What’s Next?
As I sit here typing this blog, I can’t believe how much better everything feels today than it did two months ago. Two months ago, I felt like I had lost all my momentum. Writing felt like a chore. I actively questioned what was the point of even finishing the book? Fast forward to today. I’ve had a successful launch, built a ton of momentum, and readers are enjoying all of my books. I credit it to my mindset, but that was last week’s blog. Now that “The Silent Death” is available on Kindle, it’s time to return to work.
As I mentioned in a previous blog, my past habit was to take an extended break after I finished a book; after all, I’d earned it. But, as I’ve continued to write, I’ve found that taking a break is a mistake. Now, before you get on me for promoting hustle culture or some other work-yourself-to-death nonsense, let me clarify. I’m all for taking breaks. In fact, I’m probably more into leisure time than most. However, I found with my last book that I had allowed my writing muscle to atrophy so severely that it affected the book. I worked extremely hard to rework the early chapters of “The Silent Death” because my skills weren’t up to the task when I wrote them. By the end of the book, I had gotten loosened up, so it wasn’t nearly as hard to massage the book into its final form. Because of that discovery, I’ve made two adjustments. First, there will be no more breaks. I will start working on the next work-in-progress when I finish the current one. Second, I need to accept that writing is not work for me. In the past, I’ve viewed it as just another chore to do on my never-ending list. That mindset will get me nowhere. What I have accepted is that I enjoy writing. When I get on a roll, time melts away. It’s a fantastic feeling to lose yourself in your work completely, and the only time that happens to me is when I’m writing or playing music. Of course, I will always allow for self-care, so if I’m feeling worn out, I will take restorative measures.
That being said, I have quite a few projects to keep me busy besides my day job. In addition to writing, I’m working on getting some merch/swag together for my author website, I’m working on a line of t-shirts/bags/clothing unrelated to my writing, I need to work on some audiobooks, and someone complained the other day that I don’t have any hardcover books, so I might need to look into that, eventually. In addition, I’ve been feeling an itch to work on some music at some point, but who has the time?
But writing is at the forefront of all of those chores. I plan to spend the rest of the year writing three projects. Once I’m finished with all three, I’ll start moving them toward production, one by one, with the plan to release all three next year. And before anyone asks, yes, one of them is the sixth Xavier Greene Thriller. The others will remain a mystery for now.
All of that to say, I couldn’t be happier. I feel like I’ve definitely gone through some peaks and valleys in my still-young author career, but this last valley was overcome with perseverance and purpose, and it’s left me feeling invigorated and excited for what comes next.
Watch this space, as the kids say.
– Ryan
