Over-Ambitious Writing Goals for 2019

About a month ago, I was completely frustrated with writing.

I had 8 published books and none of them are super-sellers. Don’t get me wrong–I love writing! But when one is super excited about a new release and nobody else is, it’s kind of disheartening.

I had thought I wasn’t advertising the books right. I had tried everything from Newsletter swaps, paid newsletter advertising, AMS, Facebook Ads, Bookbub Ads, Free days, countdown days, raising the prices, lowering the prices, and (attempting) to be a social media guru…but they just never took off. The bottom line: I’m no good at marketing.

But I began to read other authors success stories and many of them weren’t advertising at all or doing the same things I was. The key, it appears, is writing a book readers want to read. Ha, so simple, huh? Another theme was rapid releasing, but we’ll get to that topic in the future.

I purchased a book, “Write to Market,” that helped me go through the current trends and come up with a few genres that appear to be hot…or at least hotter than pregnant fairy godmothers and clones. I came up with a handful of ideas, but didn’t know which way to go next.

So, I threw my ideas at my mailing list subscribers and asked for their input. After all, they’re my biggest fans.

And now, I went from completely frustrated about what to do next, to super excited with the ideas I have for 2019.

So excited that I want to write more books than I think is possible!

But it doesn’t matter. I prefer to set stretch goals. Reach for the stars and be happy when you land on Saturn.

So…my plan for 2019 is to write four new series! (I know, you’re going to think I’m crazy! Especially since I’m not a full-time writer and help manage our family zoo (literal zoo with wolves, bears, and other critters.) Note: our zoo is closed for the season from January through April. My responsibilities there decrease tremendously, so this gives me lots of time to write.

The series I’m most excited to write are first in the year, so if things get pushed back or my attention turns to something else, I’ve (hopefully) gotten to my favorite stories.

January: Write a YA Witch Trilogy (Yes, a trilogy in a month! I am crazy! Watch for my blog about this in January. Just a note: I’ve been writing using springs. I do five 25 minute sprints per day and write 5000 words…so a trilogy of 50k books would take me 30 days if I wrote every day. It’s not so out of reach.)

February: Edit & write a Sci-Fi Alien Apocalyptic Adventure Novella for a box set I’m in. Go on vacation! 🙂

March: Write a new Sci-Fi Alien Apocalyptic Adventure Trilogy. (Yeah, CRAZY! Another trilogy in a month.)

April-May: Write a novella and three books in a new Paranormal/Witch Cozy Mystery series.

June-September: Write 3-4 books in a new Futuristic Time Travel Romance series.

October-December: Write 3 books in a new Paranormal/Alien Cozy Mystery series.

Yeah, I’m a bit heavy on the sci-fi this year, so the end of the year may change, but knowing where I’m heading helps me plot things out in my spare time and keep me excited about what 2019 will bring!

Side note: In 2019 I plan on doing more blogging. I have some good topics I can’t wait to share.

Have you planned 2019 yet? Please share what your major goal is. I’d love to hear!