As always, I’d like to begin this week’s progress report by thanking all of you awesome people who’ve followed, liked and/or commented on my blog!

First up…

HAPPY 100th BLOG POST TO ME!!! 

I’m proud that I’ve been able to keep up this blog and maintain it throughout the writing process. I can’t wait to see where I’ll be in another 100 posts!

Here are this week’s stats:

Last NaNo Prep Task Completed: Character Studies & Setting

Next Prep Task on the List: Complete Outline (based on plotting already done)

Days til NaNoWriMo: 13

Thoughts?

Guys…my first book only had about eight or so characters. My second book has fourteen. FOURTEEN. In addition to that fact, I did not do character studies for all of the characters in my first book. This time around, I did detailed ones for my two main characters and basic ones for all secondary/supporting characters. I’m going to tell you that by the last couple I did, I was tired of coming up with hobbies and favorite colors and all that stuff. But I do think it will greatly improve my writing to have the basis for each person down before any writing begins. Also, I’m proud as HELL that I’ve already done so much prepping without getting too discouraged or bored of it.

The setting for my second book was already nailed down, but I did make sure all i’s were dotted and t’s crossed before moving on and calling this task complete.

Also, a confession…I’m REALLY excited to outline this book. Outlining my first book was what really got me fired up to write it. Don’t worry, I’m not saying that I’m not fired up for this book. But I know that mapping out the chapters/scenes is going to be what really gets me excited to write this book. I have my plot and character arcs down. Now I just need to apply them to a moving storyline.

In other news, I’m still in waiting for my branding materials. Believe me, I’m as excited as you are to see them, so bear with me. I’ve also obtained my Library of Congress Control Number for my first book. Don’t ask me to explain exactly what this is for, but it’s my understanding that it makes it easier for libraries to accept your book into their collections. And that, my friends, would be pretty rad.

I did finish both marketing books I set out to last week,  Your First 1000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book and Book Launch Blueprint: The Step-by-Step Guide to a Bestselling Launch by Tim Grahl. These were the first marketing books that I actually enjoyed reading and felt gave me information that wasn’t repeated in a dozen other books or articles I’ve read.

Goals for the Coming Week

As listed above, I’d like to complete the outline for my second book. I’d also like to finally finish A Dying Machine by Mark Tremonti and John Shirley. If I can do that and then cram 2 more books in before the end of the month (I’m thinking A Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky by Mackenzi Lee and M/M Romance Tropes: What They Are and How to Use Them to Plan, Plot, and Market Your Book by Lyss Em), then I will be at my goal of 45 before NaNoWriMo, leaving only 5 more books to my ultimate goal.

Note To Self

Time to get out there and do the thing that’s going to get you fired up for this book. Remember that feeling of writing out that outline for the first book? Remember the hope and passion it gave you? Get to it, Baisden!