It has been a while since I did a “Goal Blog” and I wanted to highlight what this Bi-Monthly System has done for me and what it can empower for you.
This is in no way a bragging post or “look at me” kind of thing. I’m listing these completed goals to be an example how much one could actually accomplish.
COMPLETED Goals since July, 2017:
(The goals crossed out are ones that I deemed not needed after all. The list of Uncompleted Goals are listed below as well. Also, not all of these goals were finished in the expected deadlines, but were completed and that’s why they’re on here.)
Finalize my Chapter Outlines for The Bleeding Crown
Complete the First Rough Draft of Bleeding Crown
Complete 52,000 words written (52 days * 1000 words)
Outline first two books of Elude Series
Write out three more Elude Sections
Compile and create an Ebook on the Writing Craft from my past blogs (completed but didn’t publish)
Design bookmarks for my books:
Get the character portraits from artist by August and start getting Poker Card and Calendars made
Complete two Giveaways (one on Kindle Review and my own Indie Book Giveaway)
Complete one Newsletter a month
Create a book trailer video
Outline first two books of Elude Series.
Develop the list of Elude characters and develop their background
Create a NaNoWriMo Prep Folder in Scrivener and complete the list of development items.
On October 1st, start editing phase for The Bleeding Crown.
Design book cover for Rookie: Pitfalls of Year One.
Write new book blurbs for all my works and revamp all of the Amazon ads.
Complete a newsletter for each month.
Find a part-time post or two – extra income to help with new bills and investment in writing projects/marketing.
Start a new series of blog posts.
Complete NaNoWriMo Challenge: 50,000 words
Start Round #2 of Editing for The Bleeding Crown
Create marketing campaign for CWC Audio Book
Research Arizona Book and Comic cons.
Send out Monthly Newsletters by 15th of month
Keep up The Hidden saga on website every 2 weeks
Complete the 2nd wave of edits for The Bleeding Crown — Finish by 3rd Week of Jan
Start 1st wave of edits for Elude #1 — Begin by 4th week of Jan
Work on Cover for The Bleeding Crown — Begin by 2nd week of Jan
Complete story subplot and finalize The Bleeding Crown (25,000+ words) — Begin by 2nd Week of Jan
Finalize work on Marketing Campaign for Consequences Within Chaos Audiobook — Begin by 2nd week of Jan
Write a separate blog entry outside of goals and The Hidden Saga — Finish by 2nd Week of Feb
Complete Elude #3 book (30,000 to 40,000 words)
Have Elude #3 self-edited by the end of January 2019.
Professionally edited and published by the end of February 2019.
Set up another couple book-signing events for 2019
Complete the last chapters for The Hidden web saga
Started another web saga (Juxtaposed)
Look into the options for booth setups for my book showings.
Thinking about setting up a service to other authors for possible book cover design
Outline Elude new chapters for subplots and additional material – Finish by 2nd week of March
Finish writing new subplots/additional material – Finish by 3rd week of March
Complete 3rd Wave of edits & send out to Beta Readers – Finish by end of March
Complete 1st Wave of edits for Elude #1 – Finish by end of April
Complete the Cover for The Bleeding Crown – Finish by end of March
Get feedback from beta-readers – Finish by end of April
Complete the 4th wave and final edit for The Bleeding Crown – Finish by end of April
Complete the total outline for the third book of the Wyvernshield Series. Highest Priority.
Maintain a two-week production of the chapters for the web series, Juxtaposed.
Develop and begin the Evade Series outline.
Find a cover artist or design the Wyvernshield book covers myself
UNCOMPLETED GOALS:
Read one writing craft book a month
Prepare for book convention in Tucson
Get booth banners
Write 1,000 words per day – blogging, outlining, writing (61,000k).
Sign up for at least two comic-con/book festivals for 2019.
As of today, May 7th, 2020, I have 3 novels, 5 novellas under my name (starting back in 2016). I plan on writing through rest of my life, but it is amazing what I have worked through and accomplished by using these guidelines.
Truly it is all down to making a plan, sticking with the plan and persevering through the obstacles.
Now to continue on for 2020…
January thru April’s Completed Goals:
Edit Evade Book #1, Book #2
Craft Book Blurb
Designed YouTube website with book trailers for all 5 books & series
Purchase/design book covers for all three books
Set up Beta-readers of Evade #1
Publish Book #1
Once per quarter do an ad (Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads or Amazon)
Connected with Pubby.com for book reviews
Bought a new table & cart for book signings
Found a new set of book stands
Established a Writing Prompt Series done almost bi-weekly
Completed a week-long course on Amazon Ads & Campaigns
May & June Bi-Monthly goals
Donate older book versions to libraries
Connect with my beta-readers for Evade #2
Continue writing and complete Evade #3
Maintain the Amazon Ad campaign
Research to see if anyone is doing book signings in August
Write Fantasy or Horror Writing Prompt stories every two weeks
Do more exclusive posting on Patreon
Get a writing craft audio book
Design new metal bookmarkers for Evade and The Hidden
Work on a way to expand my Email Subscriber List
Thanks again to everyone that checks in on me, supports my efforts, and provides a lot of beneficial assistance!! I truly could not get it all done with out you.
The Official Website of Author Derek Barton 
One thought on “Looking Back & Looking Forward – Bi-Monthly Goals — Derek Barton – 2020”