Navigating The Writing Path: Start to Finish - IC Publishing Summer Blog Tour
Have you ever wondered how you came to the place that you are right here, right now? Have you ever thought that you wanted to do something, express something and just didn’t know “how”?
Coming to a point in my life where I knew I wanted to make a change, to make a difference and do it with empowerment has been a real turning point for me. As I came to this process and path direction, I’ve been blessed to meet such amazing people who are sharing the same passion.
I truly believe people come into our lives for a reason. Analena Rebelo, Author, Speaker, Sales Representative (www.rebelorealestate.ca) is one of these people. Ever since we first met, I have come to know a woman who carries a sincere connection with everyone she meets.
I would like to thank Analena for inviting to join this literary journey – the IC Publishing Summer Blog Tour.
It is a pleasure to share with you a little bit on my writing process and journey.
How do you start your (writing) project?
Being a perfectionist in nature…(although I have gotten much better at this), I typically tend to find myself wanting to have a clear blueprint right from the beginning. It wasn’t until the past couple of years that I learned that writing is a process.
It’s an expressive nature that provides the opportunity to expand creativity outwards in written format.
It’s quite remarkable actually on how when you realize this, the actual writing becomes much easier and attainable in seeing the end result. My mentor and publisher has taught me “Get it down, then get it right” and I pass this forward to you with your writing journey. Once you get it down, you can then work on the ‘getting it right’ aspect thereafter as your blueprint continues to evolve like a masterpiece painting.
How do you continue your writing project?
Setting goals including dates is a key tool that has been helpful to me. Writing the goal down on a piece of paper stating for example: “I, Marybeth Haines set forth the intention and will have my manuscript for The Power of Pets – 7 Effective Tools To Heal From Pet Loss completed by January 31, 2014”.
Once I have declared this goal in written form, I look at the steps I need to take in order to make this happen. Instead of looking at the whole picture as sometimes this can become overwhelming, I actually chunk things down into steps and reverse engineer the process.
I include dates of completion for each step and add them into my calendar. I treat these dates the very same as I would an appointment or a client. This is priority to me and should be treated as such. If I do not treat it this way, guaranteed, life will find a way into making time challenges appear and the tasks at hand can easily be pushed to the side. By setting smart goals, attainment comes with more ease.
Do I ever get side tracked? Absolutely! It’s coming back to the goals, the dates and the tasks at hand that bring me back to clarity and back on track.
How do you finish your project?
As long as I keep on task with my scheduled goals and keep to the time that I have set aside to complete my book and all the steps in between, I become closer and closer to the end result. Remember the original goal I set at the very beginning, this same goal is now coming to fruition. As I complete this goal, I see the progress I have made and continue moving forward with momentum.
I visualize the completion of my book and what it would feel like? I’m kinesthetic by nature so ‘feeling’ works well for me. If you are visual, think about what holding your book in your hand would look like.
If you are auditory and learn best by what you hear, ask yourself what it would sound like when you hold that book in your hands? What would you be saying? Feel it, see it and hear it! Let that propel you forward as you complete your writing project.
Having completed and published my first book, I have not only experienced much success from it, I’ve also experience gratitude at its extreme and that is something that can be celebrated to its highest level!
Closing Thoughts
Keeping all this in mind, as I finished my book The Power of Pets, I held such an incredible sense of accomplishment and growth. I think you will find much gratification that comes out of writing your projects as well and the growth you experience through the completion of each one.
If you are thinking of writing or are currently writing, I encourage you to think of the lives you can reach with your powerful message. We all have many books inside us, and much wisdom to share.
I invite you to let your light shine and be the person you wish to be. Writing is a creative way to express many things…. healing, growth, education and more.
What’s your purpose? What’s inside you that is wishing to be expressed?
Remember, we are not only helping others with our writing journeys, we are also helping ourselves. A win-win in my books!
“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” ― Maya Angelou
Passing the Pen
Moving forward, I am honoured to introduce you to Dr. Andrea Maxim who will be sharing her writing experience, challenges, and tips on navigating the writing path from start to finish. Check out her links, and watch for her blog post on Wednesday, July 16th.
Dr. Maxim is a leading naturopathic doctor in Ontario, Canada and the creator of ‘The Maxim Movement’; a movement helping people move towards MAXIMizing their Digestion, MAXIMizing their Hormones, MAXIMizing their Weight Loss and of course MAXIMizing their Health! She is the author of Maximized Health – The New Intelligent System for Optimal Digestion and Hormones.
Website: http://www.themaximmovement.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/andreamaximnd
Empowering you forward,
Marybeth Haines
https://www.authormarybethhaines.com