The celebrating is over. Now what are you going to do? Do you have your 2010 goals set? Will you finally start that novel, write that business book or pen your memoir?
Are you ready to move forward or is your dream still in a cloud without any real form or substance? Do you feel as removed from your ultimate goal as you have for the last one, two, ten or twenty years? Maybe it is time to finally act on it. Here are some ideas that may help:
• Determine your first step. Is it to outline a story for your novel, write a book proposal for your business book or dig out the notes and mementos representing your life story? Once you know what your first step should be, you have something concrete to do and you may actually follow through.
• Set a date. When will you take this first step? Get out your calendar and circle the date. How’s January 15, 2010?
• Determine your next step. It might be to write the first paragraph of your novel or the first chapter of your business book or to outline your memoir. What date will you start or complete this phase of your project? February 1?
• Step three might be completing a chapter or writing the introduction to your memoir. Make this a Valentine’s Day gift to yourself.
Wow! Look at you! You have a great start on your project. Just imagine what you could accomplish by this time next year if you stay on this schedule. Can you see your goal more clearly now? If not, maybe you need to make some changes in your life. I like to call them “changes,” you might consider them “sacrifices.” I don’t think there is a successful man or woman anywhere who did not sacrifice something in order to meet his or her most important goals.
You probably know some of the most common obstacles to success. What are they? For most people it is time, energy and establishing the right environment—one that is conducive to writing. I know how to overcome these obstacles. I’ve made my share of sacrifices (and still do) in order to continue my writing career and to complete the projects that are dear to me. I’m even learning how to work with a 3-year-old in the house one day a week. Most of my friends are retired now, so I’m often tempted to go play when I should be working. So how does one overcome these obstacles? Let’s consider the major, major problem for most—time. How can you make more time to write? By using it differently.
• Go to bed an hour later or get up an hour earlier and use that time to write.
• Turn down some of your invitations to go clubbing, etc. Write instead.
• Watch less TV.
• Stop working so much overtime at your job.
• Let your gardening, hobbies, etc. go for now. Use that time to write.
• Back away from club and association involvement for now.
• Curb your volunteering practices.
• Organize your time more effectively.
Some of us have time to write, we just don’t recognize it. We’ve developed habits that we don’t know how to break. That’s why I suggest making lists. Start by writing down what you do with your time day in and day out. Do this for a few days or even a week. Exactly how do you spend your time? What time do you get up in the morning? What is your routine? What are you doing at 9:a.m., during your lunch hour, at 5, 7, 8 in the evening? Once you see your time-use pattern, you may discover time slots when you could be writing instead of chatting with neighbors, for example, sending jokes to your email list, scouring the Internet for car parts, sitting at Starbucks with strangers, shopping, watching TV and so forth.
Now start taking charge of your time. Each evening, make a schedule and include time to write.
That’s enough nagging for today. Let me know if you are having any trouble with this plan and we’ll work together toward your success.
In the meantime, if you are serious about entering into the publishing industry, you MUST read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
Please, don’t make the mistakes that so many others make when they decide to become published. As I told someone yesterday, publishing is a serious and highly competitive business. In order to succeed, you must arm yourself with knowledge. That is the goal of my book.
I’m running two online courses this month. Read my most recent blog posts to learn more about them. These courses fill fast, so act now.