Where I post about the things that happened in my life. Sometimes they’re diary entries, sometimes works of non-fiction, sometime just random photographs.
Our not-so-beloved downstairs neighbours are moving out today, in the midst of the Brisbane lockdown. It’s a bizarre riot of sound compared to a very quiet Saturday, during which the cat slept on the laptop table for several hours and I engaged in a prolonged doomscroll following Australia’s current virus news, American post-election fall-out, and the rest of the world just basically figuring 2021 will roll on just like 2020.
Brain Jar Press has new books to announce, but I held off figuring that last week was a bit too busy to compete for attention. This proved a smart choice, given the way our book sales (rightly) tanked as all eyes turned towards the news.
But it’s also an inauspicious way to start my first week as a full-time publisher. There’s no real possibility of hitting the ground running this week, no easy tasks that could move the needle on sales and inch towards the kind of benchmarks I need to start hitting for the next eight months.
Time to construct a new to-do list, methinks, ’cause it’s all going to be hard stuff for the next little while.
On the 30th of November I celebrate three years since Brain Jar Press launched its first book, the Birdcage Heart & Other Strange Tales. I’d been so focused on the upending Brain Jar birthday I overlooked another milestone—on the 27th it’s been twelve years since I started writing this blog and charting my progress as a emerging science fiction writer.
It’s tempting to make noises about blogging less often than once did, and wish for the days when a blog post would inspire conversation and feedback, but the truth is I’ve already blogged more often in November 2020 than I did back in heyday of blogs back in 2008.
It’s got me thinking about recurring pattern in my life, where November rolls around and I focus my sights on changing up my approach to a particular aspect of my writing and publishing career. In the past it’s manifested as starting a blog and publishing company, but also starting year-long writing challenges, investing in courses on marketing or cover design as I try to fill gaps in my game, or applying for mentorship programs and other forms of training.
Basically, there’s a weird little confluence of the publishing industry slowing down a bit, paid work easing off for contractors or university sessional staff, and the traditional end-of-year freakout about the cost of the holidays that gets me asking how am I going to up my game next year and taking the first steps to do so.
This year is no exception. Behind the scenes, I’m doing two courses at the moment—one is all about managing a micro-business and setting up a business plan to guide your decision making in the first few years, the other is a deep dive into email marketing and newsletter systems. Both are forcing me to take a harder look at processes and decision than I’ve had to in a long time, which is a weird combination of challenging, nerve-wracking, and liberating.
I’ve never really been one for New Year Resolutions, but may be the result of getting it all in a month early. It may be time to start logging this as a pattern in my quarterly review each year, so I know that it’s coming and make more meaningful choices about how I’m going to make use of the lets-fix-this/up-my-game energy that kicks in this time of year.
Speaking of upping my game: Brain Jar Press is running a small sale on that collection to celebrate the third birthday of our first book. You can pick up a copy in print and ebook through the Brain Jar Press webstore at a massive 30 discount%, with free shipping inside Australia (and discounted shipping overseas via our we’ll-send-it-to-you-from-a-local-to-you -printer option)
I’m happy to sign and personalise copies upon request, since they’re largely being mailed from my living room. Just drop me a note at the checkout or via my email as you place your order, letting me know who to make it out too.
If you haven’t not seen any of the articles about an out-of-control train being caught by the fluke of a whale sculpture, I can heartily recommend it as a temporary respite from the stress of the world right now. Go check it out.
Personally, I’ve hit the point where I’ve removed all forms of social media and news from my phone, turning it into a very expensive ebook reader with my Ebook app positioned where my browser used to be. Every time I reach for the phone to fill a few minutes, I’m reminded to read instead of spending the next hour doomscrolling Twitter, The Guardian, or checking FiveThirtyEight.
If you’ve never actually gone through the process of removing web browsers and social media from your phone, this is a damned good week to try it.
