OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
After wrestling with letting go of self-censorship in 2014, I am ready to embrace the ups and downs of the creative process in 2015. As Dean Wesley Smith says, “Dare to be bad,” and something good will come out of it!
I feel as if my basic process and business model is now (finally) set, and now all I have to do is repeat it in order to develop my craft and grow the business. This is the magic of intellectual property!
Essentially, the model is: trust emergence and continue to feed the muse in order to write (which for me involves travel and research), turn those ideas into books, turn that one book into multiple products, distribute globally and reach readers through marketing, and then repeat.
Oh yes, and have a great life along the way!
That's important, as if you're not loving this, then you're better off getting a ‘real' job. No one said this was easy after all, and there are much easier ways of making a living. But if you love it, there's no better life!
I find all the aspects of being indie fun, so my focus now is more on creativity and the craft of writing to make the books better, and speeding up the various parts of the process, while still enjoying the journey. Here's how that translates into my goals for 2015.
Creating new things in the world!
This is what it's all about! I measure my life by what I create now and although this is a list of ‘production,' my focus this year will be on deepening creative practice as well. That's just not so measurable, and goals generally need to be measurable 🙂
- 6 books out in 2015. A combination of novels, novellas and non-fiction, all in ebook, print and audiobook formats. Three more ARKANE books, Deviance in the London Psychic series plus a minor character spinoff and two books in a new supernatural series. This should turn into 18+ products once each book is turned into the various formats.
- Narrate my own non-fiction audiobooks and publish them on Audible. I'm also looking at doing royalty split deals with other non-fiction authors and getting into ACX as a narrator as well as an author. Like anyone, I used to hate my voice, but after 4 years of podcasting, I am pretty used to it now and I get so many emails from people who like to listen to it. Narration of other people's non-fiction books on a royalty split deal will add another income stream as well, so I will announce availability after I get my own 4 non-fiction books done first.
- Translations: While this is not a primary focus, I do have Portuguese underway for Pentecost as Brazil is likely to be the next emerging market for digital. I also have How to Market a Book coming in German, as well as Prophecy and Desecration in Spanish, so I'm certainly carrying on, but not expanding too much. I am only one person and it showed this year! I will be doing a review of the translation stuff with sales data in Feb/March once I have a bit more historical information.
- Foreign rights. I actually want to sell more rights rather than exploit them myself. The translation stuff takes a lot more effort than expected, so I won't be doing so much of that in 2015. I have various things bubbling around foreign rights sales, and expect to get into this more in 2015.
Filling the creative well, education and creative habits
- Learn how to edit audiobooks for Audible/ACX quality in order to produce my own non-fiction audiobooks. See the interview with Simon Whistler for help on this and his great book, Audiobooks for Indies
- Go to the Robert McKee Genre & TV writing days in London, Fall 2015 for more story focus. I learned so much from McKee's STORY conference that I am keen to build on that.
- Continue to do courses by Dean Wesley Smith & Kris Rusch to improve my craft and writing business – you can find out more on them here.
- Travel more for research and fun! Traveling feeds my muse and gives me story ideas for my fiction, so I need more of it in 2015 …
I also feel that I need to change up my creative routines and habits:
- No apps or email before lunchtime. I've had over a year of not using email on my phone – but I have ended up checking other things e.g. Guardian app for news, Twitter, RSS feeds and other things. I sometimes check it in the morning when I am still in bed as I use my phone as an alarm. It's hard to resist “just checking a few things”! I have bought an old-fashioned alarm clock – shock horror, it only tells the time and has an alarm function with one ring tone! The mornings are for creativity, writing first draft stuff, walking with my husband and I'm also starting with Headspace for (once again) attempting to incorporate meditation in my life.
Community
- Continue to blog and podcast at The Creative Penn for another year, as well as continuing to share useful information on Twitter @thecreativepenn. My aim is to provide graduate level education and inspiration for the indie author community. I'm not going anywhere so I hope you'll stick around for another year 🙂
- I'm also intending to do more Q&A videos, so check out my YouTube channel here if you like vids.
