In terms of your writing career, where do you see yourself five years from now, and what's your plan to get there?
This is something I do think about. Like most writers, I want a big, big publishing contract that will allow me to hire a publicist, and to have movie people bidding on the rights to my novel. But on a more realistic level, I want to continue to write my romances for the small publishing house I work with, but I also want to finally have one of my fantasy series picked up by one of the big publishers like TOR or Orbit.
Writer's Digest put out their annual yearbook magazine. I always like reading their headline roundup. One item of great interest is the sales numbers for audiobooks. Digital audio accounted for the biggest growth area for traditional publishers in 2014. That trend continued in 2015 with a sales increase of audiobooks around 21% from the previous year. If you're looking to take advantage of that trend, there's a giveaway going on over at IWSG blog, where you can try to win a free book telling you how to make an audiobook. Michael Burnette's The Independent Author's Guide to AudioBook Production could be yours for free.
With the holiday season upon us, TV has lots of reruns on. What will I be rewatching to get through this dry spell? Probably a little Daredevil, Game of Thrones, The 100, and I don't know what else. New shows I've enjoyed this year are Pitch, This is Us, and Timeless. I also hope to get my next romance series outlined before January first. So lots to keep my busy beside Christmas happenings.
Have you thought about a 5 year plan? Or longer? Do you have experience with audiobooks as a writer or reader? What are you enjoying on TV these days?
32 comments:
I hope all your publishing and filming wishes come true, Susan. Thanks for the info on audiobooks. Have a super December.
You already have a publishing contract and I find that fantastic, even though it is a small publishing house. I hope also one of your fantasy series is picked up by a big publisher.
Sending you best wishes.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G
I've got Timeless saved to watch, will get on that soon. My plan is to keep on keeping on, although a movie deal would be grand lol
Getting on with Tor would be awesome.
I'm really grateful all of my books are on audio now.
This is the first time--ever--that I haven't had a long range plan. I'd like to work less and travel more. Maybe do some more oil painting.
Love that Libba Bray quote, Susan - thanks for sharing it. :)
Really enjoy Pitch! I wish it had better ratings - I don't want it to get canceled. And I'm sensing the possibility of a GoT marathon in my future....
I haven't ventured into the audio realm yet, but I might see where that takes me next year. I'd love that big publisher deal too, but I'm venturing forward without one in 2017 because mine closed. Onward! :)
I just finished watching the Netflix reboot of the Gilmore Girls. It made me want to revisit the series (for a third time). I also get caught up in Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Grey's Anatomy, and Lost to name a few. But I'd like to stop watching TV (or take a break) and get more sleep. I find my dreams are more vivid when I don't watch TV.
I don't listen to audio books, but I'd love to make one some day. I've been told I have a good reading voice. With a southern accent, I'm not so sure though.
Love that quote! Doesn't Tor have an open submission policy? NO agent needed? Food for thought. But no email subs. It doesn't hurt to try. Good luck with your wonderful goals.
I have a writer friend who's done a couple of audiobooks. He had a great experience. Can't remember who he did it through, though.
My five year plan is to just keep on writing. Hopefully not the same book as I'm writing now. :)
I haven't been watching much TV lately, as I attempt to finish up my edits. I have This Is Us waiting for me on my DVR, though, and I really want to start watching it. Glad to hear you've been enjoying it!
Yup, my dream is a lot like what you describe. I can't help it. :P My publisher doesn't do audio books. I wish they would.
Digital sales were tanking for a while. Once ebooks stalled a bit, they have come back with a vengeance.
I am so tired of what is on TV. Even my favorites are letting me down. I did find a great Netflix show--Crown. Not my usual topic and I'm so glad I tried it.
Not watching much TV these days as I'm frantically working on three projects. I know I know, maybe I should seek help.
I've definitely heard that audiobooks are a great way to boost your visibility. I don't listen to audiobooks, but I do enjoy podcasts. Have fizzled out on TV for the season. Watched "The Crown" and "Westworld" and have a bunch of stuff moldering on the DVR.
I think I need to get working on an audio book plan - I may have to rearrange my 5 year goals - push some things out further - to make that happen, somehow. I'm always needing to learn something. :)
We're making our way through Legends as a family, enjoying our time talking about how the writers have broken, twisted, or changed world-building rules in the show since its inception, and the way that it ties with the rest of the DC comics worlds related to it. I know that sounds like we don't like it, but we think the acting is stellar, the dialogue is often awesome, and the show is fun to watch. We just like to discuss all of that stuff as a family - Netflix is good that way - 43 minutes of show, followed by 20 minutes of family discussion/fandom. :)
Merry Christmas and Best wishes for all of your holiday plans!
Wow - audiobooks are really becoming huge. I enjoy listening to them when I'm working on sewing projects and the like.
It's hard enough to plan day to day, let alone five years. I hope you get picked up by one of the big ones (you know, right when I do :).
I love the IDEA of audiobooks - and I use them all the time for kids at school, but for my personal reading, my brain simply can't focus on hearing the words. I constantly lose track of the story. My ADHD tendencies show up I guess :P
My publisher put out an audiobook of my novella, and based on Amazon rankings, it seemed to do pretty well. Not sure how much it sold, though.
Happy holidays! Wishing you a fabulous 2017--crush those goals!
good luck in getting your series out before the new year. Its such a busy time and I know my plans to do the same have been pushed back. I don't listen to audiobooks but I spent the better part of this year getting my backlist in audio. As for tv, I'm behind on that too. Not much holds my interest right now
Good luck with your goals! Being published by TOR sounds amazing. Maybe next year, your wish will come true. Fingers crossed... No! Fingers on the keyboard and typing.
I haven't looked into audiobooks yet. Maybe one day in the future...like 5 years! LOL
We really need to make an audiobook. We have all of the equipment. I've got a face made for radio (and hopefully the voice). We just need to do it.
And hey, the great thing about writing so many things is that you could potentially still publish with your small publisher while also creating something geared toward someone like TOR. The potential is limitless. It sure beats "I have no idea what to write now."
Audio books do seem to be the big thing these days. I hear advertisements for them on the radio all the time.
I put one of my books up for auditions on ACX (Amazon's audio books) and got no takers. I'm going to try again with a different book. Maybe this time it will work.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family.
It sounds like a good plan to me and I want those things too, lol.
Have a Merry, Happy, Holiday.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Everyone starts somewhere, so i hope your next breakthrough is a much bigger one, the kind you dream about.
Audio books would be great for work, i need to remember that and look into getting some.
I hope you reach your dreams.
I'm not familiar with Pitch or This is Us. I'll have to look them up.
Hi, Susan,
Sounds like a great plan! I hope it happens for you! How great to be outlining your next series. I wish I could keep on writing with so much of life happening around me. But alas, I am still moving about and hopefully once I settle, I will start writing again.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, SUSAN!
Hi Susan - five years away and goals need to be set ... something I must do - to free myself to write and enjoy life with being busy, volunteering and giving back ...
Thanks for the reminder re Audio-books ... that's definitely a course I need to follow ... cheers Hilary
I'm a fan of Survivor so I always watch that. On Netflix I just finished Season 5 of Longmire. And then, as a political science junkie, I'm still glued to the evening news and speeches as I track the progress of the Trump transition team. I watch way too much TV, I know, but only in the evening. :D
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