Speculative.Work: A Science Fiction Author Diary

This episode is all about identifying the systems that help you produce consistent, quality work. From identifying where you can write, how and when you work best, to keeping track of projects and backing them up so you don't lose files over time. I talk about lessons I've learned over time, as well as some tips I've learned from other successful writers. Once you've got positive systems in place, how are you measuring your success or failures so you can look for places to improve? Is this neurotic? Maybe, but I spend a lot of time thinking about it, since I only have so much time to get my work done. Thanks for listening! Hope you have a great week writing, James

This list turned out to be longer than I expected. Discussed in this episode: 4thewords.com ProWritingAid OneDrive (Word/Excel) WriteTrack.Davidsgale.com Quickbooks Mailjet.com Adobe Creative Suite Audacity SparkoCam Youtube Studio Streamlabs Gadgets of Note: Onyx Boox Nova 2 (https://amzn.to/2Or2KJM) Freewrite Traveler (https://astrohaus.com/traveler/) Canon M50 (https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/refurbished-eos-m50-ef-m-15-45mm-f-35-63-is-stm-lens-kit-black) Thanks for listening!

I'm writing a million words this year, and there's a reason I'm talking about this goal so much, and I think you should do the same. This episode is about goal setting as a way to set priorities in your life and work, and how to identify your "big rocks" so the little rocks don't crowd them out. Sometimes you need to inspire yourself with a goal that pushes you to your limits, and you'll find that others are inspired as well. Livestreaming is still working very well, but the same rules are holding true for me: when I do the pre-work on the characters and chapter outlines, hitting my 4k a Day is easy. When I don't know what I want to write, I flounder. Mentioned in this episode: BHAG concept by Jim Collins (https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/bhag.html) Thanks for listening! James

I had some awesome word counts last week thanks to livestreaming in the morning, finished a book, launched a book with M.D. Cooper, and also had to make a hard decision about a job I would have liked, but would get in the way of my work. Without being overly negative, I respond to this article and point out where the author could focus on finding success in the current publishing landscape, and you can too. "Why No One Will Read Your Book" by Elle Griffin at the Writer's Collective. (https://writingcooperative.com/why-no-one-will-read-your-book-caa0e77ed5aa) Jeffrey H. Haskell's Youtube Channel and Watch Jeff Crash and Burn Live Stream Event, February 2nd at 0630 PST. Let's help him get to a hundred followers on Youtube so he can name his channel after me. Please fill out the Keystroke Medium listener survey: KeystrokeMedium.com/Survey You could win a copy of my new book The SF Novel Workbook: The Offline Guide to Getting Your Novel Done. Thanks for listening! James

The latest addition to the Keystroke Medium Empire is Marathon Author. James S. Aaron hosts this weekly author diary and podcast to share what he's learned about paying the bills as a full-time author. You can find out more about James here: https://jamesaaron.net/books This week is an intro show, as well as some thoughts on livestreaming and "Know, Like and Trust" in building your author brand. Check out my SF Novel Workbook at https://jamesaaron.net/sfworkbook. It's only $5. Thanks for listening!

Hello! We're in the second full week of 2021 already and it's time to assess how your goals are going and what tweaks you need to make. I talk about my own lessons learned and shifts I'm making in my working process, including trying out live streaming to keep my head in the game. Links: Keystroke Medium: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Keystrokemedium Word Millionaires: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WordMillionaires All the Words: https://www.facebook.com/groups/487038162154895 Vivid Cover Design: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vividcovers Write Track: https://writetrack.davidsgale.com 4theWords: https://4thewords.com (get 20 free crystals with this code: WESBB70639)

