Current & Future Works-In-Progress — Derek Barton – 2023.

Brand new year so it seemed a good time to report my current work and what I hoped to produce in the next year or so.

CURRENT:

The Flight Of The Dirithi — This new original story centers around Princess Jueneva, an orphan, half-dragon girl as she attempts to avenge what was stolen from her family. I have completed the first book in the series but I am in the editing mode stage and adding to the draft. This adventure may be broken down into five novels. We’ll see, but I am really enjoying it and anxious to see how this story comes to life! I expect this will be out for you in this next couple months.

With Malice: A Horror & Crime Fiction Literary Magazine — This is a group effort of a dozen or so horror and crime fiction writers that I have gathered to do a compilation piece each quarter this year. We will be doing about 5 short stories each edition as well as Author Bios, an in depth Author Interview and will have unique horror images, poems and illustrations! Exciting stuff!!!

FUTURE:

Wyvernshield #3 — This is the continuation of the Wyvernshield series surrounding Princess — I mean, the new Ebon Queen Letandra and heart-wrenching story in The Bleeding Crown. This time the main character will be the charismatic, ex-slaver LLasher as he is joined in his rescue attempt by Scars, Ama’yen and other new heroes! I wanted to break this large conclusion down into four smaller novels so you readers didn’t have to wait much longer for your answers. In other words, it takes a long time to write and edit 400 or so pages. The first part of four will hopefully be out the second or third quarter this year.

I Still Burn — I am introducing a new horror story centered on siblings, Rylund and Stephanie, who recently lost their parents in a horrific tragedy. As they adapt to their new lives with their drunk uncle and Rylund’s blindness, a whole new danger presents itself. I will be publishing the first few chapters to this novel in the With Malice Magazine issues. Then I produce the whole complete story next year.

Elude #2 (?!) — That’s right! A possible sequel to my Elude Series. A crazy idea hit me and will not leave my head so be prepared for Vicente Vargas to come out from hiding in Witness Protection and be in an exciting new horror story sometime in 2025.

As you can see, there’s plenty of new stories and writing coming your way!

** This year will be Dirithi #1, Wyvernshield #1 of 4, With Malice Edition #1 through #4.

** In 2024, Dirithi #2 , Wyvernshield #2 and #3 of 4, I Still Burn. I may do a fantasy literary magazine if With Malice is successful.

** And in 2025, Elude the Sequel will start among other projects by then! Whew!!

I also wanted to do a quick shout out for my father’s new work — he’s completed a brand new prequel to The Hidden! If you enjoyed the Predator series latest movie PREY, then you’ll love The Hidden: TRIBES! Look for this coming to Amazon & Kindle in the next couple months.

One last comment: For those of you who have read my last blog, January Writing Challenge, you’ll be happy to know that I am way over my quota of 300 a day (total 2400 words). I am at 3,400! Thanks to all of you who have shown support and interests!

YOU ARE MY MOTIVATION!!

A January Production Challenge — Derek Barton – 2022

Goal Setting

This year has sure had it’s share of ups and downs for me, like I’m sure most of you can relate. While it was not as difficult and tumultuous as 2020 and 2021, I had more health concerns and some financial set backs.

This year coming up I want to meet head on and see if I can make some headway into my writing production. Currently I have four maybe five story lines fighting for air in my head! Yes, that sort of chaos and confusion does get very annoying to live with! You see, when I as a writer get inspired, the idea remains there in the back of my head almost like a petulant child. They stand with their arms crossed, one foot tapping and their bottom lip pouting — impatient and demanding freedom to grow up and to show what they can do. I love all my book children and want them all of course to shine but honestly, my health has not recovered to what it was prior to my stroke and I fall ill a lot easier than ever before. Grant it, I am getting older whch does play a part, too.

Anyway, what I’m trying to say, is I really want to get more stories out there (out of my head!) and into the world and the only way I can do that is by working harder. As someone once told me “own my stroke and stop making excuses with it”!

