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About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

TELL ME MORE

Publication, platform, promo: My reading and writing plans and aspirations for 2022

24/1/2022

20 Comments

 
As with embarking on a novel project, so with setting goals for the year ahead: there’s a sweet spot between restraining oneself within an inflexible structure and leaving it all to chance. Now I’m clearer about how novels work, I’ve become a carefree planner – or is that an organised pantser? Now I know – in fact, I’ve always known – I’ll get some stuff done to progress my authorial career, I’m happy to set myself a mix of concrete goals and airy-fairy aspirations each January and review where they’ve got me at the end of the year. So here’s an overview of where I hope I’m heading; I feel I have a better chance of achieving some of my aims since I discovered, two days into the New Year, that toxic positivity is a thing.
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Publication

I suppose it had to happen. Although when I said three years ago I needed to write a series, I meant it as a joke. But here I am with the follow-up to my third novel, Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home, on submission and a prequel novella, currently entitled The Cloffocks, halfway through. I aim to finish and self-publish the prequel, The Cloffocks, and to identify the publication route for the sequel, The Age of Staggered Breathing, by the middle of this year (i.e. find a publisher or plan to publish it myself). I also want to submit Snowflake, a crossover dystopian novel that’s been hanging around for a while.

I’ve been saying this for the last two years and, with a few fairly decent stories still homeless, it’s merely a matter of submitting and resubmitting until I get a yes, but I really really really will complete my century of short-story publications this year.

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Platform

I never planned to revamp my website last year; now I need to finish the renovations and transfer to a more professional address. I bought annegoodwin.co.uk at the tail end of the year but, a bit like the loft in my house, I’ve got so much stuff, I’ll need help to move it. It should be less tricky to switch my newsletter to the personal email address I acquired at the same time, so a quick win there.

Having attended some branding workshops through the Society of Authors last year, I’m committed to replacing my author bio with my brand story. Hopefully that will help me clarify the purpose of this blog in time to do something to mark my 1000th blog post at some point this year. Toxic positivity might be involved!

Joining another social media platform was NOT part of my plans for January, but here I am on TikTok! (When you're told it's the place to be and offered a free course, what can you do?)
@annegoodwinauthor What book inspired you to become a writer? #booktok #spfexpedition #firstvideo #newbie #books #wordnerd #literaryfiction ♬ original sound - Anne Goodwin

Promo

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I don’t know what is the exact relationship between reviews and sales, but everyone says they matter. So I have some strategies in mind to get 30 new Amazon reviews across my four published books. Here’s where things stood at the beginning of this year, and where I hope to be by the end:

Sugar and Snails Amazon = 46 Target = 60 I have a good chance of achieving this with 17 reviewers on a blog tour next month, although not everyone is willing or able to post on Amazon.

Underneath Amazon = 25 Target = 27

Becoming Someone Amazon = 4 Target = 10 It’s always more difficult to get readers for short story collections, although this sells reasonably well at book fairs. I might try a blog tour or a review site.

Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home Amazon = 32 Target = 40


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If all goes to plan with my novella, The Cloffocks, I want to achieve 200 downloads of the ebook by the end of the year.

I won’t set any targets for book fairs, podcasts, guest posts, author talks etc, but will keep alert to opportunities. Because it’s fun to collaborate with other authors, I’d also like to do a couple of group giveaways of signed copies but it can be expensive to do this internationally while it seems mean to exclude my followers/ supporters/subscribers from outside the UK.

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Looking forward to recording for Henry Hyde's podcast later this week.


Reading

As usual, I’ve set a Goodreads goal to read 100 books and hope to read many more, with a good percentage of authors of colour and translations.

Writing

It’s funny that I’ve put this last, since writing is at the heart of what I do here. But, other than finishing the prequel novella and maintaining my 99-word story habit, I’m not making any specific commitments. My fortnightly online critique group will ensure I don’t neglect the muse.

What are your plans and aspirations for 2022?
Have I missed anything important from mine?

I was saving this post for the first flash fiction challenge of 2022, anticipating the theme would be congruent. Here’s my contribution to the forthcoming collection on responses to the prompt the wish I made.
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Be careful what you wish for

I made a wish for an extra pair of hands. With arms to hang them from, like the goddess Durga. I’d battle aggressors with one set while consoling a child with the other. I’d cook and type simultaneously. I’d play the piano while scratching an itch.