The retrospective episode you've been waiting for. When I ask myself what I learned in 2020, my first impulse is to start laughing. Sometimes you have to strike out into the hills, only to find out you ended where you started... but I learned a lot along the way, and I'm going into 21 with a good game plan and the experience to make it work. My big goal for 2021: 1 million words of fiction. If I make that happen, I'll be well on my way to bringing my income up where it needs to be to make this a sustainable career. That's 2740 words a day or 19,178 a week. Seems crazy in aggregate, but I can easily write a 1000 words an hour as long as I know the story I want to write. I bet you can too. I hope you're looking forward to 2021 as well. Thanks for listening, James

In this episode I talk about a few lessons I've learned this past year when it comes to making a living off your writing, the stresses involved, and how that can change your work. How do you create some breathing room so you don't feel trapped in a certain kind of work? What's the reality of writers who are working full-time? Do they have a spouse adding income to the budget as well, and how are they paying for health insurance? There are some misconceptions about the finances of the average full-time writer, and it's important to understand them if you're going to make a viable career out of writing. Mentioned in the podcast: SFF Con Panel on Podcasting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US3CzgAQpAQ  

It's all about starting over. We had a rough couple weeks here at the house, which made writing tougher than usual. This episode is about not beating yourself up about it, and finding how your personal workflow, er, works. It's only taken me a year to get close to understanding my own workflow. I've also been looking into some other income streams, and thinking about how getting out of the house might benefit my writing. Maybe I'm not an introvert after all. Check out Write Track as a really useful tool for planning your book projects: https://writetrack.davidsgale.com/ Thanks for listening!

After last week's discussion about motivation and finding my personal path forward, I decided to talk with an author coach. It was a great conversation and I'm going to give it a shot for six months. This show is about how I made that decision. Thanks for listening!

I've been struggling a bit with feeling motivated. Sprints have been helping a lot. Zoom meetings with a group of authors to keep each other motivated on the hour has been a huge help. But as I think through this, I'm wondering why I'm feeling this way, and if I'm actually internally or externally motivated. (Well, I know the answer.) Once you figure out where you look for your motivation, what methods can you use to keep yourself on track?

This episode is slightly all over the place as I get back into the swing of podcasting. Feeling scattered is something I talk about a bit, and how I'm working to use process to get my mind back in order and produce consistent work. I also took part in a new virtual Science Fiction and Fantasy Conference this weekend called SFFCon. Seth Godin interview with Tim Ferriss and his new book, The Practice. J. Thorn's new project: Revolution FI SFFCon: The Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention

Speculative Work is transitioning to Marathon Author! Why? Because "speculative" is hard to say when you're tired and tongue-tied. Topics in this episode include consistency and using Healthcare.gov. Check out the Healthcare enrollment episode of the Afford Anything Podcast for a really great breakdown of health insurance options on the ACA marketplace: https://affordanything.com/psa-thursday-the-affordable-care-act-with-tanja-hester/  

Admitting to major screw ups makes them less major, right? Digital hoarding is still hoarding. I think I actually do want to delete most of my email from 2004.  Thanks for listening! James jamesaaron.net/books

My Google Drive plan expired this week, and OneDrive is cheaper... so I've been doing a lot of thinking about how I'm backing up my data, how I organize my files, and if I really need to hang onto email from 2006. Other things mentioned this episode: Goliath by Matt Stollar How Long 'Til Black Future Month by N.K. Jemisin Thanks for listening! James  

Jumping between series is hard! I feel like a toddler being forced to eat broccoli. In order to get the engine running again, I have to find ways to keep pulling the cord, hoping it's going to start. I discuss some strategies I've been using to get my head back into a series after a long break.  Journaling might be getting in the way of my fiction. RPG for Authors: 4theWords.com (Apparently if you use this referral code, I get magic crystals or something: WESBB70639)   Secret Powers of the Author Mastermind by J. Thorn   Cover Your Book by R. Haskell   Goliath by Matt Stollar Patreon: patreon.com/jamesaaron

This is one of those apology episodes after a long hiatus.  This one is a little free form. I talk about where I've been and how my life has changed since the last episode. (Things are good.)  I talk about my new podcast project at ClassicScienceFiction.com I share a few of the lessons I've learned from working at home and what I needed to do to make that happen, then share my goals for the week. Thanks for listening!

