How to have a successful writing career with a full-time job | Self-Publishing
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- Опубліковано 2 лип 2024
- Today I'm chatting about how to have a successful writing career as a self-published author while working a full-time job. I worked corporate for 9 years while writing until I left effective March 2020. I have zero regrets and I hope you found some little nuggets of helpful info in this video.
Appreciate y'all being a part of the family!
If you have any questions and would like to submit them to me for my Q&A Monday Series, please fill out this form: forms.gle/fVbKesmhhCcUDBeP7
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Looking forward to chatting with you in the comments section.
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//A B O U T M E//
Pen names: Lyra Parish & Kennedy Fox (we're an author duo!)
I've been in the indie scene since 2011. I published my first romance novel in 2014 (Weak for Him). Under Kennedy Fox, we've made USA Today 4 times since 2017. With Lyra Parish, I've made top 100 several times on Amazon. I unpublished my Lyra Parish backlist in 2020 with zero regrets.
You can watch that video here: bit.ly/3k8P6pa
I'm currently a co-host for the monthly youtube show Publishable (Self-publishing versus Traditional Publishing)
You can watch our videos on this playlist:
bit.ly/2ZvKNwq
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//J O I N T H E 1 0 K G R O U P //
I have a writing group on facebook where you can earn stickers each month if you write 10K in a day. You can choose your own today. It's a supportive community, that's also fun. If you're international, feel free to join! I've sent stickers to people all around the world since July 2019!
groups/write10kinaday
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//2020 R E L E A S E S C H E D U L E//
Always Mine - January 2020 - Released
Always Yours - February 2020 - Released
Catching the Cowboy - April 2020 - Released
The Two of Us - May 2020 - Released
Keeping You Away - July 2020 - Released
Needing You Close - August 2020 - Released
Wrangling the Cowboy - October 2020
The Best of Us - December 2020
//2 0 2 0 U P C O M I N G S I G N I N G S & T R A V E L//
Talkbooks Author Event - April 18, 2020 - Boston, MA - CANCELLED
Wild & Windy in the City - May 9, 2020 - Chicago, IL - CANCELLED
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//S O C I A L M E D I A//
→ instagram:
lyraparish
kennedyfoxbooks
→facebook:
/ lyraparishauthor
/ kennedyfoxbooks
→ twitter:
lyraparish
kennedyfoxbooks
→ email: lyraparish@gmail.com
#selfpublish #writingadvice #selfpublishing #writingtips #authortube
I wish I could be that disciplined. I’m trying to get there.
You'll get there!
This is totally where I am! Thanks for this vid! I have been testing different schedules and writing times while I have a full time job. Good thing is I work from home but also have 3 young kids and my wifey. A lot going on! My wife is a stay at home mom so I’m our only income source. But thanks for this it’s encouraging because my goal I’m going after is to replace my full time job with my publishing! I’m now 34,000 words into my first draft of my epic fantasy and first novel ever! Here we go! Im definitely an early morning writer but testing different things with sprints. Been learning so much as I go and I am now also learning to dictate to see if I can also increase my daily word count with it! Loving the vids I have also now seen of yours! Inspiring and thanks!
This is definitely the long term goal, to write full time. I work full time teaching at a university, which is great, because the hours are flexible and I can fit writing in. But I also have a chronic illness so I have to be mindful of that (no way I could stay up writing until 2am!). The writing part has been easy, because it doesn't feel like work. It's the marketing, sales, admin side of things that I have to set really realistic goals about how much I can accomplish because I'm learning everything as I go.
JeSuisJusteMoi oh absolutely. You have to do what’s best for you. I learned everything myself as well and it was a lot of research for years, and honestly still is. I think at some point, after you’ve published a handful of books, you’ll be able to create a checklist of marketing tasks that happen for every book. 🥰
Great tips. It's very challenging. I have a full time job, 2 kids in hockey, house to look after, husband and pets. Health condition. At this rate it will take me forever. I have a UA-cam channel and 8 short ebooks published. I really want to push out one of my novels. One day.
i work as an engineer by day--and write at lunch and at night. i get about 1500 words in. My bedtime is 9pm because i have to be at work at 530am.
Kimberly Mullins you’ve gotta do what’s best for you!
You're SO CLOSE to 5K!!