- I'll continue to try and answer all my email, but I won't be answering basic questions like “how do I self-publish” and “how can I sell more books,” as I have all the free resources here to help people. If you have a more nuanced question, feel free to contact me!
- Be an active member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, co-hosting the monthly Q&A show with Orna Ross and contributing to the discussion, promoting quality in the indie community.
- Be an active member of International Thriller Writers, writing for the Big Thrill and organizing UK events
Income
The big change for me in 2015 is the shift away from online education and courses to income from books and live professional speaking, as well as affiliate income and sponsorship. Fiction is evergreen and never needs updating (and super fun!) – whereas I have found that courses constantly need updates and non-fiction needs at least annual updates. There are also pretty much zero customer service issues with fiction! (I'm not counting fan email which is a pleasure, not ‘service')
I was intending to withdraw my courses in 2015 anyway, but the EU VAT law change for digital products pushed me to do this by Dec 31 2014, so that income stream is now over. I need to replace it, as that has been a significant portion since I left the day job. I'm not writing off doing online education again, but it's not a priority.
- Ramp up diversified income streams for my books. I'm already publishing direct on Amazon, Kobo, iBooks and NOOKPress. I am just returning to publishing through Smashwords for subscription and other minor sites. I'm finally going to get into Google Play in early 2015. Financially, I want to have my first 5 figure month in 2015. That's a stretch goal but I am putting it out there 🙂
- Move into audiobook narration for my own non-fiction as well as other people's books. The royalty split options in ACX mean this is potentially a good ongoing income stream and I believe in audio as a growth market. This will be a new income stream, albeit a slow growing one.
- Continue to speak internationally for travel and income reasons. I've already been booked for PubSense in Charleston, South Carolina in March, as well as the Shetland Islands and Orkney, which must count as travel! You can find my speaking page here if you want to see me live or book me for an event.
OK, your turn! What are your creative goals for 2015? Please add a comment below and join the conversation. Let's keep each other accountable.
Top image: Flickr Creative Commons Missing rainbows by Silke Gerstenkorn, alarm clock by dull hunk, notebooks by seeminglee, piggy bank by images money
Anma Natsu says
My biggest creative goal is releasing my debut novel (currently at my editor), including the final prep stuff leading up to it.
Others include:
– finishing the novel I started for NaNo 2014
-deciding on my second release novel and doing the revision (and preferably releasing it before the end of the year)
– write at least one new first draft novel for NaNo 2015
– write the second part of a gift story
– release at least 40 episodes of my podcast and an intro video for my YouTube channel
– more website enhancements and tweaks
– do a series of blog posts on Scrivener for Windows
– start doing monthly newsletters to my subscribers
Hopefully a very productive year 🙂
Joanna Penn says
Sounds great – all the best Anma!
Meg says
Wow. Super inspiring to hear of all your goals!! 2015 will be a big year for you. Its great to see you focus on your writing much more in the past year and continue this. Best of luck for 2015!!
I will be finishing and publishing my second fantasy fiction novel this year. I’ll also be finishing my (non writing related) degree (at last..). I decided I’ll most likely take time out and not pursue that career, instead keeping my part time job to pay the bills. Then I can focus on writing even more!!
Im not sure what to focus on – more novels, or shorter works, or perhaps even some nonfiction… but I’m hoping that will become clearer in the coming months. Do you have any tips for deciding which projects to focus on? Im very conscious that this is pretty much my one chance to pursue writing as my career/business/love in the near future… so I don’t want to screw up!
2015 should, in any case, be a creative year all round. Yay! 🙂 have a good one!
Meg
Joanna Penn says
Hi Meg, I think keeping the day job is a super idea, especially if you don’t hate it as I did!
In terms of deciding on projects, I am as bad as anyone – I have SO many ideas right now – but once I settle on one, I make sure to finish that. The deciding is difficult though and I do have a number of outline documents I have started to keep the little things that pop into my head for other stories, while I focus on one.
T.D. Jones says
I have at least 6 books to get out this year. One children’s (artist just completed, yippie) three more romances, two mysteries.
