there. Who knows, a hundred years from now people could still be reading my book. I am 28 years old and I’ve achieved most of the things I wanted to achieve when I was in high school. I find that incredibly rewarding. Indie Publishing is tough, don’t get me wrong, but it definitely has been worth it to me.
Planning works for me, helps me achieve my goals, and moves me down my path. If you have any questions about how I plan out my work, feel free to email me at b.forrester.author@gmail.com
B. Forrester 
I feel this. I think we all hope that in time our writing and hard work will pay off eventually, but for the time being, the fact that our work is out there and being read is reward enough. 🙂
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