Writings Goals: 2016 Docket and Beyond

I've been writing in one form or another since 2000. I've mainly been blogging and writing articles about Japan and movies reviews.

It wasn't until 2012 that I wrote my first novel. It was a non-fiction work that I decided not to publish. I was so dissatisfied with it, I wrote another book immediately after to improve upon. It was slightly better. But only just. I didn't publish that one either. 

By 2014 I finally grew confident enough to publish my first non-fiction book. At that same time I was just finishing up work on my post apocalyptic zombie series BITTEN. It would be my fist non-fiction work.

By the end of the 2014 I signed with Winlock Press, an Imprint of Permuted who graciously snatched me up and re-published the first two installments of the BITTEN series. It was my first published work by a traditional publisher. 

Needless to say, ever since I started writing fiction I've decided that's what I want to do with the rest of my life. Be a full time writer. 

Back in 2014 I made the personal promise to myself to have completed at least 50 novels by the times I turn 50 years old. That's two and a half novels a year, at least.

If I can keep my current pace up, then I'd say I'll be ahead of schedule.

Since I began writing and publishing full steam ahead in 2014, as of this year, 2016, I have published 4 fiction and 5 non-fiction books. I have three more non-fiction ready and lined up for release in the next few months, including BITTEN 3 (the continuation of my zombie saga), Valandra The Winds of Time Cycle (my fist foray into YA fantasy lit), and Robotica (my first cyber punk sci-fi work).

That leaves the question as what I have planned for next year and beyond.

Well, in short, I have two more installments of The Winds of Time Cycle lined up, plus BITTEN 4 for later next year, and a sequel to my Tokyo's Lost Souls novella. The sequel will be called Tokyo's Lost Souls: The Girl Who was Accidentally Triggered. If you have read the first novella, you'll have a good idea of what the title implies.

Additionally, I have an unrelated zombie story in the work, Romeo & Juliet VS the Undead. Like the popular parody novel Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, I'll rewrite the Romeo & Juliet story to include a post apocalyptic setting with zombies. It'll be fun to write. I intend to do in in full Shakespearean verse. Time allowing.

After that (or perhaps before depending on where my mood takes me) I'll be completing my steampunk fairy tale Little Red Gauntlet. Originally it was a short story I wrote for an anthology which never got published and which I've decided to turn into a full length novel. 

It is exactly what it sounds like -- a take on the Little Red Riding Hood fable set in a steampunk fantasy world. 

I have plotted the story of BITTEN 5 and will get around to that as time allows. But for now, I'm going to focus on the above works for next year. BITTEN 5 may be a year off yet given the amount of work I have lined up for myself. 

I know it sounds like a lot. But it's a challenge I put to myself. And one I intend to keep.

If the amount of novels I've been able to publish this past couple of years, I think it's doable. After all, my motto is sleep less, write more.

I guess only time will tell if I'm successful in my endeavor.

Well, I better get back to it. Cheers! And stay tuned for more updates.

Sincerely,

​TRISTAN VICK