Friday, March 27, 2015

Celebrations and Do You Have Goals Mixed Together

Celebrate The Small Things and Do You Have Goals Mixed Together - The Insanity Edition

Many thanks to Lexa Cain, LG Keltner, Katie, Misha, and Beth for these two positive hops!

I realized that my goals might be slightly insane. In fact, I decided around March 10th, that I might tear out all my hair need to slow them down a bit for sanity. But here is a glimpse of the work I've been doing. (Beware, although I am celebrating, there's a bit of a vent in here, too.) Hit bold highlights if you need to run . . .


Dynamic Writing 1 ground me into my desk and gave me formatting for e-book nightmares. I struggled and decided to put out a "sample" book with the first 15 lessons . . . on a whim. Not sure it's the right move, but it's available via kindle for 99 cents. 



After looking at curriculum prices and noticing that most curricula don't come via e-book and that they usually cost over $25, I thought I might split Dynamic Writing 1 into two different e-books, for first semester and second semester. Then, I decided to "improve" a few of the lessons by changing some of the order around. Formatting nightmares ensued. I had first semester out for kindle and Smashwords for a few days and was happy that no copies sold because it didn't pass the Smashwords Epub check and I can't figure out why. Is it because it's in 2.0 spacing? I need at least the writing samples to be in 2.0 spacing because that's the required spacing for my students when I teach the class. It's either that or the numeric lists of questions and answers for the sentence variation practice problems. I don't really want to pay an exorbitant fee to get the formatting done, so currently I'm planning on finishing the paperback in late May, and if I can fix the stinking e-book formatting issues by then, I'll re-release the e-book version.

Dynamic Writing 1 contains 185 lessons in writing that cover journal practice writing, sentence variations practice, and a multiple draft process for essays, poetry, and short fiction. I've been using a "casual," private print version for a year now with one of my classes. It's basically all the notes that I had for class bound into a book. And, I have Dynamic Writing 2 and 3 drafted out that way as well. However, taking it to the "public" and formal level has had me banging my head on my desk. I think I should have avoided the idea of an e-book and just gone for a print format first.

Celebration point for that mess: Progress.

In my tiny, experimental, "crazy" writing, things have been going much better.


Ashes Burn Season 2: Ashes Stirred has been merrily airing three times a week for a few months now, and I just compiled it all into it's own little e-book. Today is release day for Ashes Burn Season 2: Ashes Stirred! The first five official (with a comment) visitors here, at the Ashes Burn blog and at the Wings of Light Publishing blog can get a free download via a Smashwords coupon, if so desired. It's available for 99 cents at:
Kindle
Nook
Smashwords
Kobo



And Ashes Burn Season One: Ashes Away is #perma-free since it is a strange experiment in tiny writing form.
Kindle
Nook
Smashwords
Kobo







Other writing goals for 2015 have received a paring down to size that will allow for some sanity. Dynamic Writing 2 and 3 may or may not be released this year. Champion's Destiny and some short stories are my next top priorities, along with surviving A to Z as a Commando Muffin. (Oh, and finishing at least the paperback of Dynamic Writing 1 before June. Agh.)

Exercise: I'm back to it! I can walk 1 mile, bike 30-40 minutes on an exercise bike without much tension on it, and I can do yoga.

Prayer: every day, all the time, as much as I can. Bible study: some days, yes. some days, less.

Relational: the invitational attitude idea kind of suffered when my kids were sick earlier this month and I was tearing my hair out over projects. We did invite friends to see a movie with us. Our niece came to dinner one night. And, I had some guests and spotlights here at my blog, including Shelly Sly, Elizabeth Seckman, Lori L. MacLaughlin, Emma L. Adams, and Nick Wilford. I'm planning to celebrate them again, along with a few others, for A to Z!

Write 1 Sub 1 goals: I wrote and subbed a flash fiction story to Brilliant Flash Fiction's photo prompt contest and . . . the results of that are below. (Happy dance)

Lexa Cain, awesome leader of the Celebrate the Small Things hop, requested some pics of the kayaking and canoeing race from last weekend, but the wind came up, the rain came down, and my girls both had a really rough day (falling in, broken rudder on the kayak, etc.) so I'm going to wait until I have a cheerier pic to show.

On a last, and unexpected, celebratory note:
I had a fun-to-write-but-quirky flash fiction story, "The Biggest Waterslide," short-listed at Brilliant Flash Fiction's last photo prompt contest. It's the seventh story on the page. I was in stinky armpit mode the day that I wrote it - hard to explain, unless you read it.

And I have a couple of tiny twitter stories up @7x20 this week: "Buzz" went live yesterday and "almost spring" will air later today.

What are you celebrating today? Are you staying sane in pursuit of your Dream Goals? 

And, if you can, please check out that story for free, or pick up a free copy of Ashes Burn Season One, or a 99 cent copy of Ashes Burn Season Two. :)







53 comments:

Rachna Chhabria said...

I am celebrating my decision not to fret too much about querying or getting published. After I have written my stories, things are really not in my control.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

I am celebrating: family coming to visit for a few days from the cold Northeast, and our house move coming up soon (I think. I hope!) I am looking forward to a new space, to new projects, but also for things to settle down somewhat so I can get back to real writing mode.

Congrats on all your progress and all your successes! :)

Natalie Aguirre said...

Glad you made progress, even with the frustration. And awesome how you're exercising. I am too and it feels great.

Misha Gerrick said...

You did awesome!

To stay sane, I just remind myself that actually finishing anything that I want to finish is awesome.

Tyrean Martinson said...

