We all have milestones. We celebrated one yesterday. My sister, brother and I threw a big party for our mother\u2019s 90th birthday. What a great event. All but a handful of her 32 kids, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren were there.<\/p>\n
As writers\/authors, we have milestones, too. For example, in 2013, I\u2019ll have been writing for publication for 40 years and I\u2019ll have been an author for 35 years. When my next book comes out in February, it will be number 35 for me. <\/p>\n
Did you know that I wrote most of my first book while recuperating in bed after a back injury? It was called, Hints for the Backyard Rider. The first publisher I sent it to accepted it and it was published in 1978 in hard cover and paperback. I started writing books for authors and freelance writers a dozen years ago. And this year, I celebrated 15 years association with SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network). <\/p>\n
I like to look at milestones, such as the beginning of a new year as opportunities. These are opportune times to re-evaluate our writing\/publishing work and our goals. I like to ask myself, have I met all of the goals I\u2019ve set? Do I need to make adjustments? Is my writing business going in the direction I want to go? What steps do I need to take in order to help more writers, sell more books, gain greater name recognition, etc.? Shall I apply to do workshops at more writers\u2019 conferences? Do I need to submit more articles to appropriate magazines\/ezines? What value do I need to add to my offerings, my website, and so forth? Should I do more in the area of social media? Is this the year I need to hire an assistant?<\/p>\n
Do you stop to re-evaluate your writing business or hobby at specific intervals? You might vow to devote more time to writing. Can you find or make the time? Maybe you want to finally finish and publish your book in 2012. Do you know what steps to take in order to make that happen?<\/p>\n
Yes, milestones provide great opportunities for redirecting your career or finally living your dream. But you must also have a plan and be willing to implement it. If your dream is to finally be published, you might want to read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/strong><\/em>. It is one of the few books that helps the author explore all publishing options and select the one that is best for the author and his\/her particular book. It also helps the author to understand more about the publishing industry and how to more successfully navigate it. It includes information, tips and resources on every aspect of publishing from a timeline for self-publishing to book promotion and everything in between.<\/p>\n