Next year I’ll also be producing, editing, writing and publishing my first ever literary magazine, With Malice! That’s exciting and hopefully it brings in more engagement with my work. It’s definitely tough to be motivated to write when you’ve got over a dozen books but haven’t sold more than a dozen copies in one year!! More than anything it’s getting reader’s attentions — all my work has gotten 4.5 to 5 star reviews so it’s not the content. Creating ads and paying for them is not investing, it’s more like gambling with money you don’t have and paying someone’s paying attention! With this magazine I’ll be bringing over a dozen other writers to my readers attention and they’ll be bringing my work to their reader’s attention! Win win!! Be on the lookout for those issues starting this March—one per quarter.

Have any of you bought something of mine? What attracted you to it? If you haven’t (no judgment or bad feelings), what has turned you off from doing so? I’m looking for some honest insight and maybe a direction to get better results. Any comments or feedback are highly welcome and appreciated.

With that all said, my goal or what I’m thinking of is I’m going to try and challenge myself and put it out there that everyday in January I’m going to write at least 300 words every day. Now I know 300 doesn’t sound too impressive but when you figure how much goes on all the time in your daily life…So I’m making a stand to at least getting it done every day no matter what…Oyyy putting the words and goal to print for all to see and judge — now that’s scary!

Of course there will be days when I will go for more and may write a 1000 but there will be days too that I make just my minimum. I’m hoping IF this challenge comes through I can do it for February! Who knows?!

I will also try to edit and publish some of that work for you guys too as “fresh content blogs”.

31 days x 300 words = 9,300 total. 12 months x 9300 = 111, 600!! (That’s maybe two books worth!!)

As of this post I’ll have done 24 posts this year. Not too shabby—last couple years I was down to like 10 blogs and that’s very dismal to me. The Fresh Content blogs have seemed to be a hit so also keep a lookout for more coming up this next year!!

Thanks to everyone who supports this blog and my work — maybe together we can truly create something special!!

2020 Bi-Monthly Goal Breakdown – Derek Barton – 2020

Goal Setting

Goal 2020

With the New Year almost upon us, I have been working out my upcoming goals and what I’d like to see as far as successful production for 2020.

With a lot of excitement, I am hoping to publish my new suspense/supernatural horror series, Evade! And with a lot of joy and sadness, I will be wrapping up my epic fantasy collection, the Wyvernsield Series. While this may be a “goodbye” to current beloved characters, I am already toying with a story idea with new characters beginning this time in Aberrisc!

As you know if you have been reading any of my goal planning posts, I like the bi-monthly process breakdown. This method has proven to generate the most goal success for me. I’ll be continuing the process, but this time with a larger “arching” picture in mind. I’ll be planning the entire year, broken down in two-month objectives by Work In Progress.

Overall Goal Summary: This year’s production goal is to publish four books — Evade Parts #1,2 & 3 and the last book in the Wyvernshield Fantasy Series.

Works In Progress Goals:

EVADE

January – February

Complete writing for Book #3 (anticipated 25,000 word count)
Edit Book #1, Book #2
Craft Book Blurb
Purchase/design book covers for all three books
Publish Book #1

March – April

Edit Book #3
Publish Book #2

May – June

Publish Book #3

WYVERNSHIELD BOOK #3

March – August

Complete writing (March through August — anticipated word count 100,000)
Edit book (September through November)
Publish in December

April – May

Purchase cover
Write up a book blurb
Look into a future Set Collection of all three books

Writing goal

125,000/12 mos
Evade Book #3 25,000 — 12,500 per month, 3,125 per week, 625 per 5 days
Wyvernshield #3 100,000 — 17,000 per month, 4,250 per week, 850 per 5 days

Marketing goals

Once per quarter do an ad (Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads or Amazon)
Buy new table & cart
Buy banner stands
Find/design a book stand
Buy Metal Bookmarkers for new books
Once per quarter do a local book signing
Participate in one national comic convention if possible
Expand email list
Once per quarter do a giveaway
Donate older book versions to libraries

So this is the 2020 Plan but as they are “goals”, these are subject to change, subject to incompletion, and subject to postponement! LOL

While 2019 was a tough and emotional year for me and my family, it turned out overall a very important and rewarding year. In the end, I learned you just have to have faith all will work out and have faith in yourself that you have the strength to see it through!

