MM Hurley

Yes, we went from March to August without a post because that’s how chaotic my life is at times, especially this spring and summer.

I suppose I should start with a life recap.
April: New job kicked my booty. Spring break. Easter. Cool things with the kiddos: like PE with my person, field trips, and things like that. Date nights with friends and the hubs.
May: ALL THE THINGS! All of them. School ending with a kindergartener and an 8th grader, so there were ceremonies and lots of things. A karate tournament. Birthday stuffs.
June: The most magical vacation of all time. AKA: Trip to Disney with the whole family. Then recovery from that work. Because Disney is not a vacation; it’s work.
July: Mostly work and karate, nothing really out there or over the top. Eldest boy went to band camp. Several doctor appointments and all that sort of thing. Back to the library for the first time in forever.
August: Now we are here. Recap over.

So, August.
While we are already halfway through the month, it’s been a busy one. My kids are heading back to school soon. This means that while they are at school during the day and I work at night, there are many hours when I will have child-free time to work. In these few hours, there are many tasks that I will have to figure out how to tackle.

Now, with all that, these are my next steps, via a list.

Journey/Thoughts/Comments/Q&As
via a list

1. Edits: Yes. Edits have come a long way, but right now I don’t believe I can call what I’ve been doing edits. Because I’ve rewritten 76% of this story from the nano draft. While I had a clear trajectory and goal, the path to get there has been altered. I 1000% believe that it’s been a good change. But we are down to needing to adjust chapters 4 and 14. Once those are done (and I expect them to be done this month), I will print a clean copy and then begin self-edits while actively searching for a developmental editor. And possibly a line editor. And maybe a sugar daddy because editors are expensive.
2. Marketing: I’m trying. There is no good way for me to do this. I’m not a marketer. I keep making my TikToks because I hope. I actually sold 3 books in July, which is the most all year. I know it’s not feasible or real life, but I wish there was a magic button to press, and people would just start seeing my book. Everything says consistency is the key. But I don’t know how to get that consistency and keep a balance in my life. In my work life, it’s been suggested that I am overthinking things. Which, yes, by all definitions, is true. But that’s just how I operate. So I am going to overthink the marketing, at least for a bit longer. Then make a plan. Then disregard the plan. Then cross my fingers for a good outcome.
3. Plotting: I’m always plotting. Daily life. Stories. Revenge. Always plotting.
4. Vendor Setup: I have to contact a vendor I was supposed to meet with in the spring and get that set up. But I’ve lingered on that. So I might have squashed that opportunity. Other than that, I don’t have any vendor events planned for the future.
5. Next Steps: Keep writing the rest of book two. Plot and plan book three. Maybe toy with a different book I have and start looking at traditional publishing with that again.

My journey is all my own, and right now it’s just a slow, molasses-like journey.

@mm_hurley

keeping the draft in motion

♬ Baddest Queens – Loud Song

Thanks for following along with the journey.