Over dinner, a friend recently asked about my next book. After a fun plot discussion, he asked, “What’s next?” I had a plan, but when I told him, it sounded awful. So, I took a walk the next day to figure things out. Fast forward two more walks, a hike, and a bike ride. I now have a five-year plan and thought it would be amusing (therapy) to share.
I have three book series, and each has its own goal. The first is about an immortal woman who teaches a less-than-ideal person her technique. I have released two books, and a third is in editing. It should be out in October. (Yeah, yeah, yeah. October of what year?) I have a good (not great) outline for the fourth book and a concept for the fifth. “Proceed at steady speed.”
My second book series is romance/sci-fi about a man and woman who survived a cruise ship accident and get into all kinds of alien trouble. I have published one book, and the next one will be released soon. I have created a so-so outline for the third book and intend to start writing this summer. The problem is that the first book received lukewarm reviews. After some heartache, I came to a decision. Unless the reviews drastically improve, the third book will be the last of the series. This is my favorite storyline and the reason I decided to write. Major bummer.
My third book series is a classic spy novel with a twist. Instead of focusing on a single James Bond character, I take a realistic approach with multiple government agencies. It is my strongest seller, and the second book is about to go to my copy editor. I have a great (not excellent) outline for the third book, but I have hit a creativity wall for the fourth. My goal over the next year is to develop a solid outline for this fourth book and start writing at the beginning of the second year.
I have an excellent concept for a dystopian romance to replace my second book series. There is just one hiccup. My bonkers mind developed a fantastic beginning, part of a middle, and no end. This reminds me of the Underpants Gnomes in South Park.
Phase One: Collect underpants
Phase Two: ????
Phase Three: Profit
Over the next three years, I will develop a solid outline with ideas for the next two books in the series. This should be an achievable goal, but now I understand there is some urgency, and I will begin an outline this summer.
Over the past 20 years, I have thought about many short stories and would like to release them in a single book, but there are two problems. The plots, while different, all suffer from the same flaw. The main character solves problems while looking good. Readers will only tolerate so much of this. The second problem is that I have found the readers prefer short story books from established authors and would face an uphill marketing battle. This period of reflection allowed me to decide not to start this project until I develop better stories.
In my 20s, I spent many hours thinking about a terrific plot. It is a romance involving international banking but lacks drama, twists, and struggles. I thought this would be my next book series, but this reflection made me realize I cannot salvage the plot. So, I will no longer put any effort into this project.
I have developed a thoroughly vetted Star Trek plot, but there are significant issues. First, I cannot self-publish a book due to copyright issues with the franchise owner, Paramount. The second is that Star Trek novels have a tiny market. The third is that the two approved publishers (I am not aware of any others) only deal with select authors. The fourth is releasing a fan fiction book would deter my limited fans.
The fifth issue concerns the strict rules for creating Star Trek fiction. A writer must respect established canon, avoid main character alterations, be mindful of character personal relationships, use original plotlines, maintain internal consistency within the Star Trek universe, not introduce main character romances, not have intimate scenes, ensure the story aligns with the franchise core values and never invent or alter character backstories. Well, I did it. I developed a story that violates every rule. Yay!
The only option would be to release the book for free, but the project would require an editor and cover designer. That is a lot of money for a publicity stunt targeting a limited market.
Why am I still thinking about starting this project? It would be a lot of fun, and releasing an epic story for free could open new markets. I have decided to pursue this project, but it will be the last book I write, placing it far beyond my five-year plan.
My last goal is to develop a new book series. I enjoy writing romance, drama, and light science fiction, but I have covered these three genres. Space operas are wildly popular, but I do not gravitate toward this kind of story. Readers love crime drama, but the world is bad enough without me glorifying criminals.
Zombies, vampires, westerns, paranormal, horror, traditional romance, kid’s books, young adult, mystery, action, war, superhero, anti-hero, magic, humor, historical fiction, conspiracy, satire, or graphic novels? Mmm, not me.
I want to concentrate on thrillers and classic science fiction. The plot of Ready Player One and Enders Game falls into “teenager doing big things,” which I always found enjoyable. Thus, I will read more books in this genre to inspire myself. However, I may have an ace up my sleeve.
Two years ago, I had an astounding dream about teenagers jumping into each other’s minds. This was one of my most creative moments and is the perfect plot for a book. Of course, there must be a problem; otherwise, I would have dropped everything and written several books.
The plot suffers from the same Underpants Gnomes issue. My goal is to develop a solid outline by year four. Stay tuned.
That’s my five-year plan. I admit it is not bold, but I set goals and, more importantly, eliminated goals. Will I see my plan to fruition? Only time will tell.

You’re the best -Bill
January 09, 2025