I wish all of you a successful and happy new year as well!

THE THREE-YEAR RIDE! — Derek Barton – 2019

General

Anniv Blog

Three years ago, I created this blog and established my site and social media footprint in order to advertise my book and to give my fans a place to reach out to me. This has been a crazy but fantastic ride! So thankful to all of you who’ve come along as passengers on my little quest.

Here’s the growth from year one to now:

SUBSCRIBERS:

2019 = 70 WordPress, 11 Email & 488 through Twitter & Facebook.
2016 = 11 Email

VIEWS/VISITORS:

2019 = 4,488 — 2016 = 1603 views
2019 = 2,475 — 2016 = 659 visitors
2019 = 61 — 2016 = 19 different countries

POSTS:

2019 = this is the 115th post!! (26 so far this year)
2016 = 37 posts

GIVEAWAYS: 18 Individual giveaways for Book, Audio, Amazon or Metal Bookmarkers!

As you know if you’ve been following my goal blogs, I use a bi-montly process that has actually been quite effective. Here are the goals made and fulfilled from July, 2018 through June, 2019:

Complete the Audiobook for In Four Days. Now out on Amazon, Audible & Kindle!
Create/organize this year’s 2018 Indie Fantasy Book Giveaway with several other independent authors. Was a decent success — this year’s increase in participation & what we are giving away is a nice testament to that!

Find at least two places to do a book-signing appearance. Did four book signings but due to finances and low turnout I couldn’t justify doing more…but with several books released now, I will be on the prowl for another couple signing spots this year! Would also like to get into one or two comic-cons, but cannot promise that due to having to usually register months in advance.
Finish editing for Elude #1 & #2.
Design the book cover for Elude #1 & #2.
Write the end of Elude #3. The entire series has been completed, book covers designed then redesigned, and soon to be released in audible format by the end of the first quarter next year!!
Send out Monthly Newsletters by 15th of the month. I have been successful with this and plan on continuing.
Keep up The Hidden saga on the website every 2 weeks. Accomplished this and have published the entire series on Amazon & Kindle!
Start my outline for Book #3 for the Wyvernshield Fantasy series. Still trying to get through this one. Coming up with the battle plans and the intricate plots is a whole lot more complicated than you’d expect! Plus, with this being the finale, I want to do better than “What-did-you-do-to-my-Game-of-Thrones?!”… UGH!!!
Write up and prepare for writing in the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) Challenge in November — Book #3 will be my focus for NaNoWriMo! (50,000 word count goal!) I participated in this last November, but my outline had too many holes so it only garnered 26,000 words… However, it’s a good start!
Craft a video book trailer for Consequences Within Chaos and The Bleeding Crown. (Can you say strettcccchhhhh gooooaaalll???) This will happen — but trying to make Wyvernshield #3 a priority right now.
Start another web saga? May have to have a survey for which genre to pursue — fantasy or horror. Decided to do a Dystopian/Fantasy saga: Juxtaposed… Now working on Chapter Four.
Thinking about setting up a service to other authors for possible book cover design. Maybe… I did get this off the ground and have had some success doing covers, editing & proofing for other writers. I plan on continuing this as the work has been sporadic and not too overwhelming so far.
Begin a four-part guest blog swap with fellow writer Adam Mitchell and complete a Blog Interview with him! (This will be my first ever blog swap and should be a lot of fun!) This has been a success — our final and fourth blogs are due out this month. Check out Adam’s here! For my blogs, click here!

Thanks again to all of you for your continued help, support and following me along this bumpy road! It has been the greatest adventure of my life!!

Anniv Blog v2

From Start to Finish: 2018 — Derek Barton – 2018

General

NYE

As everyone who happens to read these blogs know, I have been using Bi-Monthly goals to keep me focused, motivated and productive. Now since November, I have been a little non-plussed, to be honest with you. With very little book sales and only a few friends coming to book shows, it has made me question what to do next or what changes I can make to reach a bigger audience. I am not planning on giving up, just looking for new steps to take.

