Self-Publishing: Debating the numbers.

A while ago I did a post on book sales from both traditionally published authors and self-published authors (or as I like to say Indie authors). Most of my figures a few years old, because the publishing industry isn't very forthcoming about its sales figures. 

Well, my friends, it seems like I’m not the only person who’s been wondering how Indie authors fair compared to their traditional counter parts.  Dana Beth Weinberg did a series of articles entitled The Self-Publishing Debate.  In the three parts she talks about all the usual issues: Why self-pub/traditional pub? How many titles do self-pub/Traditional/Hybrid authors publish? What kind of income do they make?

Her analysis is based on the 2013 Digital Book World and Writer’s Digest Author Survey; that surveyed 5,000 authors. Not nearly a complete look, but a nice sample.

Here are some of the highlights from her report:

About 19% of self-published authors in the sample also reported no annual income from their writing, compared to 6% of traditionally published authors and only 3% of hybrid authors.

(At the top earning, $200,000) less than one percent (0.6%) of self-published authors, 4.5% of traditionally published authors, and 6.7% of hybrid authors who reported on their income.

Self-published authors in the sample earned a median income in the range of $1 to $4,999, while traditionally published authors had a median writing income of $5,000 to $9,999, and hybrid authors earned a median income of $15,000 to $19,999.

Digital Book World’s analysis created a bit of a stir in the Indie publishing world. Especially when a colleague promoted her post on Forbes with the following title: How Much Money Do Self-Published Authors Make? And to answer that question he stated: In short, not much.

Indie authors from all over the web came out to cry foul.  What were their issues?  

Who they sampled for starters. Many active indie authors (who claim to be high earners) said they weren't asked take part in the survey despite being affiliated with Writer’s Digest. When you do informal surveys like this it’s hard to get a repressive data set. Is it likely they missed the mid-level and higher earners because they were busy working on their careers? Yes.

One comment mention that there was no distinction between new authors (with only a few books under their belt) and authors who've been publishing for years.  Time is an important factor in building an audience. So there’s a higher likelihood that the traditionally published/hybrid authors in the survey have an advantage over the indie authors because self-publishing is still in its infancy.

The other issue that I think is more than fair was broached by Hugh Howey. He complains that the survey is reading the data wrong. He argues:

But that compares ALL self-published authors and only a small fraction of people who go the traditional route. I've been hammering this point home for years, but it still gets left out of these comparisons. When you look at earnings and sales figures for traditionally published books, you have to take into account the huge percentage of books that never make it out of the slush pile. Why? Because those are authors and books attempting to go that route.

He makes a good point. Look at it this way.

If I've written a book and am trying to publish through the big five publishers, I spend my time submitting my work, tweaking it, and resubmitting it.  Sometimes for years. If my own writing contacts are indicative of this route then it’s likely these authors have several unpublished books waiting in the wings for a publisher to give them a golden ticket. None of these writers are counted on as traditionally published authors that have no income from their writing. Because the survey is looking at PUBLISHED writers.

BUT on the other spectrum. I write that same book, prepare it for self-publication, and despite my blood offerings to the gods of Indie authors, I don’t sell a single copy.  I’m counted in the survey as making no income on the book because I've published.

One of the main problems and greatest advantages to self-publishing is there are no gatekeepers.  No one stops you from publishing a book of poetry about your cat mittens. No one tells you that caveman erotica won’t sell. You can publish what you want (within the distributor’s guidelines).  

So Howey has a point. If we are counting the multitude of authors who self-publish (even when they shouldn't) why aren't we counting the publishing slush pile? 

Personally I like the landscape Howey paints for the self-publishing industry:

Even if you just guessed at the number of [traditionally] submitted manuscripts that make it to publication being at 1% (which I think is awfully generous), you would immediately see a completely different landscape. Take the top 1% of self-published books and compare their earnings with traditionally published books. That would be something to behold.