You may have heard authors talking about co-writing... what is it? Is it right for you? How do you even find co-writing opportunities?  In this episode I talk about what I've learned from three years of co-writing with Mal Cooper in Aeon 14. Spoiler alert: it's been a great experience that has taught me a lot during this phase of my writing career.  However, there are pros and cons, like any business relationship. If there's anything I didn't cover, shoot me an email at james@jamesaaron.net Thanks for listening!

In this episode I talk about dinners with fans. Spoiler alert, they're great. They can help you build engagement, make your series' world more real, and create priceless experiences for your fans. If you're like me and your mind goes blank while talking, you might want to take some flash cards so you don't forget the name of your latest book. I also struggled with a bout of "comparisonitus" this week, where I found myself comparing my career in the last three years with other authors I know, wondering if I've made the right decisions, and choosing to focus on what's right for me... even if I haven't completely figured that out yet. Also, Google says podcasting is the new blogging, so get on that. Lol. Thanks for listening!

What do you do when the baby eats your work space? You prop your laptop on the dresser and record anyway. I'm back with a quick update, some notes on the current book, and some more big changes in my life that should mean positive things for my writing. I also talk a bit about writing on deadline and how I refine my outlining process as I write to make sure I'm always heading in the right direction and not wasting words. Thanks for listening!  

In this episode I talk about the resolution of my old business debt problem, a close reading of From Russia with Love by Ian Fleming and plotting my next book, The Spreading Fire. Episode 20! Thanks for listening and all your support.

In this episode I talk about a major setback I experienced recently, how it affected my writing, and how I am trying to continue to work through it.  I also talk about lessons learned from reading the slush pile for an SF/F publisher.  Thanks for listening!

This is a bit of personal episode but it touches on finding your true audience by expressing your authentic self. Once you find those true fans, and you're honest and open with them and serve them up the entertainment they love, I think you've got them for life. We recently went through a major transition in Aeon 14, and me with my writing partner. I was ready for fans to revolt but they've supported us in amazing ways. I can't express how much gratitude I've felt in the last month, and how inspired I've been to create meaningful, honest work. Also, sorry for the break!

I've been working on Eve of Destruction (kickass cover, right?) for six months now, which is like GRRM time in indie publishing. In the midst of grinding through edits, I've been working on several other hobby projects as well. While Steven Pressfield might call this resistance, it got me thinking about the benefits of allowing your mind to wander, absorb and learn from your hobbies, and how you can fold those skills into your writing. I'm a DIY nerd, so my hobbies are building things, but the points I talk about could easily apply to team sports, travel or any other hobby. Other notes: Create If Writing with Kirsten Oliphant Self Publishing Journeys by Paul Teague Deep Work by Cal Newport The Awkward Thoughts of Kamau Bell On Intelligence by Jeff Hawkins and Sandra Blakeslee AuthorLife by J Thorn Thanks for listening!

In this episode I talk about some changes in the SF short fiction market, new opportunities for short fiction in Kindle Unlimited anthologies, and how to push yourself to grow as an author by saying yes... but also having a plan so you don't get overwhelmed. Mentioned in this podcast: Tim Ferris Interviews Neal Gaiman Thanks for listening!  

