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Avoiding January

Here we are at another year and I’m ready for it!

“Well, you’re a month late it’s February not January.” I don’t know if anyone else is done with all the hype for every new year: the resolutions, the new goals and plans, and to-do lists. I can’t forget the new vision board. I’ve started to avoid it in my personal life.

Now before you shout me down and throw my own words and life back in my face, let me clarify what I mean.

When that clock hits midnight I’m all for it! I’ll shout and holler, “This is my best year yet!” And if there’s a word for the year I’m all over it. Like, it’s being made into a screensaver.

So, I’m not against starting the new year off right.

For me and my personal endeavors, whether it’s my health and fitness journey, self-development, dream-to-action plans, etc. I’ve started to do things a little bit different. Why? Because I don’t want to tie these goals and lifestyle changes to the New Year for them to be something that will fizzle out in three months because the new year is getting old!

I start in December or February! 2022 for example, I spent the time in December setting my course and deciding upon things and when January rolled around I was in my flow already.

This year I was packing and moving and unpacking (still unpacking and organizing) through December and January so February is my MOMENT OF CHANGE!

“I don’t care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don’t harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there, you’re never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants.” — Zig Ziglar

There’s a lot to do. Mentally, I get things refreshed and reorganized for myself by writing out the main points that I’m going to be SERIOUS about in this MOMENT.

For example, I’m serious about my sharing my books with people who are interested in them, the genres.

Then I ask myself, “What do I need to do now, learn now, watch now, etc.”

Then I set some goals: – find someone who has done what I’m starting out to do and learn from them. – follow on social media etc, subscribe to their newsletter, and start to act on their suggestions.

It’s not complicated, but for me, it is a tangible start in the right direction. I hope it can be for you too!

B.T. Gage

Feedback from a self-published author.

How did the Amazon self-published, paperback book “look and feel?”

I self-published my paperback Christian fiction novel this week and I’m impressed! The quality and feel of the book is so good. I showed it to a few people and asked if they could tell it was a self-published book and everyone said no. They’d expect to find it in a bookstore etc.

I went with 5×8 for the size, and cream pages with black ink, no color on the inside, and a full color cover with a gloss finish.

I had tested with a matt finish earlier in the year with my sample book, without the content. In itself the quality was great and the matt cover has that creamy feel to it. However, it didn’t quite ring-the-fiction-feel-bell! So I ordered gloss for my final choice and it most definitely did not disappoint. I was actually shocked at how professional my book looks!

I did format the manuscript according to the Amazon requirements and designed the cover myself in photoshop. I will talk about that process in another blog, if you’re interested. It’s definitely doable!

Marketing

It’s obviously all in the marketing! That’s what I’m discovering. You can have a marvelous book, capturing all that you, as a writer had floating around inside, yet if no-one ever sees it sitting on your Amazon shelf that book is destined to remain ‘for your eyes only’… what a disappointment that would be. An injustice really!

The message needs to get out there to those who want to hear it, or read it, and really they don’t know that yet but once they find it, they will know. Well, that is what we indie authors tell ourselves, and rightly so.

So my journey began in earnest, when I dusted out those treasures I had got at Christmas. Back then I was ready! Full of zeal and expectation, but somehow they ended up on the shelf as essays and designs and other such very important matters took up my time.

“No more settling.” I said, determined to use my God given gifts, talents and ability I pulled out one of the books, “Traffic Secrets” by Russell Brunson and along with my rather oversized notebook I began.

And so here I am, having worked halfway through I now have identified my dream customer and have the beginnings of my Dream 100 list. I paused to tidy up my website and even remember I have a blog (lol, it’s actually quite enjoyable now that I have something to write about), anyway I will keep you updated on my journey. I’m currently getting familiar with the #christianbooktok scene and already have a few book recommendations noted for myself so that’s a win!

We’re getting there! Till the next time.

B.T.

So this happened…

The other night, I couldn’t quite sleep, so I took my laptop and sat in the living room watching the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree.

I had been thinking of writing a Christmas novella, but wasn’t quite sure if I was ready for the time investment, it was a bit leate in the season, with Christmas pretty much next week. Then I started thinking about Ms Potts and how that there was something special about her. I began to write, and the simple short story poured forth.

I looked at the clock and it was 4am! The Christmas Visitation was complete, well this part of it anyway. It became more than a nice, Christmas story, rather it became a cry of love for people and a desire for them to meet with Jesus.

Ms Potts and her family did, and this gospel tract in the form of a short read, hopefully, will minister the salvation message to whomever reads it!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082R98XLQ Click the link to download your copy!

Not how I wanted to start

So, I thought my first blog would be about writing. How did I start? Why did I start? The ‘journey so far’ type of content, but it’s just not working out that way. And that’s fine with me.

I’m currently sitting in my car, at the Oral Roberts University parking lot, which looks out onto the statue of the praying hands. No, I’m not a student here, but hey, its a nice place to sit.

Talk about doing the impossible. This man built a university because God said to. He knew nothing about such things, but simply believed, and followed instructions, and worked with the people God brought along, and here it is today.

So, I’m sitting here looking through a wee notebook with different words and thoughts from God that I received over the years. I’ve been meditating and simply praying through and agreeing with some of these things.

I just found this entry from a years ago, and immediately thought, “Share it”… so enjoy this little tidbit of revelation that helped me out those years ago.

“The negative, painful, limiting thoughts will come and say to you, “How did I end up here?”

But that is the thing — the crucial point of reminder. You haven’t “ended up” anywhere.

This isn’t the end! You aren’t finished. God isn’t finished.

Enjoy! B.T.