While I think he’s being a little too generous there, but he could be right. Amazon recently reported that 25% of their digital best sellers (top 100 kindle books) for last year were indie titles. That is something to behold!

#IWSG When Life Interrupts Your Writing

Purpose of IWSG : to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds
To join IWSG visit Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh here

November is dead.  Long live December.

I can’t even begin to express how happy I am that November is over.  My day job and family drama have been a huge time suck this November. I expect some work crisis to crop up every now and then, but to couple that with my husband having a major falling out with his parents...It's just been a nightmare. (If you don't know I work for my in-laws. Yep, that makes for an awkward work day) And then my parents are having issues with my younger sister....

 So my grand plan to have my book edited and ready for beta readers by December 1^st has failed miserably. I'm eager to finish and move on to my next project, but I can't eke out the time. When I do open my laptop I stare blankly at the screen, unmotivated. L

I have managed to get out ‘part one’, the first 14 chapters, edited and ready to read.  I'm looking forward to the feedback.  I've had readers throughout my process, and the feedback has been good from the people who participated in what I like to call “Gina’s Read-Along Book”.   My writing friends who've read chapters as I produced them, raw and filled with grammar errors, are the main reason I've made it to the other end of this process.  But this is the first time I’ll have someone read my work, start to finish.

It’s a little unnerving. This is the first full length novel I've written. Short stories and pieces for anthologies are so much easier to get feedback on.  I want people to be honest, but I also realize that asking someone to be a beta reader is a big commitments. I've come up with some guidelines.  A few things I’m looking for from my reads:

1. Consistency.- I’m interested in VOICE consistency. I want to know that the voice stays strong throughout the novel.
2. Where Would You Stop Reading? - I’m hoping no one comes to this, BUT if there IS a spot where you went: “Nope, I’m done!” Let me know where, and why.
3. Parts you skipped: If there’s any part in the novel where you just skipped or skimmed b/c you felt the information was boring or repetitive please mark that.
4. Plot holes. If you notice a plot issue let me know. I made some major changes at the end of the novel and had to edit the changes in the entire book. If things don’t sound right or people’s names (or jobs) change suddenly...

I’m hoping that people are honest. I don’t need my ego boosted. I've been writing long enough to have a thick skin. What I need is helpful feedback (even if it’s not what I want to hear). But like any author, I hope my readers like my book.  Now I just need to finish the last half and wait to hear what everyone has to say.  

I'll be posting the first chapter of the book on my blog. If you're interested in beta reading, shoot me an email. I'm always looking for a few good readers.

Urban Fantasy Isn't Just Leather Halters and Stilettos

We've been talking Genre at my writing group. We've had great discussions about Science Fiction, New Weird, Steam Punk...and this week we delve into Urban Fantasy.

Urban Fantasy seems to be the red headed step child of the SFF world. Which I find irritating.

 

Before you dismiss Urban Fantasy as JUST a fad (or worse, bad sex filled novels wrapped in werewolves and vampires) take a look at some of the books that fall under this category.

Urban Fantasy-A Sub-Genre of Fantasy.  Most often classified as a fantasy narrative in an Urban setting.  The best definition I’ve been able to find is:

John Clute and John Grant’s Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1997): “texts where fantasy and the mundane world interact, intersect, and interweave throughout a tale which is significantly about a real city”.

 

Most would argue the term Urban Fantasy applies to only contemporary fantasy novels.  Magic and fantastical creatures in our time, our world, but I’ve also seen the term UF applied to novels set in the past where an urban setting is a key factor.  Most notably the Steam Punk subgenre with books like the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger.

The other trend seen in today’s modern UF is the heavy noir mystery feel with a protagonist that's a PI, Detective, or other ‘law enforcement’.

History of Modern Urban Fantasy:

Charles de Lint is often credited as a pioneer of what we now call urban fantasy. His books draw heavily on mythology (Celtic sometimes Native American) but are set firmly in a modern city. The stories are told through modern eyes and modern perceptions.  His most popular books are the Newford stories, set in the collaborative Bordertown world.

