We’re less than two weeks away from 2015 (sidenote: how did THAT happen?), and Wise Ink has begun to plan for our New Year’s resolutions.
For us, our resolutions are all about new, innovative ways we can help authors and change the indie publishing landscape, and it lead me to thinking about what authorpreneurs can resolve to do in the coming twelve months to get themselves (and their book) where they need to go. Pick one to do for the whole year, or one every month, or try them all!
Here are our top 12 Resolutions for 2015:
1) Write every day.
Sounds easy, right? Well, if you’ve tried this one before, you know that it’s harder than it seems. We recommend taking a page from Jonathan Mayberry and set a low minimum (try a paragraph or a page) and reward yourself.
2) Read every day.
A scene. A chapter. An entire book. A novel, a self-help book, or a board book for your kids. It doesn’t matter. Just read. If you have a hard time sitting down and processing words, try listening to audiobooks. We’re big fans of Audible, which is a subscription service. I listen in the car on my way to work, when I’m cooking, when I’m cleaning, and when I’m getting dressed in the morning.
3) Read outside your genre.
When you’re writing, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s good for your book, and knowing your competitive titles and keeping up with your genre is just good business sense. But reading outside your genre can keep you sane, and improve your skills in unexpected ways.
4) Trim the fat.
I’m telling you to kill your darlings, not to go to the gym. Look at 2015 as a year to revise. A year to hone your self-editing skills, and really examine what core message is at the heart of your writing. Know it, love it, and stick to it.
5) Pick a social media platform and really commit.
Twitter! Facebook! LinkedIn! Pinterest! All so different, all valuable in their own ways. If you’re half-maintaining profiles on several platforms, 2015 is your year to take a breath, a step back, and then a step up. If you have to choose, choose Twitter, and don’t worry about the other ones as much. Being really, really good at one type of marketing is better than being mediocre at several types.
6) Ask for help.
Still working on writing and editing? Ask for help from some honest friends or other writers to get them to beta read for you. Is your book about to come out? Ask the people you know to spread the word, post on social media, and write reviews on Amazon for you. Need extra writing time? Ask those around you to help accommodate that need.
7) Do some speaking.
In our experience, the most successful indie authors are speakers. That doesn’t mean that they travel around the country giving talks to big companies (although it might), but it does mean that they are comfortable talking to an audience, and can talk expertly about an aspect of their book. Experts flourish, so become one, and share that expertise.
8) Take part in your literary scene.
If your book is out, plan a series of events around your hometown. Bulk up the culture in your community. If you’re still working on writing, go support other writers. You’ll (hopefully) be inspired and get some ideas for your launch.
9) Make connections.
With other writers. With booksellers. With librarians. Be known as a resource, a friend and champion, and when you need someone to help you on your publishing journey, they’ll be the first to volunteer. No asking needed.
10) Update your acknowledgments—often.
Treat this piece of back matter as a living document—keep it changing and growing. By keeping a list of everyone who has helped you along the way with your book, you won’t forget anyone. Also, it’s a good way to stay grounded and grateful in the new year.
11) Make your message your mantra.
Everything about your book, every publishing decision, and every word, should lead back to your core message, and how you want your audience to reach and react to that message. Work on internalizing whatever it is, and live it. Focus on living what your is saying, and you’ll make all the right decisions, no matter where you are in the process.
12) Give yourself a break.
This is a hard business. To truly be successful, you need to be in it for the long haul. With this type of product, you’ve put your heart and soul into it, and that’s hard. It’s stressful, and it’s intimidating. If you mess up on any of these resolutions, or you don’t meet your publishing date goal, or your sales goal right away, that’s okay. Just breathe, regroup, learn from it, and try again tomorrow. To keep the passion going you need to take some time for yourself and enjoy the process, not get lost in stress.
Writers, what are your New Year’s resolutions?
Very good advice. Writing on holidays is tough:) So, give yourself a break around holidays.
You forgot the forums as well Reddit.I really think Reddit it’s a big deal but one must commit time there. A Reddit AMA is a very good promotion.My thumb of nail is to spend not much than 2-3 hours in blogging and social media.