While I am still researching the internet and watching YouTube videos on marketing, I don’t have any new answers…yet, but in the meantime, I thought I would look back and see just what I have done this year and if I am happy or not with 2018.

Works In Progress — Status as of January 2017

CONSEQUENCES WITHIN CHAOS AUDIOBOOK – This was still in the works, finalizing edits and mastering the audio quality. The final version was released and published on Audible.com on June 25. This was a fantastic first experience with audiobook production and I couldn’t be happier with the talent and skill my voice actress, Laura Richcreek-Morrison. She has been currently working on The Bleeding Crown! Voice actors like Laura and Charles Pendleton for my horror stories have taken my work to a whole new level!

THE BLEEDING CROWN – Four of my bi-monthly goals for January & February were to complete the 2nd waves of edit for the main body of work, complete the subplots for the manuscript (about 25,000 words), set up a marketing campaign (ads, etc) and start working on the book cover. All was finalized and the completed book was published on June 26th. (Side note: I didn’t realize June had been so full this year! ha). While sales have not been as plentiful, it has gotten a decent amount of 5 Star Reviews on Amazon. I personally cherish the book as my favorite child so far (Elude is close second though!). I have written almost 30,000 so far on the follow-up, Swimming In The Ashes (working title). That might be out by the end of 2019, but no guarantees.

IN FOUR DAYS AUDIOBOOK – In April, I connected with Charles Pendleton and we agreed to work together on my modern paranormal/horror story. He did a great job on it and we have seen some success with the sales on Audible. It was released in August. Charles is also already working with me on the Elude series so stay tuned for that!

ELUDE PT #1 & PT #2 – In January I was still working on the first wave of edits for Part One! As of August 31, it has been completed and published on Amazon and Kindle. Part Two was published on October 19th. I am working through the final Part Three and hope to have it published by February 2019.

THE HIDDEN – Released Chapter 7 on January 2nd. Just this month released Chapter 23. This series looks to be wrapping up in a couple months as a complete web saga. We, my father and I, will be working to get this put together and finalized for print within the upcoming year. I have been developing several book cover ideas to start with.

Now to see some stats on the site’s growth:

BLOG COUNTS:

2016 — 14 Monthly blogs completed
2017 — 37 Monthly blogs completed
2018 — 43 Monthly blogs completed (including this one)

NEW WEB SUBSCRIBERS:

2016 — 7
2017 — 17
2018 — 24

VISITORS & COUNTRIES VIEWED IN:

2016 — 204 & Countries — 8
2017 — 809 & Countries — 31
2018 — 895 & Countries — 39

4,239 Views in the three years!

December & January 2018 Bi-monthly Goals — Derek Barton – 2018

Goal Setting

Goal #1 2018

Here are my production goals for December & January and my writing production for September & October. I know what you are saying, “What happened to November?” Sighhhh. Yeah, well, I had hoped to “Win” at the National Novel Writing Month Challenge (NaNoWriMo) which was my only big goal, but my health derailed me for over a week. I am doing better with a chiropractor and physical therapy for my back and knee. However, I did get 26,000+ words written on my new fantasy novel for the Wyvernshield Series.

The bi-monthly goals for September & October:

Complete the editing of Elude #2. — Finished
Publish Elude #2 by the end of October. — Published on October 19th, 2018!!
Complete the writing for Elude #3 (about 30,000 to 40,000 words). — postponed this goal.
Start my outline for Book #3 for the Wyvernshield Fantasy series. — Accomplished but as I found out during NaNoWriMo, it is far too skimpy in details and needs fleshing out for me to get through. As I have said before, I am not a “pantser” or a writer who writes by the seat of his pants. I need a clear picture of where I am heading and this outline had too many holes that I need to plug!
Write up and prepare for writing in the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) Challenge in November — Book #3 will be my focus for NaNoWriMo! (50,000-word count goal!) –Partially successful. 26,000 words written…
Do a book-signing event in Arizona — Did 2 so far and prepping for my 3rd on December 8th @ the Half-Priced Bookstore in Paradise Valley. COME SEE ME IF YOU ARE LOCAL!!
Craft a video book trailer for Consequences Within Chaos and The Bleeding Crown — Yeah… this may not happen for quite some time.
Work up my booth design for comic-cons and book festivals. — Used my old setup for the book-signings which looks pretty amateurish. I definitely will have to invest to improve this if I am going to get back to the comic-cons/festivals.
Send out Monthly Newsletters by 15th of the month. — Done
Keep up The Hidden saga on the website every 2 weeks. — Done (roughly every two weeks! 🙂 )

