Keep up the momentum

I made a commitment at the start of this year to blog seven actions weekly. I call the project:

 Operation Author: 365 Actions to Becoming A Successful Author

It's been tough keeping the momentum up for all this time.

Last week, I took the decision to focus on writing and take a break from such intense marketing. However, I have still completed some marketing actions this week;

Action 1:
Promoting and sharing the great guest blog by Marc Guberti 

Thanks Marc :)

Action 2: 
I visited some venues in Bristol and now have the venues for the treasure hunt booked. I still have a few bits and bobs to do for my crowdfund Celebration / Launch Party for Solomon's Secrets and I have also booked in another date for a Book Launch



Action 3:
I have created an Eventbrite listing for the launch event

Action 4:
I've been sending out invitations and scheduling in social media announcements about the event on Wednesday 26th November from 7pm at Small Bar in Bristol

Action 5:
Like many writers and creatives I love keeping lots of notebooks around. 

I've started using one notebook for Listography. I have been listing possible ways to market my book. Just the act of writing lists is useful and if I write them down I'm more likely to do them (I'm also fond of coloured pens!):

Action 6:
I'd like to showcase some work of other writers on here. 

As it's NaNoWriMo maybe you have some tips to share? 

Or are you willing to post the best 200 words of your NaNo project?

Action 7:
Writing, writing and more writing. I'm a bit behind on NaNoWriMo this week as we're in the middle of decorating but hopefully I can make up some time next week.


Bonus action this week:


I'm really excited about this one...

I am being interviewed about my writing on BBC Radio Bristol this Friday on the lunchtime show. Tune in: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radiobristol



 

 

 
 

The wisdom and enthusiasm of youth - 3 top tips to make better use of your time

Yes, it's that time of year again... it's NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and let's be honest, watching someone write is about as stimulating as watching ice melt.

I'm doing things a little differently with my 

Operation Author: 365 Actions to Becoming A

 Successful Author

project and declaring a month of writing. Rather than posting weekly tips I'll share some creative content with you, from myself and others (sprinkled with a few tips, I'll still be doing some marketing). Seriously, you know you don't want to read a weekly blow by blow account of my NaNo stats so I wouldn't dream of inflicting them on you!


I'm kicking off this new era of Idea'ism with a contribution from a fellow wordsmith...

I have the great privilege of sharing another fantastic guest post with you, this time by Marc Guberti.

Marc is a 16 year old entrepreneur who is relentlessly talented and motivated. 

He's an inspiring young man, and being passionate about working with and supporting small businesses as well as writing myself, I'm really delighted to be able to share some of Marc's wisdom and enthusiasm with you.

When I first 'met' Marc on Twitter and we exchanged some emails, I said to him; 'Wow, how do you fit in so much?' - In answer to my question he sent this great piece over about managing your time.

Enjoy it, and look out for the name Marc Guberti - he's really going places...

3 Ways To Get Better Time Management

How we spend our time determines who we become and what we accomplish. For many people, getting better time management skills is the difference between a stagnant business and a booming business. Giving yourself more time to work on your business will allow you to get better results and create products faster. In a world that is moving at a rapid pace, many people make mistakes that cost a giant chunk of their time. As a result, less gets done. 

These three methods to get better time management will allow you to find more time in your day so you can accomplish your goals faster.

1.  Give yourself closer deadlines. The main reason why most people are not getting their goals accomplished is because they are not setting deadlines for themselves. Some people, at the very best, give themselves one year to accomplish their goals while others give themselves no deadlines whatsoever. 

Deadlines are so valuable because they force us to get moving. The essay due in two weeks gets written the night before the due date. As the deadline gets closer, urgency builds in. 

This urgency is the tipping point that allows people to accomplish their goals within their deadlines. I only give myself a week to accomplish the same goals that the average person would need 2-4 weeks to accomplish. Give yourself weekly deadlines so there is always a sense of urgency. In addition, avoid using later and soon when giving yourself deadlines. Those are two placeholders that get used to delay responsibility.

2.  Wake up early in the morning. It is in the early morning when we are at our best. We have more willpower and fewer distractions. Think about all of the things you have to do at 7 pm compared to the things you have to do at 7 am. 

Waking up early in the morning gives you new found time to work on your business. 
 

The average human sleeps for 8 hours every night, but an article from Buffer backed by scientific research stated that we only need 6.5 to 7.5 hours of sleep every night. Getting seven hours of sleep every night instead of eight hours gives you an extra hour to be productive and an extra hour of being awake.

3.  Use mortality as a motivational tool. None of us live forever. It is a true statement that we want to ignore, but it is also a true statement that can ignite our motivation. There will be a point when we will have no power to change what we stand for. 

Since you are reading this article, you still have time to make your difference and be the person who you want to be. 

Do you want to be remembered as the person who watched TV all day or as the person who made a difference in millions of people’s lives? 

