…of publishing, that is!
You would not believe it, but after many an eye roll, back-an-forth negotiations, and general pouting, management approved my long service leave! Five months! Yay! (At half pay…Okay…I can deal with that…).
Five months to write and publish two sequels to Shizzle, Inc. Five months to give this writing career one hell of a try. Can I do it?
Only Microsoft Project can tell! Well, based on the following assumptions:
- That I can write 20K words per week (not all of the time will be spent writing).
- That I will have 40K words written by Feb.
- That I will have the first cover designed by 29 Feb.
- That I will do proofreading myself (and rely on “early readers” to suggest structural changes). This way I hope to reduce costs, compared to the fortune I’ve spent on Shizzle, Inc.
I tried staggering writing of both sequels, to allow for other (many!) tasks. This is what I came up with:
Book #2:
Book #3:
Microsoft project says I can do it!
Let me know what you think of my assumptions and timelines 🙂
Ana Spoke, author 
Envious of your energy and drive…go girl!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Well Microsoft would not lie! You go girl!!!
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Haha, thank you, Isabella!
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Whoo-hoo! You’re FREE. I think you’re on FIRE!!! Get thee to thy chariot and ride wride write!
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Haha, thank you so much!
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Those are some fairly grueling word counts, but you definitely have the right mindset for it. Best of luck! (and how I envy your leave)
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Thank you, Allie! I will lose a lot of pay, if it makes you feel any better? I sure hope I can do this, but actually committing in “public” will help 🙂
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From my experience, it’s harder than it seems but possible.
I started with my very rough and word heave draft to cut into a trilogy in mid-July. I work full time and can’t take time off. I had some help with my cover, but ended up having to remake it myself due to changes and my friend bailing on me. I had to do my own editing because my budget is $0, I don’t have disposable income. I also had to learn how to do the formatting for Kindle.
At the start I thought I could do it in a month. In reality I published book 1 on
Oct. 31 and want more cushion for Book 2 so I’m thinking late spring. If I could just stay home and write I bet it would be different.
Good luck! I hope you get it all done.
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Thank you – and I know all too well how hard it is to do with a full time job! The first one took 6 months to write and edit, and 3 months to publish on kindle, then another 3 on paper. I hope it’s different writing full time…
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Best of luck with your novel! Having seen the amount of work my blog-buddy Joel put into NaNoWriMo, I can see writing a novel is a major challenge with much needed discipline. It’s amazing you’ve got your special leave and your enthusiasm: We’re rooting for you! 🙂
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Thank you so much! I think 50k per month with a job is a lot harder than 20k per week full time…I will try my hardest!
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This is fantastic!! You have the drive and dedication, I’m sure you’ll do wondrously!!
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Thank you so much, Nick!
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I’m happy for you, especially because your management is allowing you to take 5 months at half pay! Happy for you and envious as hell! Good luck! And if you need another “early reader” or beta, or whatever, let me know. I would love to help!
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Thank you so much! I’m gonna lose a lot of pay, but can’t wait to do it 🙂 and thank you for the offer – have you read the first one?
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No, not yet. I read the first couple pages and I liked the start. I’ll have to read the rest so I have the full story.
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You have achieved so much so far and with the leave you would do great! Just set your mind on it and don’t get too frustrated. Can’t wait! 😊
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Thank you so much! With a plan and by promising thousands of people that I will do it, I think I can 🙂
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You already have the right attitude, time and planning so it’s doable
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You have a great employer willing to let you do that! That’s awesome. I just started following your blog yesterday, but what I’ve read so far seems like you are really invested in the work, and I totally believe you can do it!
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Thank you, Jon! Yes, in Australia employers are a lot more willing to do that – in fact we have “all roles flex” – which means you are entitled to negotiate hours, starting time, share jobs, work from home, etc
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Ana, your plan looks very reasonable. I think I’d be able to read a book on that kind of schedule!
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Haha, read one?
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One, if it’s short and has a lot of pictures.
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Hahahaha!
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20,000 words a week? Good luck, and hope you can do it.
I’ll be over here… writing 30k myself… in a month.
That’s one heck of a pace. Again, I wish you all the best,
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Is that full time writing, or with a job?
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Tell your friends that you’re leaving the country or going to jail. Turn off your phone. And best of luck.
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Thank you! I will try to be sparse on social media – but then I might need it to keep me motivated…
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Easy Peasy! Just let it flow
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Haha, yes, I hope it is…
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I looked at your figures, and my eyes kind of glazed over. Then I thought about it. My natural pace for writing when in the ‘zone’ and have the time available is around 2500 words a day, so in theory I could put out 17.5k in a full week. But that’s a rough first draft of course. Everyone is different, if you write more quickly, then 20K in a week is doable. It’s the editing that slows me right down. Good luck, and hope it goes well 🙂
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Congratulations, Ana! Wonderful news.
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Thank you so much, James! I gets it done 🙂
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Good luck! You have a very ambitious plan. I can see writing drafts for two books in five months, but having them ready for publishing . . .? Problem is that you need to have other people involved in the process, such as a copy editor and beta readers and proof readers and they may not get back to you as soon as you hope. Still, it is possible. If all you do is get the second book ready for publishing, it is still an accomplishment. Congratulations on getting the time off to pursue your dream. Let me know if I can help along the way. I could be a beta reader.
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Thank you for the offer! I will have to chose the conspirators able to work with my timelines 🙂 the first one took forever, but I’ve learned a lot, I’m much more confident, and I will devote myself to it full time, so let’s see what happens!
