Photo by Alvimann

Authors need author platforms. That’s how they sell books, especially for self-published, and that’s how they network and stay motivated and talk to other writers… well, the main benefit is to sell books.

But is it really necessary? Is that the best approach?

I haven’t been especially motivated to blog lately, mostly because I’ve been working on actual writing (and now have the Buffy and Angel series, but that’s neither here nor there). Then I start to worry – if I don’t work on my blog, I won’t get readers which means I can’t sell my first book when it’s finished.

Keep that in mind as you read the arguments going through my head.

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First Draft Revision on God Cursed

In 2011, I resolved to write at least 30 minutes every day. I hoped, by the end, I’d have… well, something. A proposal-ready book, a rough draft, pounds upon pounds of short stories. Okay, mostly a proposal-ready book.

Technically, I failed on that resolution. I didn’t write every day. I did, however, accomplish my goal in spirit!

See, I know I’d have a whole stack of rough draft or better novels if I’d just write continually. In the past, I’d go on a writing spree, lose interest, and quit for months on end. I didn’t improve because I didn’t practice and I had nothing to show for myself because I didn’t write. I felt terrible because I wasn’t a naturally brilliant writer. I had all these dreams — but where was the action? Where was the getting it done?

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I’ve ignored my blog since NaNoWriMo started, and I’ve got words to show for it. 51,400 words by the end of Friday the 25th, in fact. I was thinking of writing a blog post each week on my experience, but that apparently never happened.

However, I did learn four things about novel-writing in general.

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Photo by guiltyx

I always feel like I’m not achieving enough in life. I’m writing and hoping to publish, but I need to be published. I want to do this sport, or learn that, but I never get around to it, but I should. I don’t do enough of this, I don’t do enough of that.

I want to do so many things, but I never start or I’m always far behind because I didn’t start soon enough. I have a whole list of things I want to get done, but it takes time. If I had just one thing, I’d get farther ahead on my list. What exactly am I accomplishing?

Then a little while ago, while skimming TNW for work, I found this – Nerd Fitness: 20 Ways to Be Better At Life Today. 9 things to do to improve your health and 9 things to do to improve the rest of your life. The other two you’re supposed to come up with.

Typically I read these things and think, oh this is good. Then I never do that. I’m not alone in that either or these articles wouldn’t be so popular.

Then I realized, I’m actually on the right track. I could knock off things that lately, I’m getting into gear.

As their tagline says (which I absolutely adore!): “Level up your life, every single day.”

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Image by Castorp Republic

In my vast writing experience (ha), it is far easier to break a relationship apart than it is to build it. That’s kind of sad, isn’t it?

Let’s just look at my last draft, Dark Lords 1.5. In the original NaNoWriMo version, it started with Nevada and Nao falling in love (or, at least Nevada ). I thought the whole novel would take place at the school, leading up to Nao’s demise and Nevada’s descension.

That intention lasted a whole three days.

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