In this episode, Josh Hayes jumps in for the first Speculative Work Interview. This wide-ranging conversation covers Josh's transition from a career in law enforcement to writing full-time, his philosophy about building teams like Keystroke Medium, and what he hopes to accomplish in this next exciting phase of his author career. Bio: Josh Hayes is the author of three novels: Terra Nova, Bloodlines and Wings of Redemption, co-written with Richard Fox, with publication in many anthologies, including Chris Kennedy's Four Horsemen Universe. Josh served six years in the Air Force before leaving for a second career in law enforcement. He recently left service as a police officer to write full time, and since then, his publishing company slash podcast slash community Keystroke Medium has gone into high gear, producing a massive amount of content from podcasts and events to anthologies. On top of all that, he's a husband and the father of four young children. For more information on Josh and his writing, please visit his webpage: www.joshhayeswriter.com Josh is also the co-host of Keystroke Medium, with Scott Moon, Ralph Kern and Chuck Manley For the best author interviews, news and craft discussion, visit www.keystrokemedium.com. Their live shows broadcast every Monday night at 8pm CST at www.youtube.com/c/keystrokemedium

Today I share the current list of podcasts I'm listening to and why they're worth your time. Mentioned in today's episode: American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan Calypso by David Sedaris Jeremy Fielding on YouTube Aeon 14 Podcast - Michael Cooper, me, Jen McDonnel, Lisa Richman, Amy Duboff, Andrew Dobell, Jenny Green Sentence to Paragraph with Darryll Lynne Evans and Molly Martin Joanna Penn's Creative Penn Podcast Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast - Lindsey Buroker, Joe Lallo, Jeff Poole Keystroke Medium: Scott Moon, Josh Hayes, Ralph Kern, Jon Evans, Devon Ford, Guy DeMarco, Chuck Manley Writer's Journey with Lauren Moore and Kalene Williams Sci-Fi Shenanigans How do you Write with Rachel Herron Create If Writing with Kristen Oliphant Sell More Books Show with Bryan Cohen and Jim Kukral The Career Author Podcast with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon Writer's Well with J Thorn and Rachel Herron Coode Street Podcast with Gary Wolfe and Jonathan Strahan Ground Up Show with Matt D'Avela Darknet Diaries with Jack Rhysider Akimbo with Seth Godin Rationally Writing - Alexander Wales and Daystar Eld Stark Reflections with Mark Lefebvre Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Show with James Blatch Awkward Author with Alyssa Grosso Self Publishing Journeys with Paul Teague Clarkesworld Audio Lightspeed Audio Thanks for listening!

Whoa now, what happens when you have a terrible couple of weeks where you don't meet your goals? Well, I try to figure that out. But I did sell a short story! Books discussed this episode:  The Books of Babel by Josiah Bancroft Free: The Future of a Radical Price by Chris Anderson American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard

In this episode I talk about what a sad sack I am because I finished a short story, was feeling good about myself, and then didn't write for a week. . . so the universe sent me a snow storm and a three day power outage so I could think about my sins... ...while not writing.  So I talk about getting back on the horse after a break. I also share some thoughts about what looked like successful author tables at the Portland Wizard Con event, and then some thoughts on the current Nebula Award dust-up and where I'm choosing to focus as an author, while also wishing the best for my friends caught up in all this.  Thanks for listening, and shoot me an email at james@jamesaaron.net with any thoughts or feedback.

In this episode I talk about how I take an old short story with bones that I like and update it for a new anthology market. I touch on the lessons I've learned about genre alignment since I wrote the story back in 2016 and how I address the various issues to make it fresh. And if the story doesn't get picked up by the new market? I've got other options as well. (I also lament the writing time I've lost to Far Cry 5, but I did blow up a lot of virtual stuff.)

In this episode I talk about places to find info on indie publishing, and how to vet the info you find. There's a tsunami out there, and things are changing all the time, so how do you determine what's relevant to your books?  Mentioned in this episode: AI Superpowers by Kai Fu Lee The Revolt of the Public by Martin Guri Kboards Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast The Career Author Podcast Creative Penn Podcast 20Booksto50k on Facebook Question: How do you sort through the chaos of info out there to find what works for you?

