Here we are, the final days of April. And although I didn't quite get as much done this month as I would have liked, I'm still on track for a lot of goals for the year as a whole. Granted, I need to step things up if I want to publish Kingmaker before my birthday. Overall, though, I'm doing better this year than I did last. That's what really matters to me in the end.
Currently, I am having a hard time writing this post as my allergies are dialing it up to 11 and I can't see out of my right eye at the moment.
So, please, bear with me.
Finishing the Move to Reedsy
I started setting up Kingmaker in Reedsy. It's a viable writing platform that works in conjunction with the Grammarly Chrome extension quite nicely. Plus, I'm able to set goals and track writing stats. It's the geek in me who loves the numbers that wants to really see what Reedsy can do to write a full-length novel.
Not to mention that the writing app is free.
I have videos planned for showing the process, but I doubt I'll use much of the other services of Reedsy. Well, at least not for this book. Part of publishing Kingmaker is to see how much of it I can do without spending money. Right now, I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do with the cover. I'm not sure I can do what I want without paying an artist.
For now, I'm just working on finishing the book. Once I have the first draft complete, I'll look closer at what I can do for a cover. I have some ideas, but not sure if I have adequate time to do what I want.
Getting All Three Blogs on a Regular Content Schedule
This last month, I was able to get WriterSanctuary.com back on a regular publishing schedule. Well, as regular as it can be when WordPress periodically misses scheduled postings. Luckily, there are several fixes for the problem.
At any rate, I've managed to get CrossingColorado.com ahead of schedule, just not as far ahead as I want. That just means I need to write an extra blog post sometime between now and next Wednesday.
Afterward, I'll get ColoradoPlays.com a week ahead. I should be able to get all three blogs going before the end of May.
All I would have to do at that point is just make sure I keep those schedules. This has actually been quite a stress-reliever since I don't have to push to get a post out on the day it needs one published. So, if a topic takes a bit longer than what I have scheduled in Asana, I can come back to it throughout the week to finish.
The point of getting the blogs back on a regular publishing schedule is to see how much of an impact consistency makes on Google. I'm keeping track of the data for the next six months to compare results. I've done something like this before but didn't keep track of the data to support my claim. This time, I'll have the screenshots to back it up.
Working on the YouTube Channels
Like the blogs, I would like to get the YouTube channels ahead of schedule. Now, the Sunday weight loss updates and the Monday night live streams won't be a week ahead because of the nature of the topics and formats. But I would like to get a week ahead for the other non-time-sensitive videos.
In case you're wondering, yes, each one of the above blogs has a YouTube channel. Though, they don't all have the same amount of video content. And they don't always take the same amount of time. For instance, it takes 20 minutes to edit and upload a game video, whereas it could take 2 to 6 hours for WriterSanctuary videos depending on the topic.
Regardless, I would like to have all of the channels producing a steady stream of content, even if it's just one video per week.
Improved Time Management
May is going to be the month for time management. My spreadsheet acts as a sort of time clock. I put in when I start a project and enter when I stop.
This month, I'd like to break February's record for time spent working on projects. This includes all client work, blogging, YouTube videos, and finishing Kingmaker.
When you look at all of the things I want to accomplish, it sounds like an awful lot. But if I focused on managing my time better, I could achieve all of these goals and then some.
At any rate, I would love to get myself on a regular schedule that I can maintain without getting sidetracked by life's randomness. I guess that's what happens when chaos follows you, which is funny considering how much of an introvert I am.
Prioritizing the Work that Pays
Part of what sets me back for the blogs, YouTube channels, and finishing my book is prioritizing client work. Sure, I'd love to sit back and blog all day. Unfortunately, I have a mortgage payment. This means I work on projects that pay before anything else.
As it should be.
This also means that the last couple of months have been somewhat slow for my personal projects as I've had to spend more time with my clients than usual. But like I said, they pay the bills.
So, if I don't meet May's goals, at least I know it'll be for a reasonable cause.
What Are Your Goals for May?
In reality, the most prominent goal for me is time management. If I can keep a solid flow of work going, I can meet all of the other goals with ease. Well, that is unless a client needs something special.
Still, I can accomplish a great deal if I focus on managing my day better. I guess we'll have to see.
What are your plans for the month?