Drawing from the Well
My focus recently has been on platform and publication. I bought my website domain and started compiling the materials to re-launch my website. I’m really excited to get it going but it’s going to take a little bit yet to finish getting everything together. It’ll need an update after I get my marketing materials but the re-launch is a big deal, primarily because I’ll simultaneously launch the newsletter.
That’s right. On top of the blog (yeah, I need to post more often; I’m trying), I will launch a monthly newsletter with the website. It’ll have more details about what I’m writing, reading, and doing toward publishing more books. Plus, I’m throwing in a freebie for all subscribers. I just finished writing it this week. After a couple of quick rounds of edits, it’ll be ready for your eyes!
Next on the list is my back blurb, forming my LLC (more on that in the next newsletter), and selecting a publication season. It’s going to be this year, I just have to determine how late in the year it needs to be to get everything else done. Hopefully I’ll have that info together in the next couple of weeks.
Filling the Well
January was a great start to my 100-book goal for the year. I read 18 books in January but haven’t finished any since. That said, I’m on the cusp of finishing two books AND a boxed set, so that makes three books (hopefully this week). So what’d I read?
- Circle of Ashes by Elise Kova and Lynn Larsh
- The Nutcracker and the Mouse by Charlie N. Holmberg
- Judge Dee and the Limits of the Law by Lavie Tidhar
- Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
- A Quest of Heroes by Morgan Rice
- A March of Kings by Morgan Rice
- A Fate of Dragons by Morgan Rice
- A Cry of Honor by Morgan Rice
- A Vow of Glory by Morgan Rice
- A Charge of Honor by Morgan Rice
- Kind of Hindu by Mindy Kaling
- Please Like Me [But Keep Away] by Mindy Kaling
- Help Is On the Way by Mindy Kaling
- Searching for Coach Taylor by Mindy Kaling
- Once Upon a Time in Silver Lake by Mindy Kaling
- Big Shot by Mindy Kaling
- Birth of Chaos by Elise Kova and Lynn Larsh
- A Rite of Swords by Morgan Rice
As for what I’m reading now, I’m on Age of Magic, the fourth and final book of the Wish Quartet by Elise Kova and Lynn Larsh (which I started almost a year ago and will finish out that boxed set) and A Grant of Arms, Book 8 in The Sorcerer’s Ring Series by Morgan Rice.
The two books in the Wish Quartet I read last month continued to expand on the universe they had built before completely blowing it up to go into the series finale. Mindy Kaling’s essays were good. And The Sorcerer’s Ring started slow and has continued to ramp up with reveals and struggles. Each book has managed to form its own identity within the greater conflict of the series. I’m glad that this ongoing war hasn’t gone stale.
We’ll see what I can get done in February…
Well Chat
This is something I wanted to talk about in 2020, but lost my blogging mojo, so we’ll talk about it now.
I’ve often heard advice not to compare yourself to those around you. It can even be detrimental to compare yourself to your mentors and idols. Why? Because you look at them and think, “Why can’t I have that or be that good?” It’s self-destructive.
The best way I heard it described was (surprise) by V.E. Schwab. She said to not look at the page someone else is on in their book of life, that you’re not on that page yet. Just work on getting to the next page in your own book.
This lead to a revelation and my phrase of the year for 2020: Keep your eyes on your own paper.
Now, what does this mean in reality? Well, it’s okay and even inspiring to look at those on similar tracks to your own to derive motivation and, well, inspiration. That practice is okay. But to look on others and despair? That’s negative mental health, so just don’t do it (I know, easier said than done). Keep your nose down and your eyes on your own paper so that you can finish the damn paper, or book, in my case.
That’s what I did in 2020. I kept my head down and kept writing. Other authors released books. Great. Some got TV or movie deals. Awesome for them, maybe one day for me. But I can’t get there if I don’t FINISH THE DAMN BOOK.
I started looking on others in my same lane and thinking, “I want that. I’m going to get it one day, but I’m not there yet, so let’s keep writing.” I focused on writing my page instead of trying to force it to be someone else’s. And ya know what? It’s working great after a year.
So what’s phrase of the year for 2021?
Dream like you’ll live forever, but write like you’ll die tomorrow.
We’ll get into that next time.
May the tide carry you to safer shores.
BSG