Last year was a great new beginning for me in the writing business. New releases coupled with a revival of the old blog and newsletter really helped me get back to where I was before the world imploded. For 2024, I wanted to push forward and build bigger on a number of fronts, so I have some new goals with this brand-new year.
New Goals
2023 was a year of frustration on the writing front for me. The number of distractions continued to grow to the point where I kept pushing back deadlines and reconsidering my next release rather than digging in with the zeal I typically enjoy.
I took that into account when planning out my schedule for 2024. As of this writing, my releases are set through the end of 2025. Instead of pushing ahead and getting aggravated at life forcing itself in at every turn, I’m easing into what comes next.
There is plenty to keep me busy:
- Greystone scripts for Book 9 and Book 10.
- DSA Season Three scripts.
That’s the start. By the end of the year, more drafts will be set (Greystone Book 8 and DSA 3.1, specifically), but rather than fight against the hurricane (the two-year-old is currently screaming at me through the baby monitor to illustrate this point nicely), one of my main new goals is to find different ways to grow my readership.
New Tactics
The marketplace for books continues to evolve with each passing year. If you had asked me five years ago if ads were a necessity to put eyes on your book, I would have said… probably, but not totally necessary. There were still categories and keywords to play with to promote awareness of your title online.
Not anymore.
Amazon is pretty much ad central now. Facebook, Bookbub, and so many more are firmly on the ad bandwagon, squeezing out people like me with limited to no ad budget. It’s a sad state of affairs, but it doesn’t have to be the only avenue of success.
In-person events
In-person events are a huge part in building an audience. I attended close to a dozen shows last year. This time around, I’m hoping to be a regular presence in a few local marketplaces while also expanding my reach to some new venues as the year goes on. I dread these events from a social anxiety standpoint but love them for the chance to share the books with new and interesting people.
Amazon Ads for DSA
Beyond in-person events, I am going to enter the ad machine on Amazon. I know, I know. Then they win! However, I think it has its place when trying to cultivate a readership. So, there will be some fun re-learning how to do all that business.
Newsletter Building
Building the newsletter is priority number one. Having people getting my regular updates is absolutely critical to any long-term success in this business. That’s where my focus will be for 2024, with a constant stream of releases throughout the year to help garner attention.
Exclusive Content
To build it and make the newsletter sustainable, I am working to create a subscription model for new releases and exclusive content. You’ll be hearing more about this in the coming months, including where to find it since Substack is no longer an option, in my opinion. I hope you find the prospect as intriguing as I do. A new Greystone adventure will premiere through this model, as will Coventry by the end of 2024, if I plan things right.
Excited? Terrified? Join the club. Either way, 2024 is going to be a year to remember.
Happy reading.
