I would like to begin this post by screaming into the void:
Thank you.
If you’ve been keeping up with my social media accounts, then you know I’ve gotten up to A LOT this month. There’s been plenty of good, a little bit of bad, and heaping handfuls of stress and anxiety. Where do I even begin?
Since this is supposed to be a writing update, let’s start with that. My main writing project for the month has been From the Lake. I started this novella(?) almost a year ago and decided to get back into it once I had an aha moment for the story. My goal has been to finish the first draft, and although I’m not as far along as I hoped I would be by the end of the month, I have figured out that there are some pacing issues in what I wrote previously. I have high hopes for this one.
My main editing project has been Skull Daddy. I am still so in love with this story, but in finishing draft 2 I seem to have lengthened my to-do list on this one rather than shortening it. Inspired by one of my nieces, the story and characters mean a lot to me so I want to do it justice. With this round of edits done, I’m leaving the story to marinade for a bit before I tackle it again with fresh eyes. I have plenty of notes for what needs to change for draft 3 and I can’t wait to dig in!
Now with the writing updates out of the way… This month was my first month EVER selling my books at a convention! Thanks to my friends at Retro Joad’s, I was able to sell copies of my short story collections at TFcon Toronto. I completely sold out of “Coping Mechanism” and was left with very few remaining copies of “They See Me” and “Please Rate Your Satisfaction.” I also almost ran out of business cards. This was a fantastic chance to connect with readers – as well as fellow writers – and learn some more about the ins and outs of selling at conventions
Now that I have one convention under my belt, I have some promising leads on other conventions and makers markets to try out. This is something I would love to do more regularly, so if anyone knows of any conventions, craft fairs, etc. where my books might be a good fit, let me know! But first, I have to wait for my new order of books to be shipped to me…
While I increase my workload in the field of self-publishing, I am decreasing my workload elsewhere. In two days, I will be leaving my part-time job to focus on my writing. But, you ask, does this mean you’re making enough money to quit your day job and live off your writing? Absolutely not! I still plan on taking on plenty of contract work to pay the bills. Unfortunately, my part-time job is no longer what it was when I was first hired and I can no longer take the stress that comes with it. When you come home crying from every shift, it’s time to move on. This is going to be a difficult transition for sure, but I know it will all be worth it.
And, as fate would have it, two days after I’m done at that job marks my 2 year anniversary as a self-publish author. I look forward to seeing what the next two years have in store for me.
