Goals for March 2021

Hi there! Just a quick update to let y’all know what I’ll be working on this month. The beginning of 2021 has already been an interesting one, and still so much different than what life would normally look like for my little family. We spent much of 2020 at home, and so far in 2021, that hasn’t changed. Since we hardly go anywhere on weekends, I spend a lot of that time working on my books, short stories, video games, etc. I’m always writing something, always editing another thing, always looking to the future and considering which projects I have waiting for me on the horizon.

I’ve even created an entire multi-sheet spreadsheet to track my writing projects for all three of the names I write under (I have two pen names where I write two different genres: steamy contemporary romance on one, erotic romance on the other — similar genres different in terms of content and reader expectations), and it’s really been helping me to stay on track and always know what it is I need to focus on when I sit down to work.

Fellow work at home folks, do you have to dress up for your workday? I find that if I show up in pajamas or workout clothes or something other than what I’d wear, say, if I had to go into an office… well, it doesn’t go well. I find myself more easily distracted. But if I spend a few minutes getting ready for work first, then I end up much more productive and ready to go once I sit down in front of the computer. I like those simple mindset-altering tricks, so I’m most often writing in a dress and heels, something office or fancy event appropriate. Whatever works, you know?

Anyway, as seen in the above image, these are my writing goals for March:

edit my Christmas novella to the third draft

Can I just say I freaking love this novella? It’s so sweet. And it takes place during Christmastime! The first draft went smoothly as I wrote it in November 2020 for NaNoWriMo, well, sort of smoothly. I did this fun thing where I realized I was mashing two novels together and ended up having to separate those manuscripts (far less painful than it sounds) and both of them ended up stronger and in a better place as a result. So, this month, I’ll be editing this novella into its third draft, and I’m so excited to see it all fixed up. I even bought a lifetime subscription to Pro Writing Aid recently, so that will help a lot with this round of edits.

Publish 2 books under pen names

Gosh, sometimes it seems weird to me that I have so much work that I write and publish yet it’s under pen names. But that’s the way I’ve set up the bulk of my work, and I intend to keep it that way, so… it works. Anyway, I have two books that are super close to being ready for publication, and this month I hope to spend a few hours editing those (they’re short, it shouldn’t take too long) so I can get them out there soon. Wish me luck!

Outline vampire baker book 2

Yessss, work I’m so excited about! I have a series set to come out this summer about a baker who becomes a vampire. It’s one part silly, one part serious, and the story is so fun. I’ve had a blast writing book one but before I go back to edit it, I’ll give that draft about a month or two to sit, during which time I’ll write the outline for book 2 and then I might even be able to start on the book two draft. We’ll see what I have time for — there are so many projects in the works.

I’ll be extra busy with all of the above this month, but I may post updates on instagram or twitter here and there. Follow along if you’d like. :)

xx Katie