 

Other defining authors in the genre:

Emma Bull (War for the Oaks), Neil Gaiman, Terri Windling (Editor of the collaborative anthology entitled Bordertown) Jim Butcher (Dresden Files), Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels series); Kim Harrison (Rachel Morgan serie), Simon R. Green (Nightside books), Carrie Vaughn (Kitty Norville), and Laurell Hamilton (Anita Blake books)

(This is just a sample of notable authors from this popular genre...please don't email hate mail b/c I left off your favorite author)

One thing these novels have in common is they are all about fantasy and Fairytale retellings in the real cities. (Think elves in rock bands and cities bordering magical realms.)
 

Vampire novels became popular in the 90s following Anne Rice’s Interview with a vampire.

This novel would see a whole new host of vampire noire and romance novels that were marketed under the UF heading.  PN Elrod’s vampire detective series, Laurell Hamilton's Anita Blake novels, Charlain Harris’s Sothern Vampire Mysteries,   and YA romance novels like Twilight and The Vampire Academy.

The popularity of Laurell Hamilton’s Anita Blake novels in 1990s also began a new trend towards first person narrative with a “strong” female protagonist  who kickass in heels and leather.  These novels usually featured a grittier urban backdrop and more often than not, a romantic subplot.

This is when we began to see an over-all shift in plots for Urban Fantasy. Series like Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake or Karen Marie Moning’s Darkfever stared to blur the lines b/w UF and romance…where the romantic subplots were to take center stage.  Tim Pratt even went so far to say that today’s Modern UF is filled with “books about tattooed women who wear black leather, fight crime, and fend off and/or sleep with supernatural monsters.” (He sites that as one of the reasons his publisher wanted him to publish his Marla Mason books under the name TA Pratt. His publisher has since dropped the series and he continues to self publish it.)

 

There's nothing wrong with including these book under the Urban fantasy umbrella, but this narrowing of the definition of UF leaves out a whole host of books that should fall into this genre.

It also makes the public believe UF is a fad or ‘New’ Genre, but in fact we’ve had these types of tales for years.

UF has wide, varied, and deep influences.  The real heart of UF is all about making old stories modern. Bringing the fantastical to our mundane lives.

The early gothic novels can easily fall under the umbrella of urban fantasy.  Arthur Machen’s The Great God Pan (1890) could be classified as UF (A young girl has her mind opened to the world of gods and monsters, producing an offspring that terrorizes Victorian London) While classified as Horror at the time, The Great God Pan has all the trademarks of UF.  Urban setting, fantastical creatures, mystery, set in modern London.

 

Carrie Vaughn points out that Jack Williamson’s Darker Than You Think, a lycanthropy story, originally published in 1940, would fit well in today’s UF marketplace.  It has werewolves, a terrible destiny, and, of course, a dangerous romance.

Even if you keep to a very narrow definition of UF (city setting, modern story, mystery) many of the Victorian and pre-Victorian gothic tale could be classified as UF. 

But don’t stop there, further back Gilgamesh's fantastic adventures happened in the Sumerians' mundane world, not in some magical alternate universe.

So before you dismiss UF as just a passing trend, remember this genre has a long history and will likely be around for years to come.   

Insecure Writer's Support Group: After the Party's Over.

Purpose of IWSG : to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds
To join IWSG visit Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh here

Last month was a really good month. I'm in a state of post writing afterglow. I've already jumped head long into editing this week, and even that's been going well.I love editing. I'm looking forward to the work, but it also means I'm facing a dilemma.

After sending my novel out to my beta readers, I'm going to have to start working on my next project. The post completion party is over, and it's back to the beginning. 

So today my confession is:

I'm worried I don't have another novel in me.