I’m sure this question almost makes you want to ban TV or at least reduce the amount of time you spend watching your favorite shows (and the re-runs). You still have time to change how people will remember you, but the amount of time you have is limited.

 Mortality was the motivational tool Steve Jobs used as he went through his journey, and that says something. 

If you want to be remembered as someone who made a difference, then you need to put the time in.

In Conclusion

Time management is not a super power granted to a select few. At one point, I was watching TV for five hours every day and playing video games when I got bored from watching the re-runs. Now, I only play video games during the weekends, and I only watch one TV show every week (The Big Bang Theory). You can get efficient time management and accomplish your goals faster. Successful time management all comes down to your willingness to learn and implement the methods.


Meet Marc...

Blog link: www.marcguberti.com

Here are his books on Amazon:  

http://www.amazon.com/Marc-Guberti/e/B00D5BK0J2/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

How To Be Successful On Twitter, How To Publish More Kindle eBooks Faster, Keep The Ball Rolling, 77 Powerful Methods To Get More Kindle eBook Sales, Honest Ways To Make Money Online, Honest Ways To Make Money Online, 365 Ways To Improve Your Business For 2014, and Fool’s Gold   




A big thank you to Marc from me. 

If you are a writer or marketeer with some tips to share, please get in touch to feature a guest blog. 

Email: amy@tomcatdesigns.co.uk

I'm always happy to encourage and promote the work of others and as a thank you I'll give you an eBook of my latest novel, Solomon's Secrets

http://bit.ly/Solomons_Kindle

 

A freebie and a case of the sniffles

This week my seven actions for...

Operation Author: 365 Actions to Becoming A Successful Author

...have been somewhat hampered by the onset of a nasty cold that's left me a in a snotty, barely-able-to-function, thick-headed mess.

My first action is a follow up from last week.

I published a post specifically to encourage people to take up the offer of the free eBook: http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/get-your-free-ebook-here-now.html

Calling all bookaholics:

Would you like a free eBook in exchange for a review?

If you're looking for something new to read and would like to help an indie author out, email me: amy@tomcatdesigns.co.uk

This offer expires 31st October 2014 - so hurry!
  
My second action is to tweet lots of eBook tweeters and promoters to spread the word

My third action was to have a go at writing the blurb for the next book in the Sheridan and Blake Adventure series.

It will be one book, made up of two novellas:



Gabriel's Game, Part 1: The White Queen



Gabriel's Game, Part 2: The Back Knight

The titles are a nod to the first book, The Bronze Box, in which White Queen is a code name for my heroine, Sasha Blake and Black Knight is a code name for my hero, Tom Sheridan when they arrange to rendezvous at a giant chess set in Amsterdam.

Source: http://www.waymarking.com/

Book Blurb for Gabriel's Game, part 1: The White Queen

Book Blurb for Gabriel's Game, part 2: The Black Knight

I've already started collecting research links on a Pinterst board for Gabriel's Game, with links for both parts of the book.



I used these blurbs for my fourth action.

I am going to do NaNoWriMo again this year and hope to get a good chunk of both books written in a month.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo: NaNoWriMo.org) is an annual event where writers are encouraged to write a novel (50,000 words) in the month of November.

I've set up my profile ready to go on the the 1st November.

Here's my page: http://nanowrimo.org/participants/amycm/novels/gabriel-s-game

My fifth action was going to a critique meeting with other writers and getting feedback on a short story about the heroine of my books, Sasha Blake. I'm now doing further research and re-writes. I'll publish it on here when it's ready.

My sixth action was to write a feature on my top 10 tips for a crowdfund for Fundsurfer's blog. I'll share it when it's published

My final action this week has been setting up an interview for BBC Radio Bristol. It'll be taking place on Friday 14th November at 12:30pm. I've enjoyed the other radio interviews I've done for community radio stations and excited about entering the hallowed halls of the BBC office in Bristol.

Back to reading a book with a mug of hot lemon and honey on hand

Get your FREE eBook here now

Calling all bookaholics:

Would you like a free eBook in exchange for a review?

 

Solomon's Secrets 

by Amy C Fitzjohn

Dunhaung, China 1908 – An archaeologist discovers an ancient temple, but the legendary library rumoured to be at its heart is what he really wants to find.

The present - Archeologist, Dr Sasha Blake is studying a replica of an ancient manuscript when she is offered sponsorship by a wealthy silk trader, Jon Solomon, to locate the original and four powerful rings that accompany it.  

But her investor is hiding terrible secrets.  When Sasha becomes Solomon’s next victim she wants revenge. 

She agrees to be the bait in a web of conspiracy set up by a covert organisation, The Agency, and Agent Tom Sheridan is her only ally.

Can Sheridan and Blake find the manuscript in time to stop Solomon, or are they about to fall into his trap?

Solomon's Secrets is available on general release on Amazon now, but get it FREE here:


If you're looking for something new to read and would like to help an indie author out, email me: amy@tomcatdesigns.co.uk
This offer expires 31st October 2014 - so hurry!