You could say I should have thought it through, but why, when I don’t believe in magic? I should’ve realised no shirt, jumper, jacket, could accommodate my new anatomy. That I couldn’t get comfortable in bed. The waiting list for amputations stretches to infinity. Be careful what you wish for, it could backfire.
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.
20 Comments
Charli Mills
26/1/2022 01:15:02 am

Anne, with a burst of tragic optimism, I celebrate all your organized pantsing. What a wonderful milestone -- not the 1,000-post, but the coming into your own as an author, understanding the underpinnings of writing and publishing novels. You have a fine year ahead of you. And, thank you for your submission to the Collection at Carrot Ranch. It will publish Wednesday, February 2. I will link to this post then! Lovely 99-word story.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
28/1/2022 08:41:15 am

Thanks for your support, Charli, although I'm not sure about tragic optimism! I'm fine with positivity when its appropriately placed.

Reply
Norah Colvin
26/1/2022 10:01:00 am

Congratulations, Anne, on all your achievements and future successes. I have no doubt you will do as you plan this year. 1,000 blog posts, 100 stories and a foray into self-publishing. Even tik-tok. You seem to have all bases covered. You deserve every inch of success you make.

Reply
Norah Colvin
26/1/2022 10:54:32 am

Apologies. I forgot to comment on your wishful piece. Sometimes I think it could be useful to have a second set of hands, or even a clone who could do the things I don't want to do, leaving me to do the things I want to do. But how would we know which me is me?
Seems like, with that long line waiting on amputations, there are many with the same wish. If only we could see all the possible outcomes of our wishes.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
28/1/2022 08:44:49 am

Yeah, the hands alone might not be enough!

Anne Goodwin
28/1/2022 08:43:22 am

Thanks for your support, Norah. I'm fairly confident I'll get there, unless any adverse life events intrude.

Reply
D. Avery link
28/1/2022 08:28:56 pm

The narrator of your flash is not nearly as thoughtful as you are. And of course, who would expect a wish like that to come true. Beyond the clothing issues it would actually be dreadful to have en extra pair of arms, with twice the needles and numbness in the night, twice the creaky thick hands hanging there in the morning. But your wishes will come true, as you set goals and put plans into action.
I look forward to Matilda's next book and the one after that even if it takes place before the first two. 2022 is your year!

Reply
Anne Goodwin
29/1/2022 08:00:41 am

Oh and twice the coldness in winter (it always seems weird to me that my arms get cold). Yeah, I'm much more cautious.
Thanks for your faith in me.

Reply
Ellen Best link
2/2/2022 05:18:23 pm

I laughed at the thought of you sewing extra sleeves on. How odd it would be I began to wonder if you waved would the others follow suit. Great post Anne

Reply
Anne Goodwin
3/2/2022 04:45:35 pm

Thanks, Ellen, you've convinced me they'd have to go: all that extra sewing wouldn't work for me.

Reply
Irene Waters link
3/2/2022 04:22:30 am

Hi Anne, You have been very productive in the time I have been away. I see I have a bit of catching up to do. You have set yourself some great goals for this year and I can see you achieving them without needing an additional pair of arms. Your flash made me laugh - we do need to be careful what we wish for.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
3/2/2022 04:46:59 pm

Glad you liked it, Irene, and it's lovely to see you back in the blogosphere.

Reply
Colleen Chesebro link
3/2/2022 05:32:09 pm

Anne, I've often wished for an extra pair of hands, too! Goodness knows the cats don't help me around here. I enjoyed this piece. Looking forward to your new release. <3

Reply
Anne Goodwin
6/2/2022 05:02:01 pm

Ha, yes, lots of hands needed for herding cats, especially if they get extra paws.

Reply
Goldie link
4/2/2022 08:13:18 pm

<b>The first part was beautiful (the line about fighting and consoling - brilliant). The second made me chuckle.

While there is no clothing currently, maybe you could come up with everything for 4 arms and make a business out of it? It might help congenital twins that struggle with clothing.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
6/2/2022 05:04:00 pm

I think I'll leave the tailoring for others, but I have often wondered how conjoined twins manage their wardrobes.

Reply
Leanne link
5/2/2022 12:12:50 am

You could also make new clothes while writing another book.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
6/2/2022 05:05:26 pm

Good idea, although I'd need a bigger desk.

Reply
Complex Diet Drops link
31/5/2022 05:54:42 pm

HCG diet @ http://www.guideonproduct.com

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Biosource Complex Diet Drops link
31/5/2022 06:00:23 pm

weight loss @ http://www.supplementguidesg.net/

Reply



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    My latest novel, published May 2021
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    My debut novel shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize
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    My second novel published May 2017.
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    Short stories on the theme of identity published 2018
    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
    reviews: 8
    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

    2022 Reading Challenge
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    Annecdotist is the blogging persona of Anne Goodwin: 
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