Score = 6.5 out of 10 Hmmmm that’s pretty ugly. Hopefully, the end of this year and the start of next year will be more successful.

Goal #2 2018

December & January Goals:

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.
Sign up for at least two comic-con/book festivals for 2019.
Complete the last chapters for The Hidden web saga — we have started on Chapter 23, but then by mid-February we are scheduled to have our last Chapter 27 – The Path Again published on the website! That’s right! The entire novel is out on the site…but not forever!
Start another web saga? May have to have a survey for which genre to pursue — fantasy or horror.
Send out Monthly Newsletters by 15th of the month.
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. Maybe…

And while I have decided to keep my personal goals of weight loss and such out of this, I do hope that I make some headway there. I am sure some of the issues with my back and knee is from the weight and not necessarily all due to the car accident from August.

One last thing — If any of you have had the chance to read any of my works, but have not had the opportunity to write a review, it would mean a great deal to me if you could. Reviews really are critical to getting people’s notice online, especially on Amazon. Thank you in advance if you already have!

Thank you all for your support and keeping my spirits up! Everyone have a safe and wondrous holiday season!

September & October 2018 Bi-monthly Goals — Derek Barton – 2018

Goal Setting

Goal Pic

It’s that time again to hold my production record up to the spotlight and see how I did…

Complete the Audiobook for In Four Days. DONE! Now available for sale on Amazon & Audible.com for $4.86 (membership pricing)!!
Create/organize this year’s 2018 Indie Fantasy Book Giveaway with several other independent authors. DONE! I will be sending out another blog on this shortly, but I will be hosting the 2018 Indie Giveaway for the month of September.
Add a new page to the site showcasing associates and people I have worked with and what they can do for other writers. DONE — sort of. I did a blog shout-out as my show of appreciation for their help and efforts.
Find at least two places to do a book-signing appearance. PARTIAL FAIL. Got a book-signing with Bookmans in Phoenix for Oct 6th. Still looking for another location.
Schedule one or two more comic-cons or book festivals by the end of the year. FAIL. I just don’t have the finances yet for the extra costs to do the comic-cons yet, but this is a major goal of mine to accomplish for next year. I hope to have at least two or three appearances booked for 2019.
Finish editing for Elude #1 & #2. DONE — sort of… I have finished Elude #1 but Elude #2 is still being worked through. Elude #1’s editing took a bit longer than I hoped but at least I was still able to get the book produced by the end of August. 🙂
Design the book cover for Elude #1 & #2. DONE! Very happy with the book cover — decided to just use one cover for all three parts. Now if I could get a better handle on doing book blurbs.
Write the end of Elude #3. FAIL. Just too much to get fully written on top of all the editing.
Send out Monthly Newsletters by 15th of the month. DONE
Keep up The Hidden saga on the website every 2 weeks. DONE

70% GOAL COMPLETION!!! Highest scoring yet. I didn’t accomplish 80% to actually consider this a “WIN”, but I feel the two months were still very successful and productive.

Complete the editing of Elude #2.
Publish Elude #2 by the end of October.
Complete the writing for Elude #3 (about 30,000 to 40,000 words).
Start my outline for Book #3 for the Wyvernshield Fantasy series.
Write up and prepare for writing in the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) Challenge in November — Book #3 will be my focus for NaNoWriMo! (50,000 word count goal!)
Do a book-signing event in Arizona.
Craft a video book trailer for Consequences Within Chaos and The Bleeding Crown. (Can you say strettcccchhhhh gooooaaalll???)
Work up my booth design for comic-cons and book festivals.
Send out Monthly Newsletters by 15th of the month.
Keep up The Hidden saga on the website every 2 weeks.