Lotus Petals was something new for me. I've only ever finished short stories, and one that might be classified as a novella.  So now that it's finished, I'm looking to the future.  I've left the ending open for additional books in Sycamore Springs (the setting of my current novel), but I also think I should explore some other options. I was so passionate about writing Lotus Petals. Now I'm worried I won't be able to find that same level of drive for my next novel. 

It's been on my mind for a while now. I've been studiously keeping a folder with ideas for other books and stories, but in the last six months I realize how different writing a full length novel is from writing short stories. And my biggest fear is I won't be able to do it again.

I started writing Lotus Petals because I had a story I needed to get out. I've enjoyed and hated almost every minute. During this process, I've branched out my social network, and have developed relationships with fabulous writers and agents. The one thing I've learned is these quirky, geeky, bookish people are my tribe!

So while I'm basking in the afterglow of a finished novel...my neurosis and insecurity are creeping in again.  Here's hoping inspiration will latch on, and I can repeat the process.

Why I Love NaNo Even Though I Don't Participate

We are approaching the end of the first week of NaNo, and my social media feeds are filled with word count updates and excerpts from their new novels. 

I have no great love for NaNoWriMo myself. I failed miserably several times to meet the word count expectations, and more often then not hated almost everything I wrote.  The thing I dislike most about NaNo is the expectation that the number of words you write is all that counts, and you can fix it in editing.

Well I don't mean to piss in your cornflakes, but they're wrong. Editing can't fix everything, and just writing 50k words won't get you a novel.  But even if I'm not planning to participate, I look forward to NaNo every year because of other people's excitement. 

Every November I see a whole host of new writers bubbling with enthusiasm about writing a novel. It really feeds my own desire to write more, and talk about the writing process.



Mentoring young writers



Writing isn't always the easiest thing to do. Writers are know for their neurosis, but I think that has a lot to do with the solitary nature of writing. We spend hours/days/months sitting in front of a computer (notebook if you're old school) talking to the imaginary people in our head, or if you're like me having those conversations aloud.

So I embrace NaNo, if for no other reason than the fact people are talking about writing. I get to have chats with new and experienced writers about their process. How they come up with their ideas. What they do about writer's block. How they edit.

There's a great buzz all over the internet, and it really feeds my own passion. In addition to that, I find some of my favorite writing spots filled with people writing. I've had conversations with people in my local coffee shop about what I'm working on, and how long I've been writing.  So instead of sitting at home alone, in November I have a tribe.

It might not always be productive, but I enjoy the comradery.  So While I may never participate in NaNo again, I welcome it. And wish you all luck!

FINISHED!

I interrupt this blog for some self-congratulatory tomfoolery.

I finished my novel Lotus Petals.

 

So after six months (holy crap!!!) of writing.  A fabulous critique from a literary agent. Followed closely by a devastating critique by another literary agent. A total collapse of my self-confidence. Trashing a THIRD of my novel to rearrange the plot. I typed the words THE END last night.



Fairly accurate depiction of how I look after writing a novel.

I know there's still hard work ahead. I have November for editing, then it's off to my beta readers in December. January brings another round of editing. And THEN off to my editor.

But for now, spare me this moment of self indulgence. This one moment to say: booyah!

 

 

 

 

The End is Near!

I can see it. THE END!!!

Like a Boss!

So, no time to talk. I'll leave you with my G+ post:

Publishing Industry Facts That Will Make You Think

I've been MIA for longer than intended, but it's a good thing.  I've been busy writing. The finish line for Lotus Petals is in sight!!!

This week I was asked to host a discussion about self publishing and small press publishing for my writers group.  I've spent the week researching and putting together information and I wanted to share with my readers. :)  This will be a multipart post (I went overboard on the research!!)

THE HEALTH OF THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY:

Despite the go-go of our society and the multitude of entertainment options we have today, PEOPLE ARE STILL READING, but how they are reading is changing.

