Moving Past the Year That Shall Not Be Named
January 2, 2021
The year in review and moving forward
Happy New Year!
Let us close the door on and never speak again of The Year That Shall Not Be Named.
Looking forward to 2021…
Every year at this time, I take a look at my writing endeavors and business, see what went well over the past year and what I can change in the coming year. What did I achieve and what are my goals going forward? What ended up as unnecessary this year that I can trim down this coming year?
That last one is key. I almost always look for ways to reduce and simplify.
Although this past year, let’s call it 20XX (as we don’t want to call its true name lest it appear in a puff of brimstone), I didn’t really get time to do much. On top of the shared chaos we all had, I quit one job that “went to pot” (as some ancient ancestor used to say) and had to find another one (as you may know, most writers these days cannot do it fulltime and still feed the fam), my wife graduated into a new field and had to find a job, we enrolled my son in the digital-only side of school until this blows over and so we’re basically homeschooling him, my dad had multiple health episodes (ongoing), and grandfather passed away…
You know, 20XX.
Okay, so the year was sucky. We can all agree on that. But let’s get down to brass tax.
(Strap in, this is a long one. And honestly, is way more for me than for you...)
Kindle Unlimited
The biggest change I made was moving 90% into KU this year. Which is good and bad.
I hate the idea of having my ebooks only available on Amazon. Amazon is not a benevolent force for good in the universe but is multi-billion-dollar corporation whose purpose in life is to make money. While we indie authors owe much of our current existence to Amazon, it’s not like everything they do is for our benefit. They have already taken steps to increase the gain on their end and reduce the gain on ours, and more than once. I guess that’s good business, but I have no wish to feed this beast to make it a monopoly at my own expense.
On the other hand, what can one little nobody author do but try to survive? While I would prefer to go wide with all my books around the world, the numbers show without a doubt that I am doing better being exclusive to KU right now. I made the switch in May and instantly doubled the amount of books moving into reader hands, be that by raw sales or page-read borrows. I’d rather be everywhere, including libraries (!), but... Numbers don’t lie. I think until I have enough of a publishing business (meaning way more books written and way more recognition to move those books) this is the best route for me.
Publishing
I generally have an unofficial goal of 80,000 words published per year. This is generic length of most novels, a benchmark set sometime in the 1980s. (A novel traditionally need be only half that long to call it a novel.)
This year the only book I published was Secret Origins, which was 75,000 words long. Just shy. Actually, about 94%, which some nagging voice at the back of my head says, “Not good enough,” but I’m going to ignore it. Most of what was in there, though, had also already been written in other forms. Only the first novella in that book was written in 20XX and it accounts for about a quarter of the total volume of the book.
So my inner critic can attack that whole situation from various angles to say I didn’t meet my goal (which I usually exceed every year), but given the Year That Was, I’m okay with it.
I also started three other future books, only one of which I expect to finish by spring of 2021.
So, goal for 2021 is to publish Golden Age Heroes, book 4 of my Identity Crisis Series, which at the time of my typing this is about halfway through at 57,000 words. Plus another 9,000 words of a Spitball short story that I wrote this year too, which will be included in there. So that big tome alone will meet and exceed my publishing goal for 2021. It will also be a bookend to “season one” of my superheroes for grownups series. I have 4 or 5 more books already in mind for “season two” but plan to explore some other more mainstream genres for a bit. If the four books of the IDCU really take off and demand for the next season comes by readers, I’ll be happy to come back and provide that.
Which takes us back to the other two books I started this year. The trickiest part is picking which one I’m going to make myself stick with for a 3-to-6-book run. I have so many ideas and characters that have built up over the years while I’ve been working 40-80 hour work weeks that choosing is the hardest part. Imagine having several groups of friends but having to pick just one to see for the next few years and having to shun the others in order to spend the necessary time with group one. Sucks!
I also plan to start producing my own audiobooks. (When the heck are you going to have time for that, you ask?! I have no idea!) Hiring narrators and producers is tragically expensive. And thanks to Santa Claus, I now have my own equipment for recording them myself. Which I actually look forward to! I’m not much for doing different voices, but I did enjoy acting in high school and who knows my characters and stories better than I do? I’m going to start with the short story collections Green-Eyed Monster and the Grit & Shadows Collection and go from there. Shorter works will be good to practice on.
