2020 and Beyond

This will be a life update blog today. No book reviews or reviews of shows on Netflix. Just a state of the nation and what’s been going on with the minimal updates to the blog and no news on the next book.

First, I do want to disclose that the readers who have signed up for my monthly newsletter have been receiving monthly updates from me. Unlike this blog where I generally post reviews and writing tips, the newsletter is active and being continually updated with new information.

These updates are once a month, twice if I have any special events or news to share with you.

You can sign up here: https://www.thesilverninja/newsletter

What’s going on with the blog?

Those of you who frequent this blog may have noticed that I haven’t been updating it as much lately. I assure you that it hasn’t been abandoned but it has taken a back seat.

2019 has been a year of ups and downs for me. Although A Bitter Winter is continuing to get sales here and there, my personal life is taking me in all sorts of strange and unpredictable directions. As a result, I haven’t had much time to read books or binge watch shows.

Therefore, since I haven’t had time to review anything, I haven’t been able to update this blog with content. I could go back to writing story advice but I don’t think that’s what most readers are here for. If I’m wrong, shoot me an e-mail.

What’s going on with the books?

As of right now I am about 60-70% done with the rough draft of my next Silver Ninja novella. This rough draft was supposed to be completed at the end of October, but like I said, real life has interfered with my writing.

To put it bluntly, I have been between jobs. Although I get some freelance gigs here and there, it hasn’t been consistent enough. Also, since I am not a best selling author (yet) I could not justify writing full-time without a source of income.

So, I have been focusing on finding work and am currently taking some marketing courses in order to learn how to become a better marketer.

If the books ever reach a point where they can sustain my cost of living, I will commit to writing full-time. Until that day comes, I have to find full-time work.

Rough times = Less Writing

Like all things, whenever you experience tough times, your desire to do fun things dwindles. Or, your desire to do fun things exceeds what is healthy and you develop an addiction. The instability of my income has led me to become quite disheartened.

It is difficult to justify writing, especially when I know that I need about four more books before I could potentially start breaking even on what I’ve spent to create them.

Writing is already a draining and difficult process. I am constantly feeling mentally drained as I account for plot holes, lack of character development, and sticking to the theme of the novel.

When my home life becomes panic-inducing, it is very hard to find the desire to spend time on a hobby that doesn’t pay the bills.

It kills me when authors offer their wonderful, full-length books for 99cents. It devalues all the hard work we put into the novel and makes the reader believe we could make a living selling books for 99cents. This isn’t true and it will never be true.

Books are not supposed to be low-cost goods. Someone has spent years, struggling, fighting, writing, for you to have an escape into a wonderful world. A ticket to Disney World isn’t 99 cents, neither should a book.

What’s in store for 2020?

Despite the struggles I have been having, I have been told that 2020 is the year of rat. Unfortunately, due to my birthday, I am considered a rat. Although I dislike the creatures, I do have hopes that 2020 could be my year.

I’ll have 365 opportunities to make something happen, hopefully I can.

The first of these 365 opportunities is to complete the next Silver Ninja novella. This will be a shorter story about Cindy going up against the Mexican drug cartels in New York City. Once this story is complete, I hope I can dip my toes into the horror genre and write about ghosts and unholy rituals.

I strongly believe that you all have yet to see my best work. The Silver Ninja stories haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of the new world waiting to be unveiled. You also haven’t seen any of my secret projects nor the outlines for an incredible epic of a vampire in search of a cure for vampirism.

I, personally, am looking forward to 2020. I think it will be the year where everything gets back on track. For my sake, and the future of these stories, it has to get back on track.

I hope you all had a great holiday and I’ll see you in 2020!

-Wilmar

P.S.

Until February 8, 2020, readers can read A Bitter Winter for free. Click the book funnel link to find out how. https://dl.bookfunnel.com/gppck2iwgl

Wilmar Luna

Wilmar Luna

Couldn't be a superhero in real life so he decided to write his own. When he's not creating empowered female characters he can be found watching films, reading books, and playing lots of video games. Buy his books here: https://www.thesilverninja.com/purchase/