Our January 4th IWSG question is - Do you have a word of the year? Is there one word that sums up what you need to work on or change in the coming year? What is your word for 2023? Why?
2023 in a nutshell comes down to one word . . .
I’ve had the majority of my paranormal and historical western titles reverted back to me after first releases in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. And they’ve just sat there in their files, doing nothing, earning nothing. Then, I heard a rousing speech by Alessandra Torre about putting that backlist back to work . . . and my 2023 ambitions took on a new mantra: Reissue!
I’m big on recycling. Waste not, want not. With the return of rights, those books could get another lease on literary life with shiny new cover packaging and additional content to entice a repurchase/reread! Thank goodness I’m a packrat and all my original files are still sitting in folders stuffed with media graphics, extra/deleted scenes, and other goodies to charm back original readers and hopefully, latch onto new ones. The bad news is the first three books of my paranormal series won’t be returned to me due to a poorly written contract (Who knew? I didn’t, which is why I’d gotten an agent who apparently didn’t do their homework!). The good news is those titles are available in e-format so new readers can still obtain them and jump right into the later books. A hard lesson learned.
And with reissues, another option arises . . . What about adding to the series? Additional books. Spinoffs. A collection of secondary character short stories. The options are . . . really exciting! My Virtual Assistant is already rolling up her sleeves in anticipation.
Be watching for BOUND BY MOONLIGHT, the first re-release my “By Moonlight” shapeshifter series this spring in keeping with my word for 2023: REISSUE!!
Now to find out what you’ll be doing . . .
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the January 4th posting of the IWSG will be Jemima Pett, Debs Carey, Kim Lajevardi, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and T. Powell Coltrin!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
Reissue sounds like the perfect word for you for 2023. It sounds like you have a lot of exciting projects planned.
ReplyDeleteI'm really excited about cashing in on the bird in the hand of backlist!! And deciding what to do with the new projects I have in the wings. Here's to 2023!!
DeleteYou should get those stories back out into the world! You worked hard on them. And now you can make them even better.
ReplyDeleteThat's the plan!! They (and me, too) are just gathering dust at the moment so get back to work it is!!
DeleteGood plan for 2023. Don't let that book sit there doing nothing, a comment by a friend of ours, is what got me into indie publishing waaaay back in 2011. Glad you're doing something with those old(er) titles. They should be earning their keep. :).
ReplyDeleteYeah, keep blaming me for that!
DeleteReissue sounds very exciting.
ReplyDelete"Without having a goal, it's difficult to score." Paul Arden
I hope 2023 will become everything you need it to be.
J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Reference& Speculative Fiction Author, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, and Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge
Exciting and a bit scary even after all these years. But I LOVE packaging and promoting titles almost as much as I love writing them!
DeleteReissue is a great word! Love the goals.
ReplyDeleteAlessandra's workshop was great - glad it inspired you! Best of luck!
I don't participate in a lot of workshops but hers was time very well spent!!
DeleteSounds wonderful! Glad those works will get back out there.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's so much fun seeing how much novels have changed since the early 2000's.
DeleteReissue!!! YES!!! Having a back log of material available is a great thing! It'll definitely keep you off the streets, so now when you're in social media, you'll be doing promos instead of scrolling. Love your plan!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I should be doing. Here's to putting it into action in 2023!!
DeleteGreat word. Yes! Get those books back in circulation. They want to be there, to be read and enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteYes! I'll do it for them!
DeleteGreat idea. Here's to those books getting a new lease of life.
ReplyDelete