I really love videos like this. I like knowing the concrete hours, numbers, schedule, all that kind of stuff. I need to double down and utilize my powers of self-discipline to get this writing done! Thanks for the encouragement!
Meredith Phillips Writes you can do it! Just have to find a schedule that works for you! ❤️
I love the new set up! ♥️ I liked how it was but I would get a little distracted by the things in the background (I read everything, lol).
These were some good tips. From the time I was 17, I was always doing work and something else like school or a prep class or something so early on I had to figure out how to work in time to write. I was selfish with my writing time and had a schedule like yours for the most part. I used breaks and lunches to get in words and by 9 or 10 PM every night, I wrote until 1 or 2 AM (I worked 7 AM to 3 PM and would get home between that time and 6 PM depending on if I was working extra hours or a second job). It really is all about will and discipline when working full time. You have to be selfish about your writing time and stick to the schedule. I’m going to have to reevaluate my schedule now that my grandmother needs more help so this video came at the perfect time! I’m stoked for all the upcoming videos 🥳👐🏾
Teralyn Mitchell yay! Yes-you nailed it- being selfish with your writing time! It’s hard when you’re taking care of someone though. ❤️
@@TheCourtneyProject Oh man, yes it is! I’m basically on the night shift with my grandma and see keeps having accidents (falling) so now I have to stay up as late as I do and I have to check on her and help when she needs it. So I’m just trying to do as much as I can in 2 to 4 hour bursts and then help my grandma and go back to it after. It’s an adjustment and I’m still figuring out what works best
This was such a lovely video. You are so encouraging and kind. Thank you for the reassurance, that we're not behind or crazy for pursuing writing.
I love the new setup. I very much struggle with schedule. I work full time as an nurse and have a toddler and a teenager. It makes it about impossible to find a schedule. But I’m trying!
Thanks Karri! Oh man, right now I know it's especially hard for you considering your profession and having kids of different ages at home. You're doing the best you can and that's enough!
I’ve been longing to watch this since you posted it and I finally had time and honestly............. thank you so much. 😭 Sometimes I’m totally fine getting stuff done in what little free time I have, but other times it just gets really difficult and I become my own worst enemy. Instead of doing constructive things, I find myself huddled in bed and in a funk because I feel so trapped with my full-time job, and I’m stuck comparing myself to those who don’t have to work full-time, or just sitting in a jealous rage like a bitter little goblin - all of which does nothing but make me feel even worse. But this video is exactly what I needed to hear, and I’m probably going to have to come back to it whenever I have these particular funks. You’re so candid and honest, but in a really uplifting way and it just makes me feel warm and fuzzy, and most importantly, motivated! 😂 But yeah, thank you!! 💖
Aww yay, that makes me happy. It’s hard to stay in your lane and compete with yourself but if you do, you’ll eventually make your literary dreams come true...whatever they may be!
I love that setup, and really loving all these videos! You're levelling up here!
Joey Paul thanks so much! Appreciate it!
Loved this video. Thank you for sharing your story and processes! It is super helpful to hear.
Thank you! So glad you’ve found it helpful!
Love the new set up, oh my goodness! Can’t wait for more videos!🧡
Thanks so much! :)
I am addicted to your vids and your Writer Journey! Thx for sharing all the knowledge with us
Aww, thank you so much! Means a lot!
You and I have such a similar background. I really miss working with a theatre company.
Me too!!! It was a lot of fun when people weren’t being drama queens. 😂
Thank you so much!! This video was helpful on many levels.
You’re welcome! ❤️❤️❤️
Hearing your story and tips is so inspiring & motivating! You have a new subscriber!! Keep it going! xoxo
Thank you so much! Means a lot! ❤️
Loved this video! I really like the idea of going by chapter goals, I think that would really suit me with plotting too.
I hope it helps! It changed my life!
Thank you for sharing. I'm living the work/writer/authortube life and it is soooooo exhausting. Going to give your 9-12 schedule a go and see what happens. Everyone in my house is usually in bed by 10 at the latest during the week so it might just work as long as I don't fall asleep on my laptop ;)
Scarlett Kol Yay! I’d love to know how it goes for you!
You are such an inspiration. This video came at the right time for me, I was doing great with writing goals after work then September happened and I forgot what a schedule was. October im going to try the chapters thing instead of number goal to hopefully help. Thanks for the great tips 🙌
Camille Nicole yay!!! Let me know how it goes for you! It changed my life!
