Being social aka do you want me to sharpen those bamboo to a point to shove under my fingernails?

I can be social. Sometimes, I even enjoy it. Especially in relation to writing and all its foibles. I'm there. But being social? On socials??? Every fucking day? 😕

In that wide world of TikTok, Insta, Threads, and FB? HAVING to post? 

meh

However, in lieu of me buying that fantastic weekly planner, my short ass filled in the days of the week with how many times I should post on which social. It's...daunting. 

I'm the one who will buck up to societal expectations. And this planner feels like one. So I need to get around that first. I want this to be another labor of love. Something I anticipate and enjoy doing. If I become bored, woe to my weekly planner. Woe, I tell ye.

It's having to come up with videos, I think, that is the most taxing. That's quite a bit of time for me. Making the graphics. Even using the ones I have. Setting the reel. Adding music. And to do that three times a week? 

When am I supposed to write? Which is priority one around here.

This, as all other things I've done as an author, will require time and patience to get into a rhythm. Maybe I can make all the reels on one day and load them on the specified day. Or something else will come to my not-quite-awake grey matter.

The Morrigan is going through edits. She will be available for ARCs the last week of June or possibly the first week of July. She will be available 8/1/26.

FFS. I'm off to figure out this incredibly annoying part of being an Indie Author/Publisher. 

Idiocy update

Ah, yes. When last I left you, I was on my way to Sam's. On a Saturday. In record-breaking heat. 😑

Imagine sweating through every pore you own whilst maneuvering in and out of five thousand people with shopping and flat carts. 

This sucked harder than I thought it would. Which is saying a fuck of a lot.

Misery. Pure misery. 

Came home, and the rest of the day is a blur. Don't want to point fingers, but this was ALL my fault.

Fridays, it is. FFS

Bought this AMAZING weekly planner. 

She is beautiful. Took her out of the plastic. 

You may cackle along with me.

Listen. I have a planner I put appts in and oftentimes check. 😬

But I needed something where I could write in my socials and when to post. Because ya girl is not on top of any of that. 

Oh. Is that the Insta icon? Guess I should post today. 

For another fuck's sake.

My ADHD ass does not have routines. I've attempted to do the same thing for a month and a half. STILL forget sometimes.

Antyway, I'm off to write on The Gordons and check to see if I want to alter any book covers. Do my little Canva check-in.

It's dreary and wonderful here. Hopefully a productive day.

The last week has worn me slick

Like. I see the appts in my planner. I acknowledge their existence. I gaze upon the ink I've spilled on different dates. But the doing is a large-ass commitment.

Told middle daughter I would take her to Sam's yesterday.

I. Forgot. 

Yeah. 

So guess who's going to Sam's today? In 96 degree heat? Instead of yesterday's 83?

Yes. My idiotic ass.

I kept thinking Thursday was Friday and Friday was Thursday, and I don't even remember Wednesday.
FFS

And it's mid-June? What the fuck of all fucks? Wasn't it March? For like two months? Now, it'll be August when I blink. Crazy shit.

Had to get that out there. Feel a bit better now.

Murphy the Great decided to wake up me up at 2:30 this morning and share my pillow. Cool beans. Frigid beans.

But...when Ginger Spice is comfy, he makes biscuits. Which will wake anybody out of a dead sleep, even when they're dreaming, and alert them of the issue. Thrice, this little shit got me. Mainly my neck. So sleep was spotty, at best.

Up at six, I fed the heathen at five, and straightaway to my office to put some shit in order. 

Because I thought I had all day, today, to focus on the writing. But I didn't. And guess what?

That worked out supremely well for me.

Inventoried my author copies. Checked on my new order. Made sure I had enough books, I think, for July 25th, August 1st, and August 15th.

Cleaned out my desk and one of my many bookshelves.

And who's merry ass was in the middle of all my papery goodness? 

Ah, yes. The Murph. 

I'll leave you with this picture of boy child.

While I get ready to leave for Sam's.

The Gordons

Have I told you I overextend myself? That, perhaps, I don't think things through far enough to actually realize my few (lmao) limitations?

Sure I have.

And nothing brings that shit home more than releasing a book every two months. Like, seriously, what the fuck was I thinking? Manic thoughts, most likely. And then there's my delightful way to book three events in less than a month, because why the fuck not? 🤯

I saw another author book like a dozen events between now and the end of the year. She was going to add a few more.

Travel expenses. Table expenses. Book expenses. That shit adds up quick. 

Toll on the body...more than.

After an event, it is sheer willpower that gets me to pack my stuff up and put it in the car. 

Because it's a necessity. And some authors have this down to an art. I'm kinda in-between. Have a system. Depends on how many books sold. 

Either either. 

What I've circumvented but didn't address, yet, is the fact I haven't written on The Gordons in about a week. I needed to restock my books for the upcoming events. Edit. Make reels. Put myself out there. 😑

When can I put myself back? 🤣

That's my cluster on a Thursday morning. Trying to find a balance when that's not my usual SOP. 

