2018 Writing Resolutions: Small Steps = Big Results
In addition to achieving a 6-pack, paying off debt, and spending quality time with your fish, it’s crucial that creatives make specific goals for their projects. Most of us don’t have an editor begging for pages with a 6-figure book deal on the table, or an audience waiting on pins and needles to read our latest work. We run our own writing schedule and decide how long it should take for our inspiration to spill onto the page.
While many have listed “write more” as a 2018 resolution, this vague goal could leave us in front of the computer scratching our heads. It’s important to set a specific objective based on our needs, schedule, and resources so we’re moving forward with our projects (and craft) in the most efficient way possible. Here are steps to create direct action that will help make your resolution a reality.
Stay Consistent
More important than the amount written on the page is the consistency in which it is written. We’ve all had periods where the words flow like honey – the gods above have hand-delivered a beautiful story and told us exactly what to say and how to say it. But when the fairy dust settles, we’re often left staring at a page of manic words with no idea what to do with them.
Consistency is what separates the men from the boys. It’s the difference between a hobby and a profession and it’s how anything great is made. In “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield, he referenced Somerset Maughham’s response when asked if he wrote on a specific schedule or only when stuck by inspiration.
“I write only when inspiration strikes,” he replied. “Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.”
If you haven’t created a writing schedule or are struggling to maintain the one you have, start small. The act of sitting down and writing is a muscle – even before the writing begins – so you’ll want to train your body and mind on what that feels like. Every. Single. Day. Keep tweaking your process and recognize what works and what doesn’t. Talk to your colleagues and see what they do. Strive for consistency and water your project daily.
Stay Accountable
It takes a village to raise a child and it takes that same village to grow your baby – project that is. Don’t go at it alone. After you’ve identified what you want to accomplish, bring in backup. A motivated friend dedicated to your success, a professional coach, a family member that’s in your corner – whoever it is, make sure they are invested in you. Get these goals down on paper and give your buddy permission to challenge you. Are you doing enough? Are you too hard on yourself? Give this person the freedom to speak his or her mind (and make sure they’re willing to do it).
Create High-Stakes Deadlines
Raise the stakes on your project deadline by getting someone you admire involved – ideally a writer who is further along in their career and who has expressed an interest in your growth. Ask if they’ll read your work, then give them a specific date and time it will arrive in their inbox. This will not only have you hustle to complete your project, it will help ensure that you’ve done everything in your power to make it as good as it can be on your own. The people we admire are busy, so we want to make the most out of their notes. No one benefits from feedback that could have already been applied had the preparation been better.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
BAD NEWS: We don’t have full control over our project’s success. (There is no surefire solution to make your book a NY Times Best Seller.
Flying in with GOOD NEWS: We can give our book everything we have for the best possible chance of success.
Dreaming big is what makes America the Promised Land, but without a plan in place, it leaves us lying in bed staring at the ceiling. The goal to become a NY Times Best Seller isn’t a plan of action – it’s a dream. What tangible steps can you take toward the finish line?
If you want to turn your novel into a TV show, for example, the first step would be to reformat your book into a script. After that, you’ll need a pitch document, you could take meetings with people in that industry, then research other authors who have taken a similar path for inspiration. Constantly ask yourself: What ACTION can I take to get me there?
Make Adjustments
Be diligent, but not delusional. If what you’ve been doing hasn’t worked for an extended period of time (meaning there has been no progress), it’s time to change it up. Be very honest with yourself about your ability, the projects you’ve created, and the time and energy you’ve invested toward your goal. Now, more than ever, you must start thinking outside the box. Sometimes we get so stuck in the traditional way of doing things that we miss opportunities to go in through the backdoor.
Bring in outside support. Hire a coach or mentor to help you make positive adjustments. Experienced people who know the industry you’re in have the ability to see things that you couldn’t possibly see. Sometimes we need to take a few steps back before we can leap forward, but as long as you’re willing to learn and grow, you’ll find a way to get there.
David L. Hancock
Founder, Morgan James Publishing