Sales of hardcovers rose 1.3% in the year, to $5.06 billion, and trade paperback sales increased slightly, up 0.4%, to $4.96 billion. . . . Total e-book sales rose 44.2% in 2012, to $3.04 billion and accounted for 20% of trade revenue and sales of downloadable audio rose 21.8% in 2012, to $240.7 million. (figures from Book stats)

The number of traditionally published print books rose 6% in 2011, to 347,178, according to preliminary figures released by Bowker.  This was the first year they included self-published titles in the 'traditionally published' column , and they believe this was the driving factor to the increase.

Bowker goes on to say that the number of self-published books has tripled in growth, especially in ebooks.  They tally more than 235,000 new print and ebooks in 2011. This can easily be contributed to new technology that makes self-publishing so easy.  And the news of self-published authors 'making it big'. Even with the superstars of self published books being heralded as modern day folk heroes of the publishing industry, individual self published books usually don't do well.

According to the New York Times: “most self-published books sell fewer than 100 or 150 copies", many authors and self-publishing company executives say.

There are breakout successes, to be sure, and some writers can make money simply by selling their e-books at low prices. Some self-published books attract so much attention that a traditional publishing house eventually picks them up. But It's not an easy path to follow, you have to be an entrepreneur if you're planning to self publish.

"So I'm going to push hard to get a publishing contract," You say. "That way I'll be successful in selling my book!"

Well not so fast. Publishing contracts don't guarantee success.  As a matter of fact, MOST BOOKS don't do well regardless of who or how they are published.

"Here's the reality of the book industry: in 2004, 950,000 titles out of the 1.2 million tracked by Nielsen Bookscan* sold fewer than 99 copies. Another 200,000 sold fewer than 1,000 copies. Only 25,000 sold more than 5,000 copies. The average book in America sells about 500 copies. Those blockbusters are a minute anomaly: only 10 books sold more than a million copies last year, and fewer than 500 sold more than 100,000.”(Publishers Weekly, July 17, 2006). 

And Nonfiction fairs even worse. According to BookScan*, which tracks most bookstore, online, and other retail sales of books, only 299 million books were sold in 2008 in the U.S. in all adult nonfiction categories combined. The average U.S. book is now [2011] selling less than 250 copies per year and less than 3,000 copies over its lifetime.

*A note about bookscan. They only track books with ISBN numbers. A lot of Digital only self-published novels are forgoing the expense of ISBN, and there’s no data on their sales from the industry.

LET ME STRESS THAT:
 500 COPIES PER YEAR!

 

Which means for every book that sells over a million copies there are thousands that are complete flops.

Yes, these aren't the most current statistics, but sales figures on individual books are guarded. The publishing houses don't talk about it. Published authors, who are ordinarily helpful and supportive of new writers, guard their numbers and don't talk shop. Agents are closed lipped about it.

Smashwords, a self-publishing website has been fairly open about individual book sales. “We make it clear to our authors.” That a huge majority of self-published books “don’t sell a lot of copies,” said Mark Coker, the founder and chief executive of Smashwords, a no-frills operation that concentrates on self-published e-books.

This graph represents Smashword books only.

 

 

 THE DIGITAL DIVED: Will Digital books save the publishing industry?

 

 

E-book sales have increase dramatically. Looking from January 2011 to January 2012, the increase was 49.5% for adult books and 475.1% for children and YA books. One analyst from Simba Information estimated that 1 in every 5 adults is reading e-books on a digital device.

Book Sales (as of second quarter 2012)
30% Trade Paperback
27% Hardcover
22% E-book
12% Mass-market
7% Other bindings
2% Audio Book

Pricewaterhouse Cooper projects that by 2016, e-books will make up 50% of the U.S. book market, and that physical book sales will hold steady with only slight percentage increases from year to year.