Reductions
What can I shrink? Pull back on? Save time on? Save a buck on?
I have my new website up now, as of just last week. It’s a better site for less money, which is win-win. As the inaugural blog post states, the idea was to keep it simple but effective, and I think it meets that.
So traded in one website situation for a better one. Check.
I have been a customer of Dropbox for my cloud back-up and file sharing for years now. It costs about $10 a month for 2 TB of storage. That’s really not that bad. Except that I am only using about 20 GB of it right now. So why pay $120 for another year to only use 1% of that?
I’m generally happy with Dropbox (except when they do upgrades that confuse the crap out of me) but I just don’t need that much storage and they don’t seem to have a smaller plan. I have shopped around a bit and found one for $4 a month for 500 GB, which should suit me fine. In fact, they have a lifetime membership at that level for $175. So basically, for about 1.5 years’ worth of Dropbox, I can get a lifetime on this other one… Sign me up!
Advertising, Promotions, and Campaigns
It’s pretty easy math to say that spikes in book sales generally correlate with big promotions and advertising campaigns. The down side is that they cost money and time to carryout. They also make me feel a bit too much like a sleazy car salesman when I’m trying to push a book sale all the damn time.
So going forward, I want to simplify and reduce the amount of these events that happen. This primarily means focusing on Amazon ads that run in the background and being more picky about what joint promotions I jump in on. I’m thinking once a quarter is plenty to plan on and gives a break in between.
And while holidays seem like the ideal time to run these kinds of events, that’s also when everyone else is doing the same! It’s hard to make gains when the ad costs go up and the market is flooded. So I learned this year that it might be better in the future to run my deals in the off-season when they are more likely to get noticed.
This one started last month and is still ongoing, so I might as well plug it! The Superhero Mega Anthology is free to download now.
500 pages of both prose and graphic stories, plus 46 or so optional raffles to get in on too! One of which is a chance at winning my entire Identity Crisis Trilogy
(3 books so far, 4th pending, as mentioned already) in ebook form. The SHMA is ending soon! My drawing will result in 3 winners on January 31st.
(Okay, so there’s the promo for the first quarter of 2021. Done!)
Newsletters, Blogging, and Social Media
The will-you, won’t-you. The damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Some of the worst and best for me.
I honestly like doing the newsletters. It’s a chance for me directly reach out to those who have volunteered to hear from me. It lets me speak to my readers.
The thing I don’t like about it is feeling again like that sleazy used car salesman. Unfortunately in a busy-busy life, I don’t always have time to write about other less pertinent stuff, like books I’ve read or other topics of interest. But I want to try to do more of that!
I also want to aim for about once a month on the newsletter. When there are other things to talk about or I have a new book coming out, it’ll probably be more often. But I’m hoping to have more conversational topics of interest to put out there.
The blog will mostly be a reflection of the newsletter. Although there will be some things in one and not the other, but once a month or so is all I really have time for and all I have to talk about. After all, if I’m typing that stuff, I’m not typing new stories.
Social media… The fall of civilization!
Okay, okay. Calm down, luddite cave man….
I really don’t like social media. Even if I did, I don’t have time to comment on anyone’s cat pictures. I would really, really like to do away with all my social media outside of my own newsletter and blog. The bad side of that is, there are a heck of a lot more people on Facebook and Instagram than there are on my mailing list. Like, millions and millions more. Therefore, if you want to reach new readers… You should have a presence.
I currently do, but again, the sleazy car salesman only has time to pop in on them when he has a promotion to push. So what’s the point? I started posting Warhammer 40K hobby stuff to my Instagram when it was new, but that was months ago and I haven’t gotten back to it since. (Or to the 40K either.)
So that’s how I feel about social media: ain’t good for you, ain’t good for society, and I ain’t got time for it. But if you don’t use it, no one will ever find your books. Kinda. So we’ll see. Still a hung jury on that topic, then.