I have only 39 months before retiring from full time job, and I promised myself I would only pull up my retirement page that shows status every three months instead of monthly! Lol
Finish non-fiction book on what I’ve learned through this writing career.
Maybe teach a couple of online writing classes.
Happy New Year! 2015 will be a great year.
Joanna Penn says
Great to hear you’re so upbeat TD – retirement no longer exists IMHO, it’s just a chance to shift focus and do something new! All the best for 2015
Fi Phillips says
Great post. My goals are, (a) polish my first novel when I get the report back from its manuscript assessment, (b) begin to send it out to agents, and (c) continue with the first draft of my second novel. Business wise, I want to write a couple more plays for my business. Happy new year.
Joanna Penn says
Writing plays sounds cool 🙂 All the best with the novel as well.
Pamel says
To be honest, I’m a bit intimidated by your goals. They are awe-inspiring! They are inspiring me to up my ante and expect more of myself. My goal was to publish another book – now I think I’ll resolve to publish a novel and a book of short vignettes. I’d also like to learn how to get my first Indie book (published a little over a year ago) on Audiobook. I have a good friend who is paraplegic and can only ‘read’ books by Audio. He (and you) are inspiring me to learn how to do it. Thanks. I’ll enjoy reading about your progress throughout the new year.
Joanna Penn says
We all have different goals and lives so no need to be intimidated 🙂
On audio – check this out http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2014/05/01/audiobooks-acx-marketing/
You can partner with a narrator right now if you like in the US or UK.
Julie Day says
My main goals are: to finish the three series of ebooks I have been working on. Continue with another than I started. To write, and hopefully get accepted for publication, at least 5 short stories. Write and get accepted a My Weekly Pocket Novel. Financially, to earn the same or a bit more than I spend this year. Worked at a loss the last few years.
Joanna Penn says
I think a loss is acceptable if writing is a hobby, as you expect to put more money in when you’re doing it for fun. If you’re aiming to make a business from writing, then after year 3, it might be time to focus on lowering expenses and raising income. For me, the tipping point came with 3 books in a series, so hopefully your series will help you over the hump. All the best Julie!
Kessie says
That VAT change has us all scrambling, doesn’t it? I’m going to sit here this morning and puzzle out new pricing.
I plan to release a novella and two novels this year. I also plan to read a lot more. Goodreads has the yearly reading challenge, and I just love making that number go higher.
Joanna Penn says
I love logging books on Goodreads as well 🙂 Satisfies the inner librarian!
Gary Swaby says
Good luck on all your goals, congrats on everything you’ve accomplished so far and thank you for all the inspiration.
Joanna Penn says
Thanks for your continued support, Gary! All the best for 2015!
John McDuffie says
“Oh yes, and have a great life along the way!” is crucial to me. Couldn’t and wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it.
Joanna Penn says
I think this is critical for indies to hold onto – the current trend seems to be all out production with less time for living. I could write faster if I didn’t do so much research, but the research (and related travel) is part of it for me, and makes life fun! We always need to remember to live first 🙂
Ben Murray says
Good luck with your creative writing and entrepreneurship goals. This is already one of the best blogs for writing and marketing tips!
Joanna Penn says
Thanks Ben!
P.D. Workman says
Write 4 new novels
Publish at least 6 novels
Work on getting more review
Build e-mail list
Joanna Penn says
Succinct and a great list 🙂
Jan Vermeer says
My goals are to write one novel and one non-fiction book, which should be closely related. The first one is story-driven of course, but the second one deepens the topic of the first. I’m now officially a hybrid author, but I want to move more towards self-publishing, though in my country and my market that’s still not very common. But I’ve figured out a way how it should work, so in 2015 I will take the leap.
I’m also developing a concept for an evening out. Again: this experience is closely connected to the two books and hope to market myself more as a public speaker this way. I’m a Christian and to me mission is more important than money. However, I do hope this will lead to another income stream too.
Joanna Penn says
That sounds good, Jan and your ‘evening out’ idea sounds intriguing. There are many people talking about how music sales parallels books – and how artists have to deliver experiences to make money these days. I use public speaking as a revenue stream as well as a way to reach people in a more personal way. All the best!
