Royalties and Writing - See What I Did There?

Heyeah!
Been awhile, let's jump right in.

I've recently received some respectable royalty checks from Amazon.com for sales from my book and short stories.  I'm no Joe Millionaire just yet, but it feels good to see some measurable monetary results.  Far more rewarding than those are the positive reviews and high compliments from friends, family, and acquaintances!  It is extremely motivating to have my book compared to this book or that book, and in some cases, to even have the reader like mine better!  It feels good, ok?  It is is nice to feel some validation for my many hours of literary labor.  The result of these minor successes is a renewed desire to continue writing.

I must say that my lofty goal of 750 words most days of the week for 2012 is quite difficult to achieve.  In fact, I'll admit that I haven't been completely consistent.  But I must add that having such a goal hanging over me has created a sense of accountability, and the result is that I have been writing!  I've written three short stories since January 1st, and have completed the first five chapters for Brenden Swift, Book 2!  Even partially achieving a goal is better than never setting goals in the first place.

Last thing to mention,  I met a fellow author over the weekend who has written multiple books,  who recently had an agent who was pretty big-time in the Hollywood scene, and who is also interested in self-publishing like me.  I'm expecting a call from him soon to discuss the ins and outs of self-publishing.  It was a cool experience.  If you write, I strongly suggest finding other authors out there who share the same dream as you do.  Meeting and talking with him was a bit like the Black Plague, but in a good way.  I think we infected each other with our aspirations to write, to get published, and then write some more.  It really helps when two can share their experiences.  After all, writers desire to be listened to.  Even those who never show their work to another soul.  They long to have their work recognized, though fear precludes them from any hope of achievement and self validation.