Gooooooooood morning, everyone.
I have some bad news. I have really fallen behind in a lot of my author goals…including writing my post informing you of my failures. I’m not sure if that makes it a double, triple, or quadruple failure…but it’s time to face the music.
After coming off an incredibly productive second quarter, quarter three was almost an absolute bust. Let’s just make with the confessions already.
1.| Design bookmarks and other swag for Alabama Rain.
I made and ordered bookmarks—and I love them. I did design a few other items but they haven’t been ordered.
2.| Speak with at least one local bookstore about carrying my work.
Okay, so I had every intention of doing this, but before I could, I ran out of the physical copies I had on hand. But, that doesn’t get this item checked off, does it? No. Nope.
3.| Finalize SLT’s novelette prequel and order copies.
Hahahahaha. No….I didn’t do this either.
4.| Launch Alabama Rain.
I did this. A lot more quietly than I had intended, but it is out there in the world and so far it is getting amazing reviews.
5.| Attend the All About The Indies event.
I did not do this. I am not going to announce publicly why I decided against going, but I had my reasons and I do hope the event continues to grow and attracts both authors and readers.
6.| Outline and write 10,000 words of Underthings.
I didn’t do this because I decided to go with another project. And I haven’t written 10k towards it, either.
7.| Catch up on reading and reviewing my tribe’s work.
Fail.
8.| Review two books on the blog.
Fail.
9.| Find and secure at least one author event for the fall/winter.
Fail. Fail. Fail. Fail.
10.| Make self-care an indisputable priority at least once per week.
I did do this, even in the smallest of ways.
I totally do not need a calculator for this math. I had ten goals, and I achieved 3 things. Wow. 30%. I am utterly ashamed…which is why I put off writing this post.
I could offer a list of reasons for my failures. But, ultimately, it doesn’t matter. I should have done better. For a minute, I considered not even bothering with goals for the fourth quarter because I’m being pretty hard on myself right now. But, in some way I feel that would be rewarding myself for my poor output. I don’t need to stop holding myself accountable, I just need to double-down and prioritize my dreams more than someone else’s.
No one is going to make this work for me.
So, I’m going to go ahead with making 10 unique goals for Q4 aanndd I’m going to select three of my unfinished goals from Q3 to complete as well. If I am successful with 80% of my Q4 goals and I complete 2/3 of the revisited goals, I’ve asked my husband to come up with a way for me to celebrate the achievement.
He has promised that if I am successful in this endeavor that we will rent a cabin in the mountains for a weekend in January.
If you know me, you know how much this idea motivates me. Lounging in the hot tub, staring at the snow-capped mountains, with a cup of coffee or glass of wine? Yeah. I’m not going to let this easily slip by me.
But, it wouldn’t be fair if I set goals like drink coffee every morning…though it’s tempting because I’d totally cross that off my list. So, here goes nothing.
My Q4 Goals
1.| Write 10k words toward the new project.
2.| Finalize the hardback for Alabama Rain and order copies.
3.| Get Alabama Rain in a local bookstore.
4.| Finally, finally finish the book trailer for Alabama Rain.
5.| Figure out and rectify whatever is keeping AR from iBooks.
6.| Attend at least one local writer’s group meeting per month.
7.| Update the website.
8.| Hold a minimum of two giveaways.
9.| Finalize the blog series on self-made book covers.
10.| Research and decide on writing contest.
Q3 Goals to Revisit:
1.| Finalize SLT’s novelette and order copies.
2.| Catch up on reading and reviewing my tribe’s work—they’re too amazing not to.
3.| Review two books on the blog.
So, in order to get my weekend retreat, I must accomplish eight things from column A and two from column B.
I really, really do not want to miss out on this.
So much so, that I’m going to announce a giveaway right now, to go ahead and get half-way on Q4 goal #8.
Click to enter! Please consider Retweeting and sharing across your social channels. Thanks!! ♥
The simplified terms and conditions are: You must provide me both your email address and your mailing address in order to claim all prizes. Failure to send me that information to AilaStephensBooks@gmail.com within one week of my announcing the winner will result in forfeiture of prizes. Overseas winners may be ineligible for the Kindle Fire and some or all of the box of goodies dependent on shipping restrictions, in which case an alternative prize may be agreed upon. (Such as, but not necessarily, an Amazon gift card in the amount of intended prize.)
Any abusive language or actions taken against myself or others (such as, but not limited to, social media) during the course of the giveaway will result in forfeiture of participation and any potential prizes.
All prizes combined valued at $75.00 USD.
So, that’s it. That’s all I’ve got for you today. I hope the third quarter of 2018 was much more productive for you than it was for me—and here’s hoping it’s a wonderfully productive fourth quarter for us all.
Thanks for sticking with me. You’re amazing. ♥
Aila Stephens 