Market Share of Book Sales (as of second quarter 2012)

27% Amazon
16% Barnes & Noble and B&N.com
6% Audio E-book websites
6% Other E-commerce
6% Independent Bookstores
5% Resale and Thrift
4% Walmart
3% Warehouse Clubs
2% Target
1% Books-a-million
1% Supermarket and Grocery
13% All Other Channels

E-book Sales (as of second quarter 2012)
62% Amazon
22% Barnes and Noble
10% Apple
2% Sony
1% Kobo
~3% Google and others

The publishing industry isn't blind to these statistics. A Digital Book World survey found that at the end of 2011, 82% of publishing executives surveyed were optimistic about the transition to digital formats and 54% projected the decline of sales for printed books.

So with the ease of self publishing and the demand for digital books rising, the next ten years will be an exciting ride in the publishing industry.

Tune in for part two where I muse on how an author can possible making money in this brave new world of publishing.

What's Up Wednesday 10/02/13

 

“What’s Up Wednesday” is a weekly blog hop by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk. From Jaime: It’s similar in some respects to the Currently… post, but it’s been whittled down to only four headings to make it quicker and more manageable on a weekly basis. Be sure to visit Jaime's blog to add your post to the link list!

What I'm Reading

I've been staying with Contemporary Romance this week.  I finished two books in the new series: The Science of Temptation. 
The Theory of Attraction and The Seduction Hypothesis by Delphine Dryden.  They were fun erotic romances with nontraditional characters.  Mix in a little Big Bang Theory with BDSM and you get the picture.  I love that the male love interest was a social awkward dominant...you have to read to understand.  The second one was set a Con.  I love me some nerds :)

Right now I'm reading Rebound Girl by Tamara Morgan. Again another story with nontraditional leads.  The Female protagonist is independent to a fault (comes of arrogant and bitchy at times) and the Male love interest is a nice guy...a really nice guy (he teaches kindergarten!!!).  I'm enjoying the book.  Morgan has really great timing and a lot of humor.  I already have the next book Derby Girl ready to read.

ABSOLUTLY LOVE THE COVER!!!

   What I'm Writing

Novel: I've been keeping up with my word count so that's great but I don't think I'm going to make my mid October deadline.  I've decided to add a bunch to the story and change some of the charcters.  While I'm NOT doing that now, just making notes, the ending isn't going to match up with the start of the novel, so I'm going to have to go back to the start add at least two chapters and fiddle with the time line a tad.  So, while I might have an ending by the Middle of October....It won't be a finished first draft :(

What Else I've Been Up To

Work.  Work has be a huge time suck on me right now.  I've been spending my days arguing with some insurance companies...enough to send me on a murderous spree.  Luckily I have lots of liquor at home to keep me in check!!!

What Inspires Me Right Now

My son!!!

 

 This was part of his testing for his first degree black belt.  One of the skills he had to do was a flying side kick.  He worked really hard to be ready for his test and passed!!!  He is all kinds of awesome!

I've been swamped and don't have much else to say.

So that's what's been up with me this week.  How has your week been?

 

What's Up Wednesday 9/18/13

 

“What’s Up Wednesday” is a weekly blog hop by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk. From Jaime: It’s similar in some respects to the Currently… post, but it’s been whittled down to only four headings to make it quicker and more manageable on a weekly basis. Be sure to visit Jaime's blog to add your post to the link list!

What I'm Reading

I've moved on to a fun contemporary romance Trouble in High Heels by Christina Dodd.  I was looking for something light and not very complicated as I'm in the middle of doing a Critique of my writing group.  So far Dodd hasn't disappointed.  While it's not turning out to be my favorite of her work, I'm still enjoying it.

Next on my list is Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan. It was highly recommended to me by a friend, so I'm looking forward to reading it.

With the kids we've been listening to the Welcome to Night Vale pod cast. (I know it's not reading, but audiobooks/podcast are just as valued to me.)  The show is well done, and my kids love it.  Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but we enjoy the strange and absurd in our house. It's a little like NPR meets the Twilight Zone.

 What I'm Writing

Blogging:  Google+ now lets you embed post and I'm going to fiddle with this a bit with my blog. I'm not sure how it will work, so we'll see.