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Military planners have said, “Battle plans rarely survive the first shot fired.” It is an ambitious and worthy goal to shoot for but duck after that opening round and have a Plan B. It is, after all, more important to produce quality work than quantity.
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I’m agile, so will work with it – but I do need lofty goals to keep me motivated. Otherwise I may fall into laziness – I’m the laziest overachiever I know 🙂
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Oh, and break a keyboard!
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Hahaha! Thank you! You’ve coined a new phrase, I think 🙂
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Though I will deny I said it, in college I actually hung out with a bunch of Theater and Humanities majors (I was a sucker for those long haired “hippie” chicks) and got roped into acting in their stage plays when no one else would take the part. Break a leg!
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Haha, thanks again!
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If you get both books to the first draft stage in 5 months, you can take a breath and edit the first, publish, edit the second, publish and have 3 books in print by the end of 2016! That will be amazing and achievable! Don’t set the bar so high you can’t hurdle it, girlfriend!
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Who knows what will happen – I will not beat myself up if I can’t do it. I do like setting stretch goals for myself – that way, if I get to 90%, in still a winner 🙂
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Hi.
Not one possessing knowledge of the publishing industry, but, have been published as a biographer for a commercial title; well, enough about me. Good luck with your aspirations in the literary community, it is a difficult road at times they say (whoever they are). Thanks for your viewing and following my page. Again, good luck to you.
~ichibon~
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Thank you! Good thing is that being self-published, I’m in charge 🙂
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Very glad to hear that you got your leave but who’s eyes were rolling? Yours or theirs? Ha,Ha. I like the charts but you know there will be days you will write non stop way past your goal and days that you’ll be short of your goal for some reason. It will all equal out in the end. If anyone can do it you can. I don’t need to see a chart to know your passion for writing and know you’ll be successful in your goals. I have faith in you. Now get an espresso maker and start writing!
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Haha, thank you, Olivia! I guess it was them pouting and me rolling my eyes 🙂 why did it have to be so hard…
Funny enough, now that I’ve committed to dates, it’s giving me the boost I needed – just wrote 800 words today, in an hour or two 🙂
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We’re a lot alike, when I commit to goals it gives me motivation.Otherwise I procrastinate way to much. 800 words is great, keep up the momentum. The writing won’t slow you down, it’s the editing, etc. The fun stuff. Ha,ha. Go get em’ girl!
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Thank you 🙂
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Congratulations on your leave, Ana! I bet you have a great idea of what you want to write, which will help keep your flow. You go!
Take care,
Jenn
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Thank you, Jenn 🙂
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Best of luck!! I can’t wait to hear about your adventures into publishing the sequels to Shizzle Inc.
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Blimey! You really are a planner, aren’t you? This looks brilliant, and congrats on wangling five months to write. Kudos.
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Thank you 🙂 that’s what I do at work, plans and strategies…
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Good luck! What an opportunity. 😁
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Thank you 🙂
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Thank you!
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I think you are incredibly brave and I’m equally envious that you have the opportunity to take a five-month leave and focus purely on writing. I’m not sure if I’m yet at the stage where I could take such a magnificent leap towards transitioning my career as you are. As always, I look forward to reading how this new literary adventure of yours unfolds.
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Thank you, I will keep you updated. To be honest, I can’t believe I’m doing it 🙂 I think I’ve just jumped into a cold pool, I just haven’t hit the water yet 🙂
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Ah, but that moment of impact, of immersion, is surely both terrifying and cathartic at the same time. There really is not better way than neck deep and swimming.
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I can’t wait:-)
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All the best for your sequels. You seem pretty pumped up for them and hope you can complete them in time.
Many thanks for following my blog which led me to your wonderful site.
God bless. 🙂
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Thank you 🙂 I will do my best!
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Ha! You seem a pretty determined young lady, Ana! I reckon no matter what targets you set yourself, you’d hit ’em! Go get it!
(I’d be happy to help with the reading / feedback process if you need me.)
🙂
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Thank you so much, Cee Tee 🙂
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An amazing way to push ourselves. Loved reading it. 🙂
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Thank you very much 🙂 have already written 1,500 words since! Great kick in the butt!
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You have just inspired a writer. Thanks for sharing this well-chalked-out plan.
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Thank you so much! I hope to continue inspiring you as I hunker down and deliver it 🙂
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So happy for you, Ana. What a fantastic opportunity!
I love that you’ve got it laid out in Project. I do the same thing. 😉
The plans look good to me. Aggressive but achievable.
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Thank you! And they’ve kicked my butt into gear – already written 1,500 words since!
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Just saw your review, thank you so much!!
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You’re welcome! Also, I’d love to be an early reader for #2 if the slots aren’t filled yet. I need to see if she can save the prince. 😉
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Hahaha! I hope you won’t be too disappointed 🙂 would love to have you on board! Still can’t believe how many male readers have liked it, I was hoping for approximately zero male audience…
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It didn’t really read as chic-lit to me. It was more humor and fish-out-of-water than any other restrictive category label. And the options you have going forward… Woah. I can see Isa (accidental) Queen of the Nile and Isa the (not so) super spy and Isa the (unusually effective) snake wrangler. You can take her anywhere and I’m keen to see where she’s going.
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Haha! You got one of them right! I won’t say which one, though 🙂
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I’m holding out for snake handler. 😉
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Hahaha! I’m not telling!
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Congratulations on your leave! And good luck on writing and publishing your sequels!
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Thank you, Liz!
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