In this episode I talk about why you might want to pursue a traditional publishing deal, starting with short stories in magazines, (and SF has many opportunities to get published in magazines) or develop a following as an indie publisher. I think the main takeaway is that you don't have to choose one or the other. You're going to write more than one book in your career, and each new project is a new decision on the best path forward. I'm doing my best to understand how these markets are different, how readers consume them, and what the future might hold. Also, what does all this mean for the "field" of science fiction when established taste-makers don't seem to acknowledge that the indie market exists and is rapidly outpacing the traditional market? Mentioned in this episode: Blackfish City by Sam Miller AI Superpowers by Kai-Fu Lee Thanks for listening!

In this episode I riff off some thoughts Michael Sullivan posted in /r/fantasy on Reddit: "People are quick to note that traditional publishing doesn’t have a good track record with regards to innovation. But can’t the same be said about the traditionally published AUTHOR who keeps operating as they always have (signing contract after contract even though the pay is less and there are other avenues that produce more income)? This seems like dinosaur behavior to me."  (https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/afmkie/some_insights_on_author_income_in_the_wake_of_the/) I do my best not to rant here or specifically call people out. I'm talking about behaviors I've seen in writers as they try to navigate a very confusing time of transition in the publishing industry. One thing I forgot to mention is that having a clear idea of your goals as a writer will help you determine what path you want to take... but being open to all this change will help you recognize opportunities when they arise -- and they will.

Should you hire an accountant? Maybe not. I'm using one, but I talk about why and what questions you might ask yourself before making the decision. Resources mentioned in this episode: Revolt of the Public by Martin Gurri Blackfish City by Sam Miller Future of Violence Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Joe Solari's Youtube Channel Subscribe to my Youtube Channel so I can give it a name! (I have one subscriber... you could be number 2!) Thanks for listening.

In this episode I talk about some things I wish I had known when I first joined a critique group. Should I have joined an accountability or mastermind group instead? How do critique groups work and what are some common pitfalls you might need to look out for? Mentioned in this episode: Atomic Habits by James Clear Keystroke Medium Podcast Quick Sips Reviews If you'd take a second to subscribe to my youtube channel, you'll help me get to a 100 subs so I can set a custom URL, which would be great. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClaNJoAeDQoAY56qFOPo7SQ Thanks for listening! See you next week.

Everybody loves a goals show! Let's throw down the gauntlet for 2019 so I can look back and either be pleased with my progress or shed tears in my beer. I talk about production, health and financial goals for 2019, as well establishing a strong author brand. Mentioned in this podcast: Atomic Habits by James Clear Word Count Tracker (excel doc download) Thanks for listening!

Here's a reading from the Proteus Bridge (2018). This is the first chapter in the novel. (Warning, a very frustrated parrot drops an F-bomb.)

(from The Expanse, Season 2) Episode 004 - I take a look at my writing in 2018, accomplishments and changes. I wrote about 600k words, published five books, became an admin with 20Booksto50k and my daughter arrived. That's some stuff!  Books Mentioned in this episode: This is Marketing by Seth Godin The Revolt of the Public by Martin Gurri The Future of Violence by by Benjamin Wittes and Gabriella Blum The Inevitable by Kevin Kelly Perennial Seller by Ryan Holiday They Thought They Were Free by Milton Meyer The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman Numbercaste by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes

Episode 3 - In this episode I talk about some strategies I've used to not feel so overwhelmed when taking on a new project. I focus mostly on writing a novel, but these techniques apply to any project. As always, if you have any questions, shoot me an email at james@jamesaaron.net. Thanks for listening!

Episode 2 - A bit more on resistance, series plotting, character-based plots, using templates and learning from other genres. Books mentioned in the podcast: This is Marketing by Seth Godin The Inevitable by Kevin Kelly Writing the Break-Out Novel by Donald Maas

James S. Aaron reading from the latest Legends of the Sentience Wars book, Vesta Burning, available now on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited (https://amzn.to/2PbPMu4)

Episode 1 - Getting my feet wet, talking about creative resistance, getting a jump on the new year, accomplishments for November 2018 and goals for the next week. Full notes at Speculative.Work