Last month, I wrote about my goals for 2015. However, those were just stated, good intentions. At this point, I want to begin sharing how I’m progressing with these goals. The effort is not to toot my own horn but, rather, to share my journey as an author for both readers and authors – especially newer authors regarding the latter.

One of my stated goals for the year was improvements to my website. As an author, a writing platform is essential in this digital age. Social media serves to bring readers your website and direct them to your content. As a consequence, my website is an effective tool to present myself to readers so they can get to know me. My blog exists to inform but also to present content that prospective readers come to trust.

I’ve come to understand that a website, much like the platform, is a growth project. It may experience construction followed by a lull and then more work. But always it needs to be in use.

One of the ways I want to grow this year is by improving this website visually. I want to use custom themes as well as possibly shift to self-hosting though my current needs are well-fulfilled. The custom themes will server to further brand my site and content that identifies my work with the fantasy genre. Getting there is an important milestone.

However, I currently lack funds to enact these major site changes and branding. In the meantime, I’m working instead to brand the site in a different way – with content. I’ve begun a new feature named “Fantasy Authors Unplugged” which presents interviews of other fantasy authors. With this and more genre-related content I’m identifying this site and my content with SF & F fiction.

I’m also sharing more of my journey to publication and growth as an author to inform readers of the process and encourage other authors. I’m also beginning to write more about other facets of development and hoping to submit guest posts on other sites and beginning to do some author interviews myself.

So, while I’m not yet able to directly address my final goal for this website I am working to further brand it for fantasy genre readers and authors. My content is slowly changing to favor that of more general writing topics and those of fantasy.

Have you made goals for the year? Have you taken steps to enact your goals? How? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my Contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

Clip art licensed from Microsoft Office.

Cover art provided on commission from Chris Rawlins