Michael Kelberer says
Hi Joanna,
Thanks for sharing your goals and giving me a blueprint to develop mine more.
Basic plan:
1. Publish my mystery-in-progress-for-many-years
2. Write and publish 2 non-fiction books
3. Write and publish 4 short stories
4. Blog 2-3x weekly and start a monthly newsletter
5. Systematize my social media outreach
Very ambitious goals for me. I have the time, but not the discipline, and most of those categories are at or near zero at the end of 2014!
Joanna Penn says
The first step to more discipline is admitting you don’t have it! I’m in that camp as well, Michael – and I have popcorn kitten syndrome as Kris Rusch would call it. There is a need to focus and just get stuff done in 2015!
Samantha Warren says
My main goals this year:
1. Release 10 books (novels, novellas, short stories, non-fiction). I did 15 in 2014, so 10 is definitely doable.
2. Reel in my spending so that I can post a profit. I did in 2012, but 2013 & 14 saw my expenses get out of control. It’s time to cut back on the things I don’t really need to spend money on and focus on what really matters. The trick will be figuring out what actually matters and what I don’t really need but think I do.
3. I also want to become more active in terms of ALLi and other writing groups. I’m discussing the possibility of speaking engagements with libraries and author groups around here, so hopefully that will bear some fruit.
Joanna Penn says
Wow Samantha – that’s pretty hardcore!
In terms of reeling in the spending – I imagine that editing and cover design for so many books adds to the costs – but those would be the main non-negotiables in my book. I am also trying to cut down a lot of my excess spending too. Always a good move, whatever the business! All the best.
George Rodriguez says
Joanna, love the stretch goals you set for yourself, very motivating. I have 5 of my own for 2015:
1. Write 1000 words/day
2. Publish 12 short, informative nonfiction e-books on personal productivity and peak performance – and make the next one better than the last!
3. Reach out once per day to at least one author/reviewer/interesting person and ask for a review of my book(s)
4. Do less “average” promotion on various social media platforms and get really awesome at one (Google+). Not sure how to specifically measure this now (I love metrics!), but going with followers/views currently.
5. Continue building my nonfiction book promotion community on Google+
Can’t wait to continue following your journey and drawing inspiration from it.
George
Joanna Penn says
Focusing on one social media platform as primary is a great idea, George. Twitter has always been my #1 and continues to be my main focus in social. All the best!
Aleshia Robinson says
Love this post Joanna! Very ambitious you are. Okay, here are my 2015 goals:
1. Finish the Love, God & Tattoos series this year
Alcatraz The Found Pearl- Due Feb 12
Ebony The Backslidden Pearl: A Novella
Alcatraz The Restored Pearl
Love, God & Tattoos Devotional: 100 Days of Unconditional Love
2. Adapt the entire series into audio. Books are already in print and ebook.
3. I would like to sign with Faithwords/ Jericho Books for print distribution to mass market retailers, foreign translations and dramatic rights exploitation. I might just move to Nashville to make this happen as that is where their office is located.
4. Write the Love, God & Tattoos teleplay and begin pre-production. Hollywood is so calling my name. I have been seeing this series on the small screen since November 2009
5. MARKET MY BOOKS- Okay so here is where I need to dramatically shift my game. I published my first book in June 2011 and have yet to put any energy towards marketing even though I’ve been an avid listener to your podcast for almost four years now.
5. Quit my day job and write/ volunteer full time. Life isn’t about just work and income for me. There are two great organization that helps homeless/ sex trafficked youth (Covenant House and Dream Center) that I would love to spend more time serving
6. Travel on 3 missions trips
7. Start writing my next series: The Holy Series. I have been holding out on this because I want to finish L, G &T first but The Holy Pedophile will be the first book written and hopefully published in January 2016 but I have a strong feeling this will not happen if the television deal takes off. But definitely in the near future
8. Oh, and revamp my website. I will source this out in 2015.
Joanna Penn says
Wow! Aleshia, these are some great stretch goals – I do wish you all the best with achieving them! Great to see you thinking big.