So in summary (more for me than for you)…
Golden Age Heroes
(IDCU Book 4) is finally going to be completed and published in 2021. (Spring. Ish.)
New audio books coming, starting with the short story collections/series.
Starting the next new series (Not sure which yet… Space pirates? Femme fatale cyberpunk in space? Heroic fantasy anti-hero campaign?)
Continuing enrollment in Kindle Unlimited for now.
New website, new blog.
Slim down newsletter and make more meaningful.
Limit promos to once a quarter and make more meaningful.
Drop Dropbox (or at least reduce holdings there to free size for now) and switch to something more size/price appropriate.
Welcome, 2021! We’ve missed the hell out of you these past 9 months!
p.s. please forgive any typos in here, I’m not really doing a second draft here...
I think I hear something but when I glance up at the door… Nothing is there. The noise of the tavern rises and falls beyond. It must have just been— No, wait. I was right. A shadowy figure lingers at the threshold. A silhouette of a man, medium height, perhaps on the thin side. Hard to tell beneath the heavy black cloak and rather beaten-up top hat. He glides into the room, apparently satisfied there’s no threat within. He removes his top hat and bashes it against the wall, collapsing it into an uneven disc. The folded hat slips beneath his cloak to be stashed away. The same gesture reveals a dagger on his belt. I have the distinct impression he’s showing me the weapon for a reason—to ensure there’s no funny business, I guess. “Good evening,” he says, sliding into the seat at my table. He’s a handsome man with dark, piercing eyes, olive skin, and curly sable hair. “I hear you may be in need of… certain services.” “Not true,” I tell him. His suave demeanor becomes suddenly serious. “No?” His hand slips beneath the cloak, perhaps to the dagger’s hilt. “No services,” I say. “Just a few questions.” His dark eyes flick about, surveying the room. I expected this level of suspicion with him. My hand reaches halfway across the table then withdraws, leaving a 50 scept gold coin for him. His reflexes are remarkable; the coin is snatched in the blink of an eye. “I’m listening,” he says. * Me: Solomon Dustwalker? Solomon: Yes. You no doubt recognize me by my iconic top hat. Wearing it is similar to lighting a lantern outside the shop door, if I had a shop. It means I’m open for business and I am indeed the person you’re looking for. Not too many people around here sporting a stovepipe hat. So, tell me the nature of work you need completed. Me: Uh, again, sir, I don’t need any work completed. Outside of answering a few questions. And I have paid you quite handsomely for your honesty. Solomon: Honesty? Honesty is a fluid thing, sir. As well as rare, precious, and expensive… Me: Well, for now, I’ll take the amount of honesty that a gold coin buys and we can go from there. Now, my first question: What brings you to the city of Overlook? Solomon: Business, of course. I’ve brought my exotic talents all the way from the ancient and infamously brutal city of Five Kings. I first came to the Consortium by way of Westgate. That city is a nice blending of west and east. But after a lifetime in the arid lands of the Thirsted Plains, I thought a rise in elevation—and sophistication—was due. Therefore, here I am. Me: And these services you keep offering for sale? I assume the “exotic talents” you mentioned have to do with that? What are your greatest skills, Master Dustwalker? Solomon: How much time do you have? I’m teasing… mostly. Do you need an item acquired from some supposedly safe location? I am a master of stealth, sleight of hand, pick-pocketry, lock defeat. Perhaps there is special information you need and only certain people are privy to these secrets? I ooze charm and my tongue is plated with silver. I am as comfortable in the Goblin King’s court as I am a high-society ball or a tavern’s backroom. Should danger arise, I am an accomplished swordsman and am never short a dagger or two upon my person. And magic—did I mention magic? I even know a little bit of dark sorceries, should the extreme need arise. However… Me: However? Solomon: Well, those are forbidden arts, of a sort. The kind I know, at least. As I said, should extreme needs arise… Me: Impressive, sir. I see now why you enjoy such a reputation for sinister services. Solomon: Sinister? You wound me, sir. My business is as honest as a Silver Scepter. A common saying. The Silver Scepters are the guild of bankers and money lenders… Me: Um, yes. Well, I certainly appreciate your cooperation so far. My last question you may be less keen to answer, though. Do