Refocus

We're almost done with January of 2011. It's about time to take a good look at my resolutions and see where I am. It's also a good time to reevaluate and see what I need to make sure I do this year.

I've been getting too involved with menial things, like blogging and facebook and reviewing and marketing. These things are important...but they are taking up too much of my time. Am I a writer, or not? I can spend all my time trying to promote my first book, but if I don't write another one, that's the end of my career.

Perilous launched me out there. It got my name on the internet, put my blog on the blogging map. But it by no means is going to be a one-hit wonder. It's time to move on. I need to let Perilous do its own thing and I need to write.

I've been working on Inevitable for months now. Months, because I am too busy with other things to do more than write 500 words a week. So I'm refocusing. I'm letting go of the menial tasks. I'll still blog--but the posts are going to be short and to the point. I'll still comment--on occasion. If people want to visit my blog, fine. If they don't, well, I'll miss them. But I can't spend countless hours beseeching people to visit my blog. What's the point, anyway? Either I'm writing something worth reading, or I'm not. Visits and comments don't equal book sales.

I'll still update facebook and Twitter--when it suits me. And I'll still review. But the reviews aren't going to be as in depth. I've been giving other people an hour of my time each day while not even giving my own writing that much time.

So, am I a writer or not? Doesn't that mean I actually have to write?

What about Perilous? Do I just leave it hanging in the virtual world, parentless? No. I will continue to promote my book. But it can't be a full-time job. It's too demanding, too tiring, and not immediately returning. These things take time, and I'm going to let it ripen.

You haven't seen the last of me, folks. But I've got some new priorities. And they involve a lot of writing.