2013 Resolutions

YA writers and bloggers unite each week to share their thoughts on what it's like going indie in today's publishing world.

The dawning of a new year often brings on a bunch on new resolutions. Whether we follow them through or not, it feels good to set them. It makes us feel motivated, inspired and ready to start a new year with fresh enthusiasm.

We are making some changes to the Indie Carnival this year, which is really exciting. I'm so pumped about 2013. It's going to be a year of YA Indie awesomeness! Bring it on!

I have a few resolutions for this year. 

My writing goals are to:

Write and publish four books...

Unknown (Elements Trilogy #1 - June)
Unseen (Elements Trilogy #2 - September)
Unleashed (Elements Trilogy #3 - December)

Forbidden Waters (Mica and Lexy Series #2 - release date to be decided)

My marketing goals are to:
Launch my new website (currently under construction) - www.melissapearlauthor.com
Help promote other indie authors and work with each other to spread the word about our books
Increase my social media followings and build up my newsletter subscribers

My reading goals are to:
Read 12 books. I know that doesn't sound like many, but writing takes up most of my free time. I feel like a-book-a-month is attainable for me.

If you'd like to find out what the other indie goers have planned for this year, then you can check out their sites below.

And you can also check out the YA Author Club for the latest updates and news on what we're all up to.

1.	Laura A. H. Elliott	2.	Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3.	T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series	4.	Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga
5.	Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog	6.	K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
7.	Gwenn Wright, author of Filter	8.	Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.
9.	Ella James	10.	Maureen Murrish
11.	YA Sci Fi Author's Ramblings	12.	A Little Bit of R&R
13.	Melissa Pearl	14.	Terah Edun - YA Fantasy

It's A Balancing Act

I have a writing diary. It helps me stay organized. Since having kids, marshmallow brain has kicked in big time and if I don't write it down, I'll totally forget about it.

The problem I seem to be encountering is that my daily lists just keep getting longer and longer. Which poses the question, "When can I get some writing done?!?"

I'm finding the balance between marketing and writing a really hard one to master. I obviously need to market so that people can find out about my books... so that I can make this passion of mine a career. BUT I also need to write so that I can produce books for people to read!

How do I blend them?
How do I find that healthy mix?

I have tried not to spread myself too thin. Social media wise I use Facebook - I belong to about 8 different groups within that, Twitter, Goodreads, this blog and YAlicious (which I co-author with Brenda Howson). I also belong to Triberr and YA Lit Chat. I know I don't use all of these to their full potential. I do what I can, but it still takes up a lot of time. I don't really want to cut any of these out, but they do eat into my writing.

I have given myself the deadline of December to release Betwixt. This is going to be a challenge, but I feel up for it. In order for me to do that, I really have to make more time for writing.

So - I have decided that I am going to have two internet free days a week - my Monday and Wednesday. There will be the odd exception (eg: the Sampler Blog Tour coming up later this month), but hopefully this new strategy will give me a chance to use my son's nap times to write my little heart out.

How do you find balance?
Do you break up your time into segments?
What works for you?

Things To Look Out For

As the new year dawns we all do the inevitable and set ourselves some goals for 2012.

How many of us will keep them?
How many will set aside old goals for better ones as the year progresses?
How many of us will stick to our guns and achieve all we set out to do?

I'd love to be in the third category, but I cannot promise this. All I can promise is that I will put my energy into making as many goals as possible come to pass.

So - here are the things you can look out for from me this year...

- The third book in the Time Spirit Trilogy (Pure Blood) - check it out in February 2012!

- A new book trailer for Pure Blood

- New cover art for the paperback versions of the trilogy

- Paperback versions of the trilogy - in March, April & May

- A blog tour at the end of March - will share details closer to the time

- A new member joining me on my YAlicious blog - excitement!! Can't wait for you to meet her!

- Book & movie reviews, plus a bunch of cool blog posts celebrating YA fiction on YAlicious.blogspot.com

- Author interviews, guest posts and of course - giveaways!! on both this blog and YAlicious

- Hopefully very intelligent, insightful posts on this blog discussing all manner of things to do with writing and fiction

- I also have a super fantastic blog award to hand out - something I will be working on over the coming weeks

- And if the year goes according to plan - the first book in a brand new series will be coming out later in the year

So much to look forward to!

What goals have you set for yourself this year?
How many are a total MUST to achieve?

Can't wait to watch everyone's progress!