That's so true. It's hard to wait. Sometimes I check my inbox way too many times in a day while I'm waiting, and then I try to take a walk or work on the next project.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Those are great celebrations, Madeline! I hope you have a great visit and an easy move. :)

Tyrean Martinson said...

It does feel great, doesn't it? It makes such a difference!

Sarah Foster said...

Staying sane? Not even a little bit :)

Congrats on everything you've accomplished!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Very true. Somehow, I went from excited about putting together my first book a few years ago to expecting myself to be superwoman. I need to slow it down a bit.

Tyrean Martinson said...

I'm glad I have good company, Sarah!

And thank you!

Heather R. Holden said...

Ack, sorry about all the issues you've been experiencing when it comes to ebook formatting. What a nightmare!

How exciting about your flash fiction piece being shortlisted, though! I just checked it out, and it was great! :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm exhausted reading all that!
Sorry about the formatting challenges. But congratulations on the new books.
The idea of sanity will go right out the window for me next week...

Anonymous said...

I know that head-banging, hair-pulling feeling well. I hope you get the e-book issues straightened out. Congrats on your other progress! Yay for exercising! And congrats on your flash fiction story! I want to know what happened afterward!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Heather! :)

Tyrean Martinson said...

I can imagine it will, Alex. . .

Tyrean Martinson said...

Glad to know I'm not alone, Lori! And thank you! I have Jeanine in another story that I just haven't sold yet . . . and there are aliens involved.

Suzanne Furness said...

Such a lot going on! Good to hear you are getting back into the exercising though. I am celebrating my daughter being home from university for a couple weeks.

Shah Wharton said...

My only exercise lately is walking my big furry fella. No, not my husband, the dog. :) As for what you have going on... Phew. Try to add 'take a break' in there too.

shahwharton.com

Luanne G. Smith said...

I'm exhausted just reading that. You've got lots to be proud of there. And yay on the exercise! I firmly believe it pays big dividends in old age, especially for us sit-around writer types. :)

TheCyborgMom said...

You sound very busy! Progress indeed! Enjoy your weekend!

Morgan said...

Great job with the exercise, Tyrean! And staying sane???? Haaaaa… I suppose more so than normal… ;-)

cheerfuloptimistic said...

Here's hoping you find the time and patience to do everything on your list.

Unknown said...

I'm sorry to hear your girls had a rough day, falling in and broken rudder! Yuck! I wish them better luck next time. I'm also sorry to hear about the format troubles. Double yuck! But at least you're getting somewhere and good for you with the exercise, subbing the fiction, and readjusting goals. Good luck with everything!

Christine Rains said...

Sorry to hear about your format troubles and your poor girls. Yet you are making good progress. Have a wonderful weekend. :)

Beth said...

Wow! Sounds like you'be been busy. Good luck with everything.

Cathrina Constantine said...

Good luck with everything Tyrean. Have a nice weekend.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Family is wonderful! Glad your daughter is home for a few weeks!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Walking the dog is good. :)

Tyrean Martinson said...

I think it pays big dividends, too. :)

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Katie!

Tyrean Martinson said...

More than normal would be good. :)

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, M.R.R.!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Lexa!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Christine! I hope you have a good weekend, too!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Beth. I'm trying to slow down a bit for April . . . well, sort of.

Sharon Himsl said...

It sounds like you've had a lot of ups and downs. You definitely need that prayer, but I'm impressed with all you've tackled. Definitely worth celebrating. Hope the e-book formatting gets sorted out.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Sharon! Yes, I definitely need the prayer time. It's a must for every day life. :)

Nick Wilford said...

Such a lot going on! Hope you get the formatting sorted. It can be a pain.

Congrats on the contest result! I was actually longlisted in the same contest. I was going to email you when I saw your name, but here's good too. And it was nice of them to publish all the finalists!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Nick! I'll check out your story! I was long-listed on their last contest.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Nick! I'll check out your story! I was long-listed on their last contest.

Stephanie Faris said...

You make me feel like a slacker. You're SO busy!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Well, it comes and goes, and my house is currently . . . a mess.

Dixie@dcrelief said...

I know nothing about formatting, but congratulations on the Flash Fiction win!

Anonymous said...

I've had some minor issues with Smashwords lately; I don't know if they've tightened their formatting guidelines or what. Have you tried Direct2Digital? I might test them out later this year -- if they're still free at that point. Enjoyed your tweet tale and armpit tale. =) Keep on writing and subbing!

mshatch said...

Wow, you are busy!!! My only goal is to keep working on my current WIP and while it is slow going, it is going. And today I think I'll celebrate the sun, no wind, and better yet, no snow! I think spring is pushing through - finally.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Dixie!

Tyrean Martinson said...

I haven't tried Direct2Digital - in fact, I had no idea . . so I'll check them out and maybe test them out. :)
Thanks for your thoughts!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Yay for spring!!! And way to go with your WIP. I just am like the dog in UP, and I have a tendency to jump at every new idea, so I'm pushing myself to follow through on them.

Julia Thorley said...

Sometimes we DO need to pull out a few hairs, or kick and scream. It's good for you to let it all out. Sounds like you've got a handle on everything, as far as you can. Keep smiling. Om shanti!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Julia!

Anonymous said...

Hi, I'm visiting from Beth and Misha's 5 year goal blog-hop. Formatting sounds like a nightmare. Hope you work it out OK. And well done for what you've achieved so far.

Maurice Mitchell said...

Congrats on the book and biking progress Tyrean! It's all about small steps.

Deniz Bevan said...

185 lessons, wow! I like the idea of splitting into two e-pubs. Hope you get them sorted out soon!