Let's all have a moment of silence for my peace and sanity, please.

Indie publishing

I've been doing this so long, sometimes I forget what starting out looks like. Several people on both Threads and Facebook who are going to write their first book ask questions. Lots of questions. Keep in mind I can forget a sentence while I'm speaking it, but here are some things I believe will help.

1. Everybody is against AI. Everybody loves AI. 

To be honest, it's a witch hunt out there right now. I believe AI can be used as research. I don't believe, however, it should be used to write a story. Any story. AI lacks soul. That's why it will never, ever, be able to produce art. Art needs passion. Art needs soul. AI lacks both.

2. YOU'RE it. Like...all of it. Some of us, with prior control issues, embrace this craziness. I like being the one in charge of writing, editing, creating a book cover, I loathe marketing--but who doesn't? Be prepared to wear every hat necessary to make this dream come true. There will be LOTS.

3. Even if you're multi-genre: Create a logo. Have a phrase or catch-line. Pick two or three colors you will use throughout your writing career (unless you decide to rebrand). Consistency is key. When people see these things over and over and over, they start to relate them to you.

4. USE the same name on all socials. I fucked this one right up. Probably because I started to do socials and then burnt myself the hell out. Needed to start fresh. 

5. Authors are in a big snit if someone has the same title as their current WIP. Okay. Yes. I usually check. But, I'm also open to using the title, especially if it's nothing like the other book with the same title. This is an option you need to think about. Something fresh? Something with the same name but completely different identity?

6. DO NOT mention celebrities, movies, or other things such as these by name. I'm incredibly careful not to do this unless said objects are in the public domain. A lot of people were excited that Sherlock fell into the public domain a few years back. Here's a link to go see what's PD now, and what will be PD. You can, however, make pointed references and many will read between the lines.

7. ISBNs. You can only buy them from Bowker Publishing Services. They are expensive. And you'll need one for each format you dive into i.e. paperback, digital, and audiobook. You CAN use Amazon's ISBN provider, but then they'll be the only seller for that book. 

8. Don't pay someone else for something you can do. I can't draw a straight line with a pencil. No joke. But I've played around enough on Canva (which I recommend), that I feel fairly comfortable. I'm still learning new shit. And there's a lot to learn. I had a huge curve to get around. But Canva premium is $15 a month. I went on a binge the other day and created four new reels for my books. The more you play, the less you'll pay.

9. ARC readers are hard to find. The world is inundated in books, unfortunately some are AI or put together so poorly, it's nearly inconceivable. But even the good ones are often looked over and dismissed. 

TAKE HEART. Keep at it. Keep pushing. Keep advocating. You can do this!

10. Prolific. I'm out here writing a book in a month and a half. I could not imagine piecing them out over the next six or seven years. I'd be so backed-up, I'd most likely lose my shit. I need to be able to publish as I'M ready. Not wait a year and a half for someone else.

Alrighty, guys! Going to pop off here and go look at see what I can do. 

Heavy med day so that may not be much. My eyes are already irritated. 

Book 6 Plot Series

Hi-ho! If that doesn't remind you of Kermit, I'm sorry. 

Antyway...I made five reels the other day. And I've learned I must do these in groups. It's easier for me to plug and go than reinvent the damn wheel every other month. All my arrows are the same size. Layouts I'm trying to make as similar as possible. And whilst doing that, I came up with the idea for my Book 6. Because of course I did. Chinese Mythology. I'm so excited! 

Joined threads. You can find me at crystal_inman_author. Had my first run-in with someone who tried to twist my words to suit their narrative. The bloom is now off the rose. Blockity block block. But I do enjoy the site as a whole. Lots of nice folks trying to live their lives. 

Going to be a hot bitch here today. I know it's summer, but my body is unamused. I leave the house once a week, if at all possible. And that's only because we need to eat. 😑

Started my day with this wonderful blog and will now write on "The Gordons." I've neglected the wee babe for days. 

Multicultural mythology is a trip

I use multicultural mythology in my Plot Twist series. There are quite a few parallels, and I love the challenge. I may G the "deity of rocks" one day and have eight different gods in varied parts of the world. Makes it different and interesting.

Having said that...

...I try to get it right. Came across an issue the other day with a character, Rade, who is actually the Slavic deity Radegast. I'm trying to figure out how to describe his ethnicity. Slovakian? Belgian? Chechens? 

So my short ass does a DEEP dive into this god's origins. I needed scuba gear.

Come to find out, he is primarily from a particular part of geography. This guy is a Czech from Czechia. 

*cue panic mode*

But I need to know these things. That's what I get for attempting to bring in a geographical deity without further research. I mean...I know ABOUT him, but I needed to know OF him.

Completely different.

Once again, saving sister/wives and brother/husbands for a significantly fucked-up discussion at a later date.