Story

24-11-2019

Been a while. Well I suppose it actually hasn't been all that long, but it has definitely been longer than I intended.

One of the things I've gotten really bad at in the last few years is regularly posting to this little corner of the web. I've decided that in 2020 I'm going to set myself a 'positive' New Year's resolution that I will no doubt break faster than a person who says they are going to diet in 2020 will break.

I'm going to post regular writing related articles.

There are a few reasons for this.

First of all is how fast the podcast I produce with the ladyfriend has gained traction. Now, I'm not going to even imply any of that is down to me. It is entirely down to herself. She has this amazing ability to promote things. I've seen it in her work over the years, but never for a hobby project like our little podcast (which can be gotten at this handy location, sure you'd be mad not to pop on over and have a listen).

Seriously, it regularly sits in the top ten on parenting podcast charts for Apple and Spotify, all down to how the ladyfriend knows how to promote these things and keep interest going. It is pretty impressive.

Leading me to think about this writing lark. Sure I write books and they seem to be well received, but they aren't exactly paying for the house or anything. That's mainly down to myself. I don't put enough time and effort into promoting the hell out of them. In 2020 that needs to change, otherwise why do I put so much stress and pressure on myself to make sure the books are the best they can be before sending them out into the big bad world?

I'm going to take some of the strategy that the ladyfriend uses for Parenting Pobal and apply it to my books. Otherwise I genuinely think I should just call it a day on the writing thing. I had some fun, wrote some stories, but if your hobby starts to feel like work then it stops being a hobby.

Secondly, I sort of got lost in the last novel. The sci-fi story I am writing. It was something different for me to attempt but it did take a lot more work to get over the line. Even now, as I type this, it isn't done yet. I have to do another draft through it all and then get a cover together for it. Then, despite me not wanting to go down this road, I am being told I need to send it off to agents and see if anyone bites before going down the indie route like I usually do.

Point the third, I'm back into Filthy Henry book mode. I've an idea in the head that has five chapters out already and some research done on the topic. So I want to use 2020 to do as some of my favourite authors do: post updates on their sites as they work through the book.

This morning I genuinely gave some thought to maybe dropping this site completely and moving over to a Wordpress or Medium. I still might. I'll keep The Bauble going because, at this stage, it is like a family pet that I can't get rid of. But then again I might just look at spreading the locations these articles get published to.

I'm rambling now, I know I am - good time to stop

Blue_jester