Samhain Publishing

The start of a new decade gives one pause, doesn’t it?

When I look back over the years, the decade seems to be the defining container for major changes in my life: finding an identity away from the family, seeking social contacts, seeking adventure, starting my own family, launching a second career.

Because of these major shifts in life focus, each decade has its own landscape and identity. You can look back at the decades and know how they made you the person you are today.

But what about this new decade? How will this new decade define you – or you define it?

The last decade made me a published author of two medieval romantic suspense novels, MATILDA’S SONG and OUT OF THE DARK. This was the first time in my life I worked without getting a monthly paycheck. Always when I expended effort on a job, I’d know I would receive the reward in a weekly or bi-weekly or monthly paycheck. Not so with writing. It’s an aspect of being an author that’s not much talked about in classes.

We learn a lot about plots and dialog and pacing, but who ever gives a class on how to live for a decade without a salary if you want to do the thing you love?

Along with building a novel, I had to build a viable business structure. That included a credible business plan on how I would target audiences and promote my books. I had to find a bookkeeper and a tax preparer who knew how to set up accounting procedures for writers and who understood our specialized tax provisions.

I was my own employer. All those things done for me in the past, I now had to learn to do.

On top of that, once I did sell I had to market the books. Talk about throwing an introverted author into the cold, cold world.

Fortunately, I had a lot of experience behind the scenes with the public by being a volunteer in my community. Also, authors DO get warned about needing to market. I was able over the years to find excellent online classes to help me brand myself, find my message points, develop my elevator pitch, create a query letter and do live pitches with an agent or editor. With practice, one improves. I can now cold call on booksellers, give a talk to readers groups or be a panelist—and enjoy myself while doing it.

This last decade left me feeling like a newborn colt. I struggled to get my legs under me as a published author. It was a drawn-out, almost decade-long birth. I learned what to do—and what to watch out for—from writers who’d been there and done that. I learned not to totter, but to market with confidence.

So what challenges and opportunities will the new decade bring? It’s an unwritten slate before me as it is for you.

For certainty, I will get better and stronger at those things I’ve learned over the past ten years. But what new opportunities will open up? What will we make of our new decade?

Tell me your plans.

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