Zee Southcombe says
Yes – keeping each other accountable is so important, isn’t it? I love reading everyone’s goals at this time of year as it gets me more excited about my own!
It also reminds me that everyone’s path is different, and we all continue to learn and grow and change.
I wrote a post about my goals, but art-wise it’s down to:
-regular blogging
-6 books released in total
-a painting exhibition at the end of theyear
Joanna Penn says
The painting exhibition sounds awesome – you could use Blurb.com to do a photobook of the event as well – they have a great service for that!
Adrijus says
Some great goals! 6 books published is fantastic goal!
Question tho, why get into narrating? Wouldn’t that be a distraction from writing and blogging and building platform further?
Diversification is nice and all, but there are such things as right diversification and wrong one. Since everything has opportunity costs, will they not be bigger than what you could make from say writing a new book alone?
Don’t take it as a criticism, more question because I myself am always preventing myself from going for shiny objects and distinguishing between the things in these cases is something that is great to think about for me.
Good luck!
Joanna Penn says
Thanks for questioning Adrijus, this is more about how to spend one’s time as an entrepreneur. I am not someone who wants to crank my writing hours to more than 3ish per day, I just can’t maintain that pace and it isn’t enjoyable for me. I’m someone who enjoys variable things in my life, and by removing video/audio courses, the narration will fill that time. I am a full-time author entrepreneur, so that would come under entrepreneur. I also enjoy the collaboration aspect and the scalability for the long-term which I see as better than courses.
I see from your links that you do cover design – wouldn’t that come under the same category?
Adrijus says
I’m in similar situation too. I have this big want to start doing music, but at the same time I know it would take away from making the cover design grow to the maximum (not just financially but also craft time, an fill up hour by learning not just client work..I think writing is just the same). While it’s possible to make music into business too the timing isn’t right. Just because it feels cool and pleasurable, doesn’t mean it is the right thing so that’s what I’m weary off.
The more clutter in mind the more effectiveness suffers for me. I’ve got some other service business ideas for authors that could improve my income too but they are also distractions.. The more I simplify the more productive I get. Simple correlation. But it’s tough to not start new things as they are super exciting.
I thought for you, you could make your author platform way bigger and do much more still (from website redesign to more fiction build up). Thus the question. Anyhow, that’s just an opinion..
Good luck with all goals!
Joanna Penn says
It’s not just about income – as per the end of the post, it’s about longevity and for me, scalable income for the long term is most interesting. Recurring revenue from audiobooks is more interesting than tweaking the website for improved affiliate commissions (although I will be doing some of the latter!) I also like creating new things in the world and I’ve learned this year that audio is a collaboration as much as anything else. I get to add my spin to someone else’s book and that’s cool!
Adrijus says
Interesting to see where audiobooks will go for sure!
Emma Franklin-Bell says
Hi Joanna,
Wonderful! Really loved reading your intentions for 2015! You’re so inspiring to me and I listen to your podcast religiously!
I’m a few days away from launching my non-fiction book on Amazon which is based on a business I started, built and sold within 2 years in the dance industry so the niche target market is dance teachers/performing artists.
2015 will see me:
– Launch my next start up in the Real Estate field
– Become a licensed real estate agent/buyers agent
– Continue mentoring small business clients
– Write another book for start-ups
– Buy my first property
– Graduate from my communications degree
I think that’ll keep me busy and pumped up for 2015!
Thanks so much and I continue to tune in and hopefully you will do more than one more year at the creative penn as we love it so much!
All the way from sunny Sydney, Australia – Thanks so much, Emma 🙂
Joanna Penn says
Thanks so much Emma, and I am SO interested that you specialize in the dance/performance industry – of course, they are artists and small businesses as much as authors are. I’m fascinated by ‘ephemeral’ art actually – I can relate a little in that I do professional speaking and every live event is a performance of sorts – it’s never exactly repeated. All the best for your property goals in 2015 and hello down under! I used to live in Glebe a long time ago 🙂