SECOND YEAR BLOG SITE ANNIVERSARY!!! — Derek Barton – 2018

Personal, Self-publishing

This year has flown — I cannot believe how fast it flew by!

I started this blog in July of 2016 to help promote my new book and to do some writing research as well as experience sharing. While the climb up the mountain is far from over, I can look back over my shoulder proudly.

Here is a list of writing goals that I have accomplished in the year since my last blog anniversary:

Written, edited and published The Bleeding Crown as well as designed the book cover myself! I am super happy with the outcome of the story and hope to begin outlining the series finale soon. Expect to see it in 2020!!
Written two more novellas like In Four Days. My upcoming Horror-Suspense series, Elude: Part One and Elude: Part Two will be published by the end of the year.
Participated and wrote 50,241 words in the month of November for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) Challenge. That was the first time I took part in it and plan to this November as well.
Wrote and edited every couple of weeks (give or take) a horror web series with my father T.D. Barton called The Hidden. It has been very fulfilling for the both of us I believe. He finally gets to see his own writing come to fruition — it only took 30 years! In the upcoming year, it will be released in full book format.
Partnered up with two voice actors for my works — Consequences Within Chaos (which is available now on Audible.com) and In Four Days (which will be released on Audible by the end of the year!) Really happy with the productions and I have already gotten Laura Richcreek (the actress for CWC) to start on The Bleeding Crown. Nothing is more thrilling than hearing your words performed. Not a movie (yet! heh heh heh) but very close to a play as far as performance.

Blog stats and growth since 2017 and from its start in 2016:

1303 views / 862 visitors since July 2017
1603 views / 659 in 2016 and all together that is 2,906 views / 1,521 people that have read and/or visited my writer’s blog since it was first started in July 2016.
This is the 70th Blog Post for the site!
36 followers through WordPress and current email list @ 2,226!!
Readers have checked in from 42 different countries around the globe!!!
310 Followers on Twitter, 90 Followers on my Facebook page, 25 Followers/166 Friends on Goodreads.com and now on Instagram 82 Followers! — It’s a small tribe but we are growing!

What’re my goals for the next year?

Book a table at a book festival or comic-con in Arizona.
Find a local bookstore to do a book-signing in Phoenix, Arizona.
Maintain monthly book/audiobook giveaways.
Write another novella, Elude: Part Three.
Finalize and publish The Hidden.
Write a fantasy novella — perhaps in the same world as the novels, but maybe something brand new?!
Get The Bleeding Crown and Elude series on Audible as well!
Do at least one out of state large comic-con like the Amazing Las Vegas Comic-con.
Write at least another 50,000 words in NaNoWriMo Challenge.
Keep on finding new ways to attract readers to this blog and find new stories to entertain you with!!

RECOGNITIONS:

Special shout out to Ted Barton — not only my mentor and my toughest critic (lol!), but my biggest inspiration. Without your own endeavors to push the envelope, I would not have the confidence to reach for my own. Thank you for all your guidance and love.
Thank you to Nesa Miller who has diligently helped me with my work and really shown me ways to improve upon my writing. You don’t always beat around the bush with how you feel, but your assistance and targeted editing has been a huge boost to my work! You may not yet have your own Editing Site going yet, but when you do, you’ll be a great success!!
My friend and great supporter, Jon Paul Rai, who has worked with me on both of my fantasy novels and has been a strong advocate on his own Youtube Channel, Entertainment Hacker. Check him out if you are a Star Wars Fan as he has some great material and insight into the storylines and the direction they SHOULD go!
Nothing but praise and gratitude to my voice actor partners (Laura Richcreek and Charles Pendleton). You have brought to life my characters and taken the writing to that next level. I can never repay you for your time and efforts in that! Thanks so much.
My number one fans and beta-readers, Susanna Willey and Renee York! You guys have truly made this a blast and your reviews on Amazon and Goodreads have absolutely put me on Cloud Nine. I appreciate all your efforts to spread the word and to get my name out there!
Last I would like to thank Susanne Lambdin for her words of advice on marketing and continued support for my own growth as a writer. Thank you for your partnership and I look forward to the day we can attend another comic-con together!

