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Welcome

I started this blog in 2013 to share my reflections on reading, writing and psychology, along with my journey to become a published novelist.  I soon graduated to about twenty book reviews a month and a weekly 99-word story. Ten years later, I've transferred my writing / publication updates to my new website but will continue here with occasional reviews and flash fiction pieces, and maybe the odd personal post.

ANNE GOODWIN'S WRITING NEWS

My writing year

28/12/2017

4 Comments

 
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My second novel published and significant progress on the third. Dozens of 99-word stories and a few longer short stories released into the world. Well over 100 blog posts and three articles published in print magazines. Lots I haven’t managed to do this year, of course, but those omissions will ensure I’m not bored in 2018. For now I’m celebrating another satisfying writing year.
The highlight has to be the publication of my second novel, Underneath, with a fabulous launch party back in June as well as another milestone on my author journey with my first one star review. Fortunately that negative review doesn’t seem to have impacted on sales as, thanks to targeted advertising via my publisher, well over 1000 Kindle copies have been generated, and hopefully a significant percentage have been read.

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My own contribution to publicity was primarily through guest blog posts and a 29-stop blog tour. With 122 other posts on my own blog during 2017 (mostly reviews, but 40+ being articles), it’s not surprising that, halfway through the year, I began to wonder whether I was neglecting my fiction for other writing, although an audit of desk time suggested not.
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In consolation, I was delighted to have three non-fiction articles in print publications, especially as I got paid for two of them: the first, on using your own experience as a springboard for fiction, I featured on the blog in October; the second, on speech-recognition software, which has just appeared in The Author, I’ll post here sometime next year. (The third on clinical psychologists in fiction was geared towards a psychology audience, so might not make it to the blog.)
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With the accumulation of non-fiction articles – on topics ranging from publication and book promotion; writing technique; general well-being; and the interface between psychology and fiction – I decided it was time to give articles a web page or two of their own.

Satisfying as these achievements might be, fiction is my passion. Thanks to the Carrot Ranch prompts, I have written just over 50 99-word stories, often surprising myself in the process.

In addition, I’ve had ten
short stories of various lengths published this year in online literary magazines, bringing my overall total to 79 (and, yes, I am a little embarrassed to have counted them so carefully).

I’ve also edited about 30 other stories and signed a contract with Inspired Quill for publication – pending further editing – my first short story anthology next year.


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Meanwhile, I’m onto the fourth title of my current novel-length WIP (originally Closure, then Secrets and Lies, for a few months High Hopes, and now Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home). Fortunately, working on it intensively over the last six months, I’ve done more than change the title. It’s taken three years and five drafts to discover a workable structure and plot and I’m currently cutting as much as I can in preparation for begging people to read it and tell me what needs changing. I want this one to be my best!

Thanks, as ever, for your support over the year, both for my blog and my fiction. I’ll be back before midnight on the 31st with my reading roundup. Meanwhile, what have been your highlights of 2017?

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Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
4 Comments
Norah Colvin link
29/12/2017 06:10:44 am

Congratulations on a very successful year, Anne. How wonderful to see all your achievements listed here together. You are justifiably proud of them. I've missed a few of the articles and stories you've linked to, so I'll be coming back to check those out soon. I wish you continued success throughout 2018 and beyond. Looks like there is plenty to keep you busy. I'm certain your next book with its final title will be your best. How could it not? Happy 2018!

Reply
Annecdotist
29/12/2017 10:03:02 am

Thanks for your support, Norah. You help make it possible. Not sure if I’ve got my final title yet. My other two novels were much easier to name.

Reply
Charli Mills
1/1/2018 04:16:40 pm

That's a great writing year, Anne! I think writing for magazines is a good strategy to continue to build your author brand and credibility, as well as find your target audience. Congratulations on your sales, too! Funny thing, that one negative review -- it really does not impact sales. In fact I read an article last year about one star reviews compelling readers to buy out of curiosity. I'm more ambivalent about how much sway Amazon reviews truly have. I've purchased more books in 2017 because of your reviews. I also believe the average reader does not leave reviews. Writing articles where likely readers may discover your name, keeping your fiction fresh (50 flash fictions and short story publications count!), and targeted promotions work well. You had an excellent author year, Anne. Cheers to another in 2018!

Reply
Annecdotist
3/1/2018 05:39:22 pm

Thanks, Charli. I so agree the average reader doesn’t leave reviews, making it hard to decipher the impact as an author. I think Underneath has disappointed some readers who were looking for a more twisty turny suspense but some have commented that the range of ratings intrigues them. Personally I’m not convinced published articles lead people to my fiction, unless it’s a very specific topic that matches the book, which mine aren’t (yet). Apart from the time it takes (which can be quite significant), it’s no bad thing of course, but right now I’m concentrating on sharpening my fiction.
Looks like a great year ahead for you too now the ranch has really taken off and you’ll be publishing those anthologies. Look forward to more 99-word stories. Happy New Year!

Reply



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    Anne Goodwin's books on Goodreads
    Sugar and Snails Sugar and Snails
    reviews: 32
    ratings: 52 (avg rating 4.21)

    Underneath Underneath
    reviews: 24
    ratings: 60 (avg rating 3.17)

    Becoming Someone Becoming Someone
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    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.56)

    GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4 GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4
    reviews: 4
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.44)

    The Best of Fiction on the Web The Best of Fiction on the Web
    reviews: 3
    ratings: 3 (avg rating 4.67)

    2022 Reading Challenge

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    Annecdotal is where real life brushes up against the fictional.  
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    Annecdotist is the blogging persona of Anne Goodwin: 
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    slug-slayer, tramper of moors, 
    recovering psychologist, 
    struggling soprano, 
    author of three fiction books.

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