Tags
2012 goals, BDSM, career planning, erotic romance, erotica, Lolita Lopez, self publish bestseller, self publishing success, writing as a career
As a writer, the beginning of the year is a favorite time of year. It’s that whole clean slate thing. I always enjoy sitting down on the first or second of January with a blue pen and my new calendar to schedule my writing year. I make lists of all the short story markets I want to submit/sell to and what novellas and novels I want to write. There’s a little bit of daydreaming and pie-in-the-sky during all that, probably why I like it so much!
2011 was seriously a fabulous year for me on the career front. I took the plunge with self-publishing in May. I put up one original work (a longish hard BDSM short story) and a handful of previously published short stories. In October, Pound of Flesh, the original BDSM short, hit the erotica bestseller list on Amazon. I was floored. It stayed on the list from October through mid-December. It currently hops on and off the list, usually during the weekends when Kindle readers seem to want that dirty book fix.
I also had really good luck with a ménage novel that just blew my expectations out of the water. In October, I was offered a chance to write short stories for a new imprint that hasn’t yet been announced but should be soon. Oh, and I had an offer on a slightly dark and very gritty romantic suspense novel on New Year’s Eve!
Just looking at my already packed calendar, I can tell 2012 is going to be even better. It’s taken me a few years, but I’ve finally reached the point where writing isn’t just a moneymaking hobby but a source of real and steady income. More importantly, I’ve narrowed down what works for me and what my readers seem to enjoy the most. I want to keep writing stories that those readers will love.
That’s my big motivation this year: giving readers what they want. Without readers, I’d just be writing for myself. That’s cool and all, but I so enjoy connecting with readers via email and Twitter and Facebook. (Although, I really neglect my Facebook page. Must remedy that!) It’s nice to know my books are entertaining and enjoyed. Makes those long ass nights in front of my laptop so much easier!
So big year ahead. Lots of new books and short stories coming out of the Lolita Lopez factory. Here’s hoping readers enjoy them as much as I love writing them!
