Refocusing and Readjusting

...and announcing a new story

It’s no secret at this point that I have had a rough couple of months. However, I am really feeling what I’ve got cooking at the moment. But, a lot of what has happened as of late has been necessary for me to find the proper spark and motivation again. I needed the adversity, the uncertainty, and honestly, the self-doubt, to find my way back. Through hardships and life’s awful bullshit, I try to find the silver lining… well, after sulking and being all “woe is me” for a bit. Although, battling depression and anxiety my entire life, I’ve had to find ways to adjust and refocus in order to survive.

This is no different, and since the purpose of this Substack is to be honest in chronicling the creative process of my stories and other projects, I feel like I need to put these things out there. Maybe they’ll help another writer or creative some day, who really knows. I’ve come to find out that I have helped and inspired others at different points in my life without realizing it until I was told about it later.

Anyway, I have a few things to discuss here about how I am refocusing and readjusting, moving forward.

As I stated over the last month or so, I was working on a short story for another publication, which is normally something I wouldn’t do. Well, now it will not be going into that publication. I actually prefer this, the more I think about it, because I’m just not super keen on having my work under the control, schedules, or limitations of other people. I’ve always been a lone wolf and want to control my own destiny and how my work is presented and released. Also, I release things in the order and timeframe that I do, because of how it all ties together to a larger narrative.

Because of that, this short story, which I planned to write eventually, anyway, will be in the next book, an anthology. However, I want to do something special for those who have supported me. So, I am going to release each of the five chapters of this short story here on a weekly basis. The first chapter will drop tomorrow, Tuesday, but the following four chapters will be released on Monday mornings over the four following weeks. It’s already written and good to go, and the two test readers I gave it to seemed to really love it.

Next, I need to focus a lot more on myself. I’ve taken on a lot in regards to helping and promoting other people. In fact, it legitimately monopolizes so much of my time on Wednesdays that it gets in the way of my own creative endeavors and honestly, disrupts my momentum, which I can’t afford. Especially, when I’m on a roll and have to take an entire day off to balance the real job and the weekly promo threads.

Additionally, the engagement with the weekly promo threads have fallen off a cliff. Also, it seems that for some people, it has become expected. I’ve even had some tell me how I should promote them. I have responded to that by excluding them in the past. However, it’s just time that I move on from it as a whole. I honestly thought that when I started doing this, others would follow suit and do their part to pick a day and help push other like-minded creators in their own way.

Now, that is not to take away from those who do indeed promote others. There are those who do, but it seems like it’s only a few of us, and frankly, it’s a lot of fucking work to orchestrate, manage, and pay attention to during those days. Especially, when engagement isn’t close to what it once was.

Also, I hold no ill will towards anyone I do engage with on a regular basis. We’re all cool, I just need to put my time and energy back into my work, fully. That doesn’t mean that I’m not going to like and retweet cool projects that catch my attention. And if you do have a new release or something coming out, DM me on Twitter and I’ll try and help you promote it. It’s just the Wednesday thing is probably over for the foreseeable future.

I should also state that this decision wasn’t something that just happened, it’s something I’ve thought about for a few months. I couldn’t get myself to do it because I didn’t want to let down the creators that are thankful for it and that need all the boosts they can get. Unfortunately, I have gotten to my breaking point with it and my own creative output has been suffering.

I’ve got to spend the free time I have away from the real job focusing on building my dreams, because frankly, even with support from my readers, I am the one that has to put in that work. Plus, satisfying my readers and fans has to be my priority more than worrying about how other creators might interpret me no longer promoting them at the level I have done for nearly a year.

Looking ahead, I also have to stop listening to others and stick to my own instincts. Every time I get sidetracked by a special request or suggestion, it also disrupts my momentum and side tracks me in a way that’s not beneficial. I always have a pretty clear plan and roadmap in my head. However, too often, I’ve allowed others to pull me away from it. I just need to stick to my own journey, because ultimately, I do know where I need to go and generally how to get there.

I also need to do what it is I want to do and not let naysayers dissuade me. I have side projects tied to the Barbarians of the Storm brand that I am formulating and putting into action. Some people who have found out about certain things tend to give their unsolicited opinions. Not to be a dick, but I don’t care. I know what I want to do, why I want to do it, and I am going to do it. What your personal preferences are for my brand might not be my vision and what I see for it. You can always create your own thing. And if the things I do fail, that’s on me. But at least I tried it, did it my way, stuck to my guns, and learned from it.

As I stated long ago, I started writing stories I wanted to read. I am going to continue to write stories I want to read and create other things I want to do for the brand as well. Yes, I am incredibly thankful for those who enjoy what I do and who support me. If you’ve kept the faith through five books and are still here, just stick with me and see what I have planned down the pipeline. Also, some of these things, if they work, will bring in readers from vastly different places. You can’t just cater to the same group again and again and expect to grow. You have to branch out and explore new avenues while staying true to your brand and your vision.

So, with all of that being said, I am also scaling back how much I am going to be on social media. I’ll still do my daily promo tweets for whatever is current with the Barbarians of the Storm stuff, and I’ll still post the most badass pulp fantasy art. However, my time on Twitter will be much more limited. I need to focus on my own shit and it’s just something else that gets in the way of that.

For now, I guess that’s it.