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SUPPORTED, READ AND GIVEN ME ASSISTANCE WITH MY WORK! It truly honors me any time I hear that someone has enjoyed or been entertained by my work. There are a million storytellers in all sorts of styles and manner. I know that for you to pick my writing to spend your own precious time with cannot be taken for granted or wasted. Each time I think maybe this isn’t what I should be doing with my life or sacrificing my energies on, someone reminds me how it touched their world and it made a difference to them. As a writer, I cannot ask for anything more.

Here’s to our lives and paths continuing to cross in the future!

Regards, Derek

2018 March & April Bi-Monthly Goals — Derek Barton – 2018

Goal Setting

Capture 15

It is that time again to recap my progress on the Bi-Monthly goals I had for January & February and reveal what I want to accomplish this March & April.

For January & February:

** Complete the 2nd wave of edits for The Bleeding Crown — Finish by 3rd Week of Jan — This has been completed, but now I have a ton of writing and adding of material to bolster the manuscript. I have two people helping me do even more in-depth editing and that is nearing the midway point.

** Start 1st wave of edits for Elude #1 — Begin by the 4th week of Jan — Started and worked up to the third scene. I will continue this project with more intensity once the editing and additional writing have been completed for Bleeding Crown.

** Work of Cover for The Bleeding Crown — Begin by 2nd week of Jan — This project took up a lot more time than it should have and I used it as an easy excuse to avoid writing… The additional chapter material I have left for The Bleeding Crown is complex and will take a lot of plotting and organizing (battles, chase scene, etc!). So far I have 12 different covers worked up but I am not happy with any of them. I will be putting up the “favs” so far for a vote on my newsletter for this month. Please let me know what you think!

** Complete Marketing Campaign for The Bleeding Crown — Finish by the 4th week of Jan — Started but not in earnest as I still have more research on proper marketing techniques to accomplish. I want to advertise but I need to be sure it is the best use of my marketing budget. If anyone has suggestions — things that have worked well for them, please comment below!

** Complete story subplot and finalize The Bleeding Crown (25,000+ words) — Begin by 2nd Week of Jan — Wrote only 8,000 words of the 25,000 I need. This goal will definitely be carried forward and will have to be done PRONTO!

** Finalize work on Marketing Campaign for Consequences Within Chaos Audiobook — Begin by 2nd week of Jan — The audiobook is still being worked on but the project had a setback due to some unforeseen issues. No worries, as it is coming along and sounds great, however, I pushed this goal to the backburner until the audiobook is closer to being completed.

** Write a separate blog entry outside of goals and The Hidden Saga — Finish by 2nd Week of Feb — Really happy with this accomplishment and the blog itself has been attracting a lot of attention. If you missed it: Essential Elements of Book Covers

** Lose 15 pounds by end of February — Lose 2 pounds a week — UGH. I seesawed back and forth with a few pounds both months, but overall not much success. Damn Burger King and its 2 for $6 offer!! LOL I am going to change the goal focus next month. I want to start with baby steps to ensure that I have some weight loss. In other words, I am going to make a goal as walking a mile a night for the next 60 days which equals to 60 miles. I know that sounds like a lot, but last year I was in the habit of walking 3 to 4 miles each night. Then if that works, the next goal set will add some possible weightlifting or dietary goals. This should kickstart my weight loss, but we shall see!

** Send out Monthly Newsletters by 15th of the month — Completed by Feb 15th — Done and will continue to carry this goal forward.

** Keep up The Hidden saga on the website every 2 weeks — Finished by 4th Week of Feb — Done and will continue to carry this goal forward. If you are behind, CATCH UP! Chapter 8, Chapter 9 & Chapter 10 are available…

So… excluding the Audiobook goal, I completed 6 out of 9 (67%) which isn’t horrible and getting closer to “success” (80%).

