JP McLean

Writing Addictive Fiction

Playing Whack-A-Mole with a Trilogy

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Selection of hammers

Every time I sit down to write this post, another trilogy mole pops up and I race off in search of my mallet. I’m playing Whack-a-Mole with a trilogy. Those “moles” are hidden in more cubby holes than I’d imagined, though I shouldn’t be surprised, after all, I put them there.

I’m referring to the “trilogy” descriptor I used liberally to describe The Gift books when they were, in fact, a trilogy. Now that the fourth book, The Gift: Penance (now titled Lethal Waters), is approaching the starting blocks, the terminology is decidedly inaccurate. Hence, I’ve started the process of switching out “trilogy” for “legacy.”

I thought about all the places I’d used “trilogy,” and made a list. There were the obvious spots, like this blog, the website and Goodreads. Then I looked at Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Mustn’t forget Wattpad and Library Thing. Oh, and LinkedIn.

Okay, I thought … I can do this.

Oops, forgot about my author page on Amazon, which sent me scurrying back to look at my author page on Goodreads. And wait, I’d made a note to change the wording in Facebook, but what about the header picture—that had to change. Do I even remember how to do that? Then I noticed the tagline in my email signature, which lead to the realization that my business cards are now outdated. Along with the posters I use at book signings. And the back-of-the-book blurbs.

Oh crap! Pretty much all of the promo material I’ve ever prepared has to be changed. This is going to take a lot longer than I thought.

I suppose the silver lining in all of this is that the Gift’s book information has spread as far and wide as it has. The not-so-silver lining is that I’ll be whacking moles for a long time yet.

With that in mind, I’d appreciate it if you’d tell me if you come across any of my “trilogy” lingo on your cyber travels. I just know I’m going to miss something. (Anyone who misses a fourth book sneaking into a trilogy is going to miss something—and it’ll probably be big.)

I’ve got a spare mallet. If you’d like to take a whack, and want to know what started this whole trilogy mess, you can get Secret Sky with one click right here. And if ebooks or Amazon aren’t your preference, other options are available under the Bookstore Tab.

Hammer Photo by Adam Sherez on Unsplash

Something’s Gotta Give

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I’ve never been pulled in as many directions as I have in the past year and a half. They are all good and worthy directions—there are just so many of them! Something’s gotta give.

Denman Island Forest PathWriting and publishing the Gift Trilogy set me on the steepest learning curve I’ve ever tackled. Some days, it feels like I’m on the Grouse Grind. I know the exercise is good for me and I’ll feel better when I’m done, but damn if it isn’t a tough climb.

And writing is only part of it. Developing and maintaining an author platform is also important. In fact, it’s critical if you want to connect with readers, which I do. It also helps me connect with other writers and keep apprised of new tools and services in the industry. The downside to wanting it all is finding the time to do it all.

Hence, something’s gotta give

When I started writing, I fit it into the crevices of my life. Soon there were no more crevices and I had to start carving out space. Television was the first thing to go followed by leisurely flips through magazines.

When I decided to publish, meticulous garden grooming hit the curb and home canning was replaced by Trader Joe’s.

Now I’m building my author platform and the cuts continue. I used to be a news junky…not now. I used to have lengthy telephone conversations with my friends…now I send them short emails.

I’m even cutting my precious writing time to make room. I’ve read that the ideal mix is 70/30 with 70% of your time spent writing. Perhaps before I die I’ll get there, but right now, it’s a struggle.

Yesterday I tackled a stack of books that I’d read, but had neglected to put into Goodreads. In fact, I’d been absent on Goodreads for about two months. (My apologies to my Goodreads friends who are getting that dump right now.) Other components in my author platform have suffered a similar fate from time to time. And my platform isn’t huge; there’s my blog, Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads. That’s it.

So bear with me if this blog takes a hit from time to time. I’ll get better at the other stuff and I have faith that it will all make sense one day (hopefully before I die). I’ll be okay as long as I don’t have to carve eating out of my day. Well maybe I can cut that back a bit. After all, I’d like to figure out Google+ one of these days.

If you’ve carved out some time, you can order Secret Sky with one simple click here.
Your adventure awaits…buckle up.

The Crazy Train has Left the Station

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The Crazy Train has Left the Station

It’s been a whirlwind around here amidst the launch of my second book, Revelation. I sent out my first newsletter; revealed the book cover; wrote and distributed a press release; prepared the “about” material for the website; uploaded Revelation‘s book details into Goodreads; prepared a media kit; updated my blog; and posted the new book cover to Facebook. Then I took a breath.

The Crazy Train called writing

The tornado of activity reminded me of the concept of balance. It’s a concept I’ve been working on since I hopped on the Crazy Train called writing. A train pushed by a caboose called publishing.

Balance is important, and though I have difficulty with it at times, deep in my heart I know it’s not just a concept. It feeds my sanity, grounds me. It’s why I made time to get into the garden last week and why I made the trip to Vancouver to help a friend celebrate her birthday on the weekend. It’s why I went to lunch with the girls the other day and enjoyed a super-sonic gin and tonic in the shade of the garden umbrella with my husband last night.

If I let it, this writing thing would consume every moment of my life. At times, it does. And because I’m an indie writer, all of the marketing and promo falls on my shoulders, so if I want to get the word out, it’s up to me…and it’s a lot of work.

Work/Life Balance

But the “work” has to be balanced with other things. Things that make me smile. Things that energize me and fire me up: like friends, family, fine food and great wine. And writing.

Writing you say? Isn’t that what got you in trouble in the first place? I know…you think I’m talking in circles. But I’m not.

The writing I refer to­­—the writing that energizes me—is creative writing. Not the sometimes tedious chore of writing promo material or editing manuscripts. Creative writing is what happens when I open the throttle on my imagination and run it on all cylinders. Suddenly new characters are running loose through new settings wreaking all kinds of havoc. Exercising my imagination is as important as physical exercise. It reminds me why I do all the other less-fun stuff. It makes the necessary, but tedious stuff, worthwhile.

It’s a crazy ride, and I need to keep injecting balance, but the circuit is oddly addictive: write, publish, promote, balance, fuel-up, rinse and repeat. Better than work-eat-sleep repeat. No?

Has your Crazy Train left the station?

Train Photo by Denis Chick on Unsplash