you mind sharing, what would you say is a weakness of yours? Solomon: A weakness? Hmm… You know, I can’t think of a single one. A woman appears at the door from the noisy tavern’s common room beyond. She is lovely with long blonde hair and dressed head to toe in black, similar to Solomon’s own style. Woman in Black: Sol! There you are. I’ve missed you, dear. Come buy me a drink. Solomon arches his eyebrows at me. Overly eager, he pulls his flatten disc from its hiding spot, pops the top open again, quickly slips free from his chair and is back on his feet. Solomon: It’s been lovely speaking with you, sir, but it seems it’s time to go. You can find me again should you need more honest questions answered. Or any of the other services we’ve discussed. Coming, love! I take his expedient exit at her call as answer to my final question…
Stand back, mathematicians! Are you guys ready for this? How's this for some math? Only 72 hours since the Dragon Slayers' Guild Kickstarter campaign went active. 73% of the goal accomplished already. Almost 3/4 in just 3 days! 54 ebooks pledged to go out. 6 paperback copies, 2 of them signed by the author (that's me). 48 audio stories pledged to go out. And all of that is going to just 13 backers so far! So many goodies to only a handful of people! I am so proud to be pledging 108 forms of fantastical fiction to you guys in just 72 hours, with all that accounting for just 13 readers/listeners signed up so far! The mathematical entertainment quotient is mind-blowing! I encourage you to share these numbers far and wide, my nerdly brothers and sisters. Let's see how many people's stockings we can stuff with entertainment goodies post-Santa season! Thank you for making this possible!
First off, I have to apologize a bit. I know I've been bombarding folks about this project. But it's a big deal for me. I've spent the last year writing this book. And the last month putting this Kickstarter campaign together to help pay for the expenses of publishing a book and making it the best it can be. To tell the truth, it's been stressful and today is a huge relief. Because it's finally LIVE! No more waiting and wondering if anyone will care. Because someone already does! So let's get this campaign started! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jdbrink/dragon-slayers-guild-a-heroic-fantasy-adventure I'm happy to say that in the first 24 hours, we’re already 22% of the way to our final goal! That's a way better response than I was expecting. I can finally stop holding my breath and just breathe it all in! I will be sending along some more fun bits over the next 3 weeks, in my newsletter and as Kickstarter updates, such as character interviews and world-building background on this new realm I've created. In the meantime, if you think you might end up contributing to the campaign, remember that the sooner you sign up, the more bonus goodies you get! You can now see the (crappy) video I made, browse all the reward levels, and sign up for up to 3 extra audio-stories, all yours just for joining the cause! THANK YOU for your consideration. THANK YOU for telling other potentially-interested fantasy fans about this, so they can get all these rewards for cheap too. And THANK YOU for reading!
Just days from now, the Dragon Slayers' Guild Kickstarter will kick off! And if you sign up as a backer by January 15, you can get the ebook novel and 4 audio-short stories, all for just $10! Read about the details in today's newsletter: https://preview.mailerlite.com/g1n0g2f5s0 And get notified of the launch here, on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jdbrink/dragon-slayers-guild-a-heroic-fantasy-adventure
Fur days from now my Kickstarter will begin! In the meantime, you can read the first couple chapters of Dragon Slayers' Guild via Google Docs here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_75RdsI54ON4jUKl6d3di0sbo6UMH1XT/view?usp=share_link Enjoy!
Al long last! It took me almost a year to write this book (which I started about 53 weeks ago!). And I've spent months prepping the Kickstarter to fund it's editing and cover art. And now that time has... almost come. But you can check out the Kickstarter preview page. Go here and have KS email you when the project goes live! There will be lots of goodies to be had! And since the video isn't live there yet, you can see it on Youtube by clicking here. (It's no high-dollar production, but it gets the point across.) There's not much point in me typing any more than this. The video and Kickstarter page will tell you more than I can here. Thanks for checking them out. Stay tuned, more details to come!