Now for the next Bi-Monthly goals:

Outline new chapters for subplots and additional material – Finish by 2^nd week of March
Finish writing new subplots/additional material – Finish by 3^rd 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
Write a separate blog entry outside of goals and The Hidden Saga — Finish by 2nd week for April
Walk 1 mile a day (60 miles for the two months) – Complete for both months
Send out Monthly Newsletters by 15th of the month – Complete for both months
Keep up The Hidden saga on website every 2 weeks – Complete for both months

Thanks again for everyone’s support and interest in my progress. I am super thrilled with the storyline for The Bleeding Crown and anxious to hear everyone’s input on it. And Elude is also an exciting project that I cannot wait to sink my teeth in.

Let me know if you had any suggestions for marketing! What was your experience with Facebook ads? Any success with Amazon Ads or did you have a different source for advertising?

Capture 14

2018 Jan & Feb Bi-Monthly Goals — Derek Barton – 2018

Goal Setting, Personal

THIS IS MY YEAR!! (My new mantra!)

It is a brand new year with a whole year of opportunity! I am super excited by what I have planned in store for 2018. With these bi-monthly goal blogs that I started using this last July, I have really put in a lot of work and accomplished a lot which I will now be able to share with you guys this year.

A quick recap of the year and what I finished up in December:

From July through November —

** Finalize my Chapter Outlines for Bleeding Crown
** Completed my first draft of Bleeding Crown
** Wrote 43,000 words in July
** Completed two large book giveaways (one being my Indie Book Giveaway)
** Obtained over 1500 email subscribers
** Completed a monthly newsletter every month
** Outlined the first three books of the Elude Series
** Created a NaNoWriMo Outline Prep folder
** Completed the first wave of editing for The Bleeding Crown
** Started a 2nd job for extra money for Book Project Saving and monthly income
** Posted 6 chapters of The Hidden, the collaboration I am working with my father

Completed For November & December:

**Complete NaNoWriMo Challenge: 50,000 words — HUGE WIN FOR ME! This was a fantastic experience and I highly recommend the challenge for any writer out there. It motivates you and their site provides a ton of information, networking and forums. Here is their site: National Novel Writing Month
** 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

Now for 2018, I have also decided to not only break down my goals every 2 months, but I am also determining when those goals should be accomplished within the two month period. This will help me be even more successful and organized, but it will also keep me on track. I am using an Excel Chart Setup for this and have already broken down goals for the first half of the year on there.

For January & February:

** 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 of Cover for The Bleeding Crown — Begin by 2nd week of Jan
** Complete Marketing Campaign for The Bleeding Crown — Finish by 4th 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
** Lose 15 pounds by end of February — Lose 2 pounds a week
** Send out Monthly Newsletters by 15th of month — Completed by Feb 15th
** Keep up The Hidden saga on website every 2 weeks — Finished by 4th Week of Feb

By the end of this year, my hope is to be able to produce for you The Bleeding Crown (sequel to Consequences Within Chaos) by mid-2018, Consequences Within Chaos Audiobook on Audible.com by mid-2018, the first two books of the Elude (horror/action story) by the end of 2018 and the complete work of The Hidden online (and subsequently published in 2019!).

As I said, it is going to be an intense and productive year ahead, but I am so excited to share my worlds and my writing with each of you! My wish is that for all of you as well to have a great, productive and wonderful new year!

Goal #2

Tag: Word Counts

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December & January 2018 Bi-monthly Goals — Derek Barton – 2018

September & October 2018 Bi-monthly Goals — Derek Barton – 2018

SECOND YEAR BLOG SITE ANNIVERSARY!!! — Derek Barton – 2018

This year has flown — I cannot believe how fast it flew by!

I started this blog in July of 2016 to help promote my new book and to do some writing research as well as experience sharing. While the climb up the mountain is far from over, I can look back over my shoulder proudly.

Here is a list of writing goals that I have accomplished in the year since my last blog anniversary:

Blog stats and growth since 2017 and from its start in 2016:

What’re my goals for the next year?

RECOGNITIONS:

2018 March & April Bi-Monthly Goals — Derek Barton – 2018

2018 Jan & Feb Bi-Monthly Goals — Derek Barton – 2018

THIS IS MY YEAR!! (My new mantra!)