Tyro is becoming a little work-like now. This is where I have to hold steady. I have to remind myself this is only a draft – this is nowhere near being ready to be sent out for consideration. Heck – I’m only on chapter five of the manuscript and chapter nineteen on the outline, but I feel like this isn’t living up to its potential. I need to hold onto this feeling when I begin the editing process.

For the most part, I am following the schedule that I’ve put up for myself – nine hundred words for lunch, nine hundred words after dinner and a sensible snack (usually a bowl of ice cream) . I am going to, at the very least, finish this novel on time at the end of June. After that, I don’t know if I am going to work on the sequel or focus my attention on something else. I do have two finished novels that I need to edit and get out there. I think I might edit those down on the weekends after I get my mandatory words in.

There’s not much else going on. I am just up to my hips in work – might toss my hat into the ring for YA novels. I’ve gotten stuck on another idea and I might put that in a couple of books. I don’t think it’s going to be more milage from the other books, but we’ll see. I just need to get more productive this year. Really start hammering out the material.

Well – that’s really all for now. Wish me luck in getting the stuff out.

In all the kerfluffle about getting Unbound started and starting the research in querying and researching for the World War One novel, I forgot I actually have a novel to be edited. The Show Must Go On is finished, and I was taking it through my writer’s group. Because we took a holiday break and we only meet once or twice a month (and to be honest, I am putting Unbound ahead of everything else), I’ve forgotten where I left off with The Show Must Go On.

So, what I am going to do is edit it down as best I can on my own – I already have some ideas on what to do in some scenes – and start querying with that book. The goal for this year is to get something out there and not self-published. Now, I’m not taking that off the table. If I can’t find a publisher or an agent for this, I am going to go that route. I still have the artwork for the cover on my computer (and I should move that to the flash drive where I keep everything else), so it’s not like I’m not prepared. I will safely say that this book will be going somewhere this year.

Speaking of years – I have the feeling that this is my year.

Law of averages, right?

Yes, I’m certain I’ve said that multiple times, but this time I really mean it. I have a goal and a clear path to get to it this time. I’m not saying I want to get to this and have absolutely no idea how to get there. I know where I am going. I just have to make sure that the rest of the Universe aligns with my goals. Isn’t there some saying about doing the work and God appears? I feel like that’s going to happen this year.

Speaking of organization, I made a spreadsheet with all my horror projects on it so I can keep track of what’s being worked on and what’s being queried. All of this is really me trying to focus my attention and will on getting published mainstream and/or mainstream adjacent.

I’m also going to start using TikTok to my advantage. I thank the BookFox YouTube channel for this idea. What I should do is ask #BookTok influencers if they would like a free copy of my book to review. If they say, yes – send them the book and hope for the best. I’m not going to aim for the ones that have millions of views, but I am going to aim for something that’s manageable – maybe 30,000 or something along those lines. Even if five percent get interested in the book, that’s 1,500. Even if half of that actually get the book, that’s 750 times the price of my book. That’s enough to get on solid ground. Might even be enough for the algorithm to give me a boost. I’ve got nothing to lose, right?

Well – that’s all for now, I do have to re-jigger my work schedule for editing on the weekends. I’m sure I can get Unbound finished in six months, and get the other novel edited in time for April and the Kentucky Writing Workshop. I might have a chance to pitch it to an agent.

This is my year. Finally.

Time to start Unbroken! Sorry about your luck Tribal!