Novel: I've started back in my nightly write-ins with a friend.  Having a detailed outline for the chapter I'm working on has helped keep my word count up. I've always worked with an outline, but it's be fairly general...just plot points.  I've started to detail each chapter before I sit down to start writing, and it seems to be helping. 

Every morning I sit down and story board my chapters.  Than at night I work off that.  I have had to change some things, because as I write something new comes up or a scene runs long, but I'm flexible.  Just moving forward has me thrilled.

 
What Else I've Been Up To

Not a whole lot else has been going on.  Between keeping thing sane at my business, raising kids and writing...I've not done much else this week.  October is just around the corner and than we're into the holidays.

I did have this talk with my daughter:

(see embedded posts from G+)

What Inspires Me Right Now

I've read a lot of articles recently about human space flight to Mars.  The thought really has my creative processes spinning.

Even with a BioChem background I've never had the urge to write Science Fiction, but the recent news stories about Mars One, the one way trip to establish a Mars colony, has me rethinking that.

 

As the Guardian points out, though, the first few permanent Mars colonists will face more than just a freezing, dust-ridden environment. They're also likely to careen over the edge of psychological instability as everyone back home watches.  -Shaunacy Ferro

 Wow.  So now as I'm finishing up Lotus Petals, I'm struck with a load of ideas involving a pioneering crew establishing a colony on an inhospitable planet. There is so much human drama and psychology that a writer can tap into.  Maybe...  Maybe I'm ready to try my hand at a space story.  

 

So that's what's been up with me this week.  How has your week been?

 

What's up Wednesday 09/11/13

“What’s Up Wednesday” is a weekly blog hop by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk. From Jaime: It’s similar in some respects to the Currently… post, but it’s been whittled down to only four headings to make it quicker and more manageable on a weekly basis. Be sure to visit Jaime's blog to add your post to the link list!

What I'm Reading

Bonds of Hope showed up on my kindle last night J so of course I started it. I had just finished with listening to the audio of World War Z and was preparing to start with my writing… but my new book was calling to me.

I started it, but I am putting down my foot (figuratively).  I’ve told myself I’m only reading during bed time.  I really have to get back on a regular writing schedule if I’m going to finish my draft.

What I'm Writing

Blogging:  Trying hard to catch up on my blogging, and I think I’m making some head way.  I have a couple guest blog requests that I think I might have to put on the back burner for now if I’m going to stay on task.

Novel: So after making my bold declaration last week (I will finish my first draft by October…) I haven’t written a thing.  I crammed to finish my critique for my writing group and then fell into reading.  “Just one more book” I kept telling myself.  Well tonight is our weekly write-in and I’m determined to get some work done.  I have about 8 chapters left to write and if I’m going to pump that out in 6 or so weeks I have to really sit down each night and hit my 1000 words a night goal.  I don’t think it’s outside my ability… with a little help from my friends. (I’m think of you Kate!!)

 

What Else I've Been Up To

This weekend we had a wedding.  It’s always fun to see people in love start their lives together. Outside of that we’ve had the normal family drama. 

This month has been big for family stress.  I’ve had to deal with the In-laws totally enable the brother-in-law and his continued worthlessness (and I don’t use that word lightly).  It’s frustrating and infuriating.  I could easily overlook it, except this all revolves around our family business. 

Hubby is preparing to start Grad school; a big part of the stresser for the family issues.  We’re still not sure if Grad school is going to require him to go down to part time, and if so we need to make up his salary by increasing mine.

What Inspires Me Right Now

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I think that’s my issue.  I’ve been really uninspired this last week.  Work stress has encouraged me to hid in my books at night.  I’ve stayed off the social media sites and even off my nightly hangout with my writing buddies.

I need to find my spark again. Maybe I need a swift kick to get me going again.

 

So that's what's been up with me this week.  How has your week been?