I love the setup. Very nice lens! I noticed the difference. I thought it was the lighting! Thank you for the tips ❤️
Lysa thanks so much!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Great video topic and honesty about what it takes to get the words done. It is not easy. Can you also do a video on your writing desk set up? Love that huge screen on your desk and the candle burning..looks cozy and great for writing!
Enid Marie Reynolds thanks so much! Yes, I need to do a desk tour! I’ve had several people ask! 🥰🥰🥰
Look at you with all your new angles and things! LOVING the changes, Courtney!! (You always had great content, but I do love the newness).
(Now that I'm at the end of the video [hahahaha] I can totally tell you have a new lens. I LOVE IT)
Aww yay!!! Thank you so much!!! ❤️❤️❤️
I’m working on getting my schedule straightened out. It’s definitely harder to carve out time when you have little kids, but if I could just stop pressing snooze on the alarm I’d be golden. 😜 Loved your tips though.
Katlin Karese oh absolutely! Even 30 minutes of super focused time a day can make a big difference. Not all hero’s wear capes!
Yasss my family always does a Cajun-Fried turkey 😻
Love your energy! I ended up working with time-slots: mo-we-fr 6-8 am and weeknights except we 8-10pm. We night is date-night, which is a must to keep things balanced... what I wanted to ask you is this: how did you start from point zero when you have a few books out, but no one knows about you yet? I know about the motions of hyping, great cover amzn ads etc etc, but all of that only works once the ball has started rolling (and you have some reviews and all that)...
Gaze Finder TV // Jelmer de Haan You have to keep publishing and marketing your backlist. The goal is to always find new readers, do promotions, reach out to bloggers. Make sure you have a marketing plan for each book, each release.
What kind of lens are you using now? I'm so excited to be gettin more videos from you!
It's a 30mm sigma, but now I'm all like OMG MY FACE IS HUGE in this video. lol. I'll probably go back to the other one.
lol Courtney said she's gonna be a real life youtuber lol. I think I need to start doing that. I've been trying to write 10000 words in a days for months now but my brain just shuts down when I try :( But maybe if I tell myself that today I just need to write 2 -3 chapters I'll be okay. Brains are weird.
Author Deidre - Ann Anderson brains are weird. Word count goals are debilitating for me. Chapters, easy. Huge word count goals... I just shut down.
Did it take a while to train yourself to sit down and write at that time every night?? Did you drink coffee before writing? Cause I think I'd enjoy writing at that time of night for a few hours before bed if it weren't for the sleepies lol
bytheBrooke I don’t think it did because when I was at the theater, I was staying there until 11pm each night. So it was moving one hobby to the other. I wasn’t called the nap queen for nothing. I’d sleep for an hour then get up and write. Coffee happened when I was on deadline but it got to a point where I had to stop drinking it past a certain time or I’d be up until 4AM. Made for a bad day at work and created a perpetual cycle of staying up way too late. But during deadline, all bets were off. LOL. I think if you’re extremely strict with your time, eventually it just becomes a habit. It’s hard a first because there were days when I’d rather be doing something else. But I knew what the end goal was, and that eventually I’d go to sleep with no alarm. It’s lots of give and takes. 🥰🥰🥰
Love the blurry background... so professional. What camera are you using?
I have a canon t7i with a 30mm lens. :)
@@TheCourtneyProject Great.... keep the good work... and the positive vibe!
Love the video.😍great advice
But is it me does it sound like someone snoring in the background?
It’s my lens trying to autofocus.
The Courtney Project 😂
I lack discipline not motivation
I posted the same video today. 😂
Great minds think alike! :)
Realistic goals and don't be hard on yourself?? Whats that even mean?? Lol.
Tuesday the Author 😊😊 it means to set goals that are attainable but if you somehow don’t get them accomplished don’t be an asshole to yourself. Often we’re our own worst enemy and being like that just isn’t helpful. Constantly making unrealistic goals just sets you up for failure, which then starts that cycle all over again.
Is that snoring in the background? Maybe a dog? Or am I crazy?
It’s my lens trying to autofocus. Super annoying!
Is it just me or is someone snoring in the background...??
It’s not snoring. It’s my camera lens readjusting focus.
@@TheCourtneyProject Ooh okay!! I thought maybe it was your cat ! :)