More Sex For 2012!

And lots of different types! I am currently working on a production schedule for 2012, because since I've discovered I go both ways - indie and traditional publishing - I need to make sure that I keep the confusion level to a minimum. I also really want to get those stories out that have been steaming inside of me; the characters and situations that I can't stop thinking about.

Whether you are strictly self-published, with an agent or publisher, or just starting to put your writing out there; a production schedule can be a valuable tool. I'm not referring to goals such as "send out 10 query letters a month", "attend at least one conference", "Revamp blog", (although those are all excellent goals), but specifically looking at story writing output. There are a couple of ways you can go about this.

If you are already in the middle of a series, that would be a great place to start. I have three parts to a six part series already self-published. The Bound by Pleasure series has been enjoying decent sales since they first began appearing on Amazon back in August. I already have the titles for three more, and a complete synopsis for part four. I already know about how long they take to write, I know the characters, and I have basic storylines. I can reasonably set up a production schedule that gives me self-imposed deadlines to have them completed, edited, formatted (with cover) and launched. So, if you have a series already started, a good 2012 goal to add to your production schedule would be your next series installment. Maybe beginning a series and getting the first one published - either by you, or through a publisher - would be an excellent addition to your schedule.

But I also plan on writing several other stories - in both full-length and short format. Take a look at what else you have already begun, either recently or maybe way back when you first started writing. Are there any thumb drives, old CD's or tattered writer notebooks with old ideas or scribblings that you forgot about? Bring those out and see if you have any works in progress that you are inspired to work on, and add those to your production schedule. For me, I have about three titles with the barest of outlines that I would like to pursue. There's a gay stepson romance, a vampire menage, and an angel/demon erotica that I began and feel have a lot of potential. I also have 26,000 words in my NaNoWriMo paranormal erotica effort about an evil djinn that I would like to have finished and polished by the end of 2012.

What about submission calls? Have you checked your favorite erotica/romance publishers lately to see what they have slated for 2012? Write down one to three calls that you are either inspired to write for, or that you feel you have something that could fit with it, and add those to your production schedule. I have one story that I first submitted back in March of 2011, that made its way to a couple anthology calls before it was picked up for publication for May 2012.

Once you have 2012 mapped out so that you know what your own personal writing deadlines are, you are ready to get busy creating that backlist. Even if what you write for one specific publisher/call/site doesn't work out, you will still have that as part of your writings, and it will be available for another home somewhere else, or if an editor, publisher or agent asks if you have anything else in the works. Regardless, you will have something to show for yourself as a writer at the end of 2012. Other goals can be layered on top of that as you see fit. But there's no point in promoting, platforming, querying or anything else - if you have nothing tangible to show for it.

More writing - and more great sex stories - await us all in 2012. So get busy!

*Quick note* No one submitted the correct answer for my giveaway, ;-( so I will post another contest soon with the same prize! Happy fantasizing everyone...