Tag: new years resolutions

Jodee Speaks

Self Publish a Book in 2013: Step 2 – Be Faithful

Last week we talked about setting goals to help you achieve your New Year’s Resolution of self publishing a book in 2013. This week, I want to talk about being faithful to those goals. They are useless if you don’t actually work to achieve them. Here are four ways you can be faithful to your writing goals.

1. Figure out what works for you.

Not every writer is the same. Some people need to get up early and write before the hectic day begins. Other writers are most productive just before bedtime. Some people can write during their twenty-minute train ride. Others don’t write during the week but dedicate several hours to the craft on the weekend. If you want to stick to your writing goals, you have to make sure they are realistic for your schedule and personality.

2. Write it on the calendar.

Once you figure out when and where you plan to write, mark it on your calendar. Writing needs to be a priority just like any other task on your to-do list. You are more likely to stick to your goal if you see it written on the calendar than if you just tell yourself in your head that you need to make time to write.

3. Check in periodically.

You need to hold yourself accountable. Every day, week or month, check in on yourself and see if you are accomplishing your goals. How many days are you writing? How much time are you spending writing? How many pages have you written? How much research have you accomplished? How many pages have you edited? How can you be more productive?

4. Reward yourself.

After checking in, reward yourself for being faithful to your goals. You could treat yourself to a nice dinner, buy a new book, or spend an afternoon out with a friend. Whatever you do, don’t make the treat detrimental to your goals. Taking a day of writing or extending a deadline is not a reward. It is an excuse.

I’d love to know, how do you stay faithful to your goals?

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 20 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.
Jodee Speaks

Self Publish a Book in 2013: Step 1 – Set Goals

Last week, I vowed to help you achieve your New Year’s Resolution of self publishing a book in 2013 by dedicating this month’s post to helping you stick with your resolution. We are now a week into the new year, and many of you are probably pumped up to get started on your resolutions. The beginning is always filled with excitement and motivation. Take advantage of these emotions by writing down your goals. These will serve as your map throughout the year to remind you what you are trying to accomplish and hold you accountable for your actions. Here are four tips for setting goals that will help you self publish a book in 2013.

1. Be realistic and specific.

Don’t just say I’m going to write every day. How long will you write for? Twenty minutes? An hour? What time of day will you write? In the morning? On your lunch break? How many pages do you want to write each week or month? When will you finish your first draft? When will you start the self publishing process? Be very specific with your goals, but don’t be unrealistic. If you work 60 hours a week and have a family, you probably can’t dedicate 40 hours a week to writing, but you could dedicate twenty minutes a day during your lunch hour.

2. Hold Yourself Accountable.

Goals are useless if you write them down and forget about them. Decide when and how you will measure your achievements. Perhaps you will keep a writing log to record how long you write each day, or  maybe you will count page numbers once a week. For each goal, write down how and when you will hold yourself accountable.

3. Don’t be afraid to revise.

The purpose of holding yourself accountable is to determine what is working and what isn’t working. Periodically assess whether or not you need to update your goals. If your goals are unrealistic, break them into smaller, more achievable chunks. If your goals aren’t challenging enough, amp up the pressure. Just because they are written down doesn’t mean they are set in stone.

4. Keep them in sight.

If you want to achieve your goals, you need to constantly remind yourself of what you are trying to achieve. Keep a visual reminder of your goals somewhere you will see it often. You may want to keep your list of goals on your desk, or tape a picture of your main character or setting to your fridge. The key is to frequently remind yourself of your goals.

I’d love to know, what are your favorite goal setting tips?

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 20 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.
Uncategorized

4 New Year’s Resolutions for Writers

It is that time of year again; as we celebrate the end of 2012 and welcome the new year, many of us are reflecting on the past 12 months and deciding what we want to do differently in the coming months. As writers, many of our resolutions are geared towards improving our work and helping us achieve our writing goals. Don’t just think about your resolutions; make sure you write them down and put them somewhere you will see them often. This will help you stay accountable. Here are four resolutions every writer should have on their list this year.

1. Get healthy.

We all know the things we are supposed to do to stay healthy: get enough sleep, workout daily, eat fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of water. But most of us neglect these tasks when we are working on a big project such as writing a book. Your mental and physical health impacts your success as a writer. You can’t do your best work if you aren’t your best self, so make a resolution to take care of yourself this year and you may just be surprised how much more productive and creative you feel.

2. Read more.

The best way to improve your writing and generate ideas is reading. Don’t just read your favorite author or genre. Expand your horizons. Pick out books that are completely different from what you would usually read. Check out a new author or bestselling novel. Read books for children. Read poetry. Reread classic literature. You can never read too many books.

3. Try Something New.

When most writers think about improving their work, they focus on the actual act of writing or editing or brainstorming, but writing is an art that is created by our minds, experiences, and the world around us. You can’t write about life if you don’t live it. This year, make it a point to try new things. Take a class. Make a new friend. Go on a vacation, and watch your stories improve.

4. Write every day.

This is a classic goal for writers, but it works. If you want to be a writer, you must write. You won’t write your best work every day, but you need to write something. You never know where you might be able to use it later.

I’d love to know, what are your New Year’s resolutions?

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Jodee Speaks

Self Publish a Book in 2013

It is hard to believe another year is already behind us. As 2013 approaches, many of you will set New Year’s resolutions for yourself. One of the most popular resolutions is writing and publishing a book. Whether you write fiction, non-fiction, adult or children’s books, the Self Publishing Advisor blog is here to help. Every week we share tips, advice and news about self-publishing to help you achieve your goals, and I’m dedicating my January posts to authors whose 2013 resolution is to write and self-publish a book before the year ends.

Whatever your writing obstacles have been in the past (a busy schedule or a fear of failure), I am here to help! Enjoy the last night of 2012 and get ready for the best year of your life — the year you become a self-published author.

Happy New Year’s!

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 20 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.
Wendy Speaks

Top Five New Year’s Resolutions for Writers

As you say good-bye to 2011 and welcome in 2012, you may be creating a list of New Year’s Resolutions. The beginning of the year is a great time to make small improvements and take steps towards achieving your dreams. Here are the top five New Year’s resolutions for writers.

1) Write Every Day

I’m sure you’ve heard this advice before, but do you actually follow it? Writers write. Some days, it is only a few sentences. Some days, it is a few pages. But real writers don’t just talk about writing. They actually do it. If you want to get closer to achieving your dreams and improve your writing make an effort to write something every day.

2) Start a Blog

You may be reluctant to start a blog, but social media is a great way to market yourself and your books. A blog gives you a chance to gain a readership before you even publish your book. You can share samples for your work, get feedback from readers or just write about being a writer. In addition to marketing, this is a great way to connect with other writers.

3) Join a Writers’ Group

Writing groups are a great place to get inspiration and feedback. Creative minds often feed off of each other, so reading other people’s work can improve your own. You will also get unbiased advice on what works and what doesn’t in your writing. You can find a group in your area or join one online.

4) Read Tons of Books

The best writers are often avid readers. Read books in your genre as well as books from other genres. Also, look for books and articles about writing, editing and publishing.

5) Publish Your Book

Every writer dreams of publication. Make this the year you do it. Whether you choose to follow the tradition publishing route or pick a self-publishing company, 2012 can be the year you make your dreams come true.

Happy new year!

ABOUT WENDY STETINA: Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction, or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.