Focus
July 27 -Per Google, I need to do these five things to start writing full time. (I’ve changed the order based on my priorities):·
Write. A lot. I can’t wait for this step.·
Manage Your Time. I admit, that is necessary. I could waste whole days without a plan and a schedule. I am deadline driven. I hear I should schedule 80%+ of time to writing. They say that because I could easily spend all day on the business of writing. If I don’t take care, I could be back to squeezing in my writing between “work hours” (website maintenance, social media, and blogging).·
Build a Network (connect with people who have common interests). This is a little sticky. I know lots of people. Not all of them read fiction. And of those, not all of them like to be approached by emails and newsletters. I’ll have to sort through my current contacts, then find ways to grow my network with people who like to read the type of fiction I write.·
Use the Right Tools. Feeling good with my current writing setup: desktop computer with two monitors (one for writing, one for an open thesaurus). My laptop holds enough power to sit in coffee shops for hours when I need to get out of the house. I like Scrivener for outlining. Squarespace works for my website, though I do need to learn how to use all its capabilities.·
Create Multiple Income Streams. This is an interesting element for me. It assumes that a full-time writer would like to be making a full-time salary. Books can’t be the only income, since sales can be few and far between. Some authors are speakers at conferences. Some sell bookbags and other items branded with titles or funny sayings. I’m leaning toward bake sales at this point. I make a mean macron. I added these two points that should be in play before my first day of full-time writing:·
Know where you want to start. Day 1I will wake up (without an alarm, because yeah, I don’t have to anymore), then take a fresh cup of coffee to my desk and continue writing the novel I’ve been working on that needs another 10,000 words. When I need a break from creating, I’ll move to editing with a different novel—nudging it toward a second draft.·
Get your financial commitments in order. I’ve been working for a year to ensure my portion of our family’s expenses are taken care of. I wasn’t going to leave my husband with my car payments. I also budgeted for editing, classes, paper, ink cartridges, etc. without stealing from the household expenses.
This is my plan.
At least where I’ll start off.