(Hmmm... I hope the resolution turns out okay on that image there... Looks kinda grainy as I'm typing this...) Another year down the time warp drain. I don't really need to say it, do I? Every year goes faster and faster, am I right? None of us can believe the date right now. Nobody understands the every accelerating flow of time. Let's just accept that we're all in a time warp and move on, okay? The good news, though, is we all thought the AI Apocalypse would have taken over by now. And since there are no terminators stalking our neighborhoods for survivors, we can celebrate! Yeah! And, of course, New Years is always a great periodic restart. An opportunity to look at how things are, what we've been doing, and give it a new tweak. Take a new running start at life. I'm definitely trying some new things for 2023 -- like a life-altering approach to making a living -- and we'll see how the Grand Experiment goes! Speaking of new things... At long last, I can show you my new book cover! I went big for this one, hiring Rebekah's expert services at Vivid Covers rather than patching my own stuff together. Most of the time, I hired the talented Mr. Erik (or Mr. Henry--he goes by both names and refuses to tell me which he prefers), who drew all the heroes for my superhero books and a few other cover images for me. But then I would take his work, or some stock images, and make do all the design work to make the final cover. And most of those, I think, turned out on the slightly better side of "okay" but... They certainly haven't been the best. I'm hoping this one ranks a bit higher with the "oohs and aahs" factor. So above is the official cover for Dragon Slayers' Guild , featuring Selene, the badass dark elf ninja! If you'd like to get (better formatted) emails on news like this straight to your inbox, go to this link and subscribe to my "Conspiracy Newsletter". (Don't worry, that's just a fun name. There are no crazy conspiracy theories there.) https://www.subscribepage.com/jdbrinkconspiracy To check out this story on the newsletter, which includes 379 books on special offer right now(!) go here: https://preview.mailerlite.com/d1m8t6p8e8 Thanks for reading!
More holiday goodies: 544 books! I'm promoting my fellow authors with these four big promo deals! And yes, there are literally 544 entries between them. Some are free, some are on sale, all are worth checking out! Since it's easier to provide one link than four, click here to go to today's newsletter, where there are four nice little buttons for your convenience. :) https://preview.mailerlite.com/q2x4h9w4q2
The biggest shopping day of the year is almost here. But you can score three big scifi/fantasy hits right now, no elbow pads or crowd combat required! I'll keep this short and sweet. (I'm supposed to be helping to prep the house for THXGVG after all!) RIGHT NOW you can get all three of these books at a reduced price of $2.99 USD on Amazon. That's a 40-67% savings on three of my biggest books! HERO CRISIS is the four-volume boxed set of mature superhero action-adventure. ( That's right, four books for just three bucks! ) Click here to check it out. WILDCARDS is dark urban fantasy and gritty noir horror. It includes the novel One-Eyed Jacks and 8 more shadowy short stories. GREEN-EYED MONSTER collects 18 novellas and short stories all across the galactic spectrum of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Perfect while you wait at doctor's offices or commute on the train, bus, or starliner. Is that short enough? Check them out and grab them fast before the post-turkey nap kicks in and robs you of your chance!
Just a quickie post here today. I have been too busy to toot my own horn about this but catching up now. Back on Black Friday, 2021--almost a year ago now--I made the decision that this was the book I was going to write. Switching off from two other sci-fi ideas I had been mulling over. I was inspired to make the choice by some fantasy miniatures I'd scored for cheap at a local game shop during Black Friday pricing. The figures I bought represented the characters I had in mind for this book/series. And so inspired, I said, "It's time to give them life!" I spent about a month thinking and planning and plotting. (And the next 10+ months continuing to do the same, sculpting and redirecting and reshaping the outline the story progressed.) I started writing on the last week of December, 2021. And have now finished the first draft on the 2nd day of November, about 10 full months later! Next comes my least favorite part: starting at the beginning and revising the whole damn thing! BLAAGGHH! I hope this process will only take a matter of weeks, though. ...And even typing that line out makes me scoff at myself. But I'm going to try! (And actually, I screwed up putting the details on that image -- if you count the prologue and epilogue, the book has 41 chapters.) Excelsior!
