Change Will Do Me Good

I have been wrestling with my work lately. As I write the second book, I find myself distracted with the amount of writing I do on the blog, facebook, twitter, linked-in, Bebo, Myspace, email, column, etc., blah, blah blah. The truth is I don't have enough hours in the day to work, promote, sell, write, and still have enough time to enjoy my life anymore. Well, I do still enjoy my life, but even that takes precision planning and scheduling. I feel like it's time for a major change. I need to downsize what is repetitive and focus on the real work, which as an essayist, is my writing. So...
I have hatched a plan to simplify my work load. I told Michael what I planned to do and at first he balked a little bit, mostly because as my benefactor, he worries he is not able to finance my writing career enough. Trust me he pays out the nose (he will now take issue with the reference to noses). I know for him, he is concerned with me getting every opportunity available, but the truth is, we cannot always do what we want, can we?
In an effort to be completely honest, here's the thing...
My last book is published through an Amazon company. I love them, truly and plan to publish through them again, but it is "self publishing" which means instead of an advance from a publishing company, which would have to be paid back if the book didn't sell, I had to pay out $3000.00 for the work of publishing the book myself. For us that is a lot of payola. The idea is I fronted myself the money to publish, then had to sell the book and earn the money back. Well, I haven't exactly earned the money back. I am not crying poor, here, but I am a realistic person who has a budget to live on. While Michael would gladly shell out money again next year, betting on my ability to write, I am not able to see my way clear to doing that.
I absolutely do not want anyone to feel bad for me. I do everyday what I love doing, what I am passionate about, what I am obsessed with. Doing work that you love is everything, and I believe I will find my way to eventually earning a living at this. I have reinvented myself at a time in my life when others are watching their careers wind down to retirement. I have been REALLY lucky.
O.K., so that is the back story of the money conundrum, here is the other issue; if I write and publish another book, I will be off-line for months, disappearing until the work is done, which in my case takes about a year. I can't reconcile leaving my blog, and all the social media stuff and the readers and friends I love so much for that length of time.
I am faced with a choice here. I have multiple things to consider, one is the world audience I now have here on this blog. I have readers in remote places on earth that may not have access to my book, even though it is for sale in India, the UK and here.
I have been caught up trying to think of a good solution for everybody, for months now. And by George, I think I've got it!
Starting JUNE 1, 2011, the name of this blog will change to the title of my new book. I will be writing the book in real time and posting it here. You, my darlings will literally be reading my chapters as I write them. Every week day (Monday-Friday) I will be publishing another section of a chapter of the book, here on the blog. I will be showing you everything I go through to get this done first, before my editor ever gets the chance to correct every wrong thing I have done. I write very stream of conscious, so you will see chapters that ultimately won't make the cut in the published book!
The economy is not supposed to clear up until 2014, trust me, I read everything money. To publish a book now, means taking the chance that people, readers I love would not be able to buy it. So, I think it is brilliant to let those who want to read it here for free.
I get to stream line my work load, keep my blog, write my book, be accessible online, and give my loyal readers my new book for free. How great is this?
The bottom line for me is a saying someone told me a long time ago, which ironically ends up in my new book, "Do what you love and the money will come."
Mark your calenders for June 1. It's going to be quite a journey. I can't wait to get started. This is the best idea I have had in a very long time. We will be doing this together, and what could be better than spending time with friends?
Lots of love and my new book coming at you!