Rise to Another Level in Book Writing
Productivity in book writing is pure gold. Authors think to themselves, “If I could just hit a good flow … ” or “If I could just get enough time… then I could finish my book.” Truth is while having a “good flow” or “more time” would be great, they are not necessary.
If you want to finish your book, it is easier than you think. You have to get extreme!
What does that mean? The answer is simple and free. Take what you already have available and accessible to you and do it, use it, rock it at a whole ‘notha level! Extreme baby!
Look at extreme sports: Skiing – two skis, two poles, and a slope. Extreme skiing – same two skis, same two poles, but throw in a higher, steeper slope and sensational air maneuvers.
Now before you call your life insurance carrier, extreme book writing is not going to require you to leap off your desk doing a double back bend … though that does sound interesting.
An extreme book writing weekend is great way to kick off a new book project, jump start a book, or finish a manuscript. Use it as many times as you need to complete your book writing goals!
Here’s how to achieve an extreme book writing weekend:
- Tell everyone you are writing a book.
Critical, critical step because interruptions are productivity killers. Inform close friends and family via a brief email a few days ahead of time that you will be unavailable during your writing time. Give them comfort by letting them know you will respond to calls, emails, and text messages first thing once the weekend is over. Maybe even set the “out of office” or “vacation” auto-responder on your voicemail and email services.
I know what you are thinking: Ugh, the guilt trips! Remind your loved ones and yourself how important finishing your book is to you. Worst case scenario: There will be pouts and tantrums, but this too shall pass.
The additional benefit of telling everyone you are writing a book is now those closest to you know you have a goal … and they’ll hold you to your goal. Peer pressure can be a great motivator. Use it. In fact, tell everyone, I mean all your Facebook friends and Twitter followers, you are writing a book. Before you go offline, set your status. Talk about accountability! - Decide how long you will write.Do not leave your extreme book writing weekend chance. Be smart and specific about the amount of time you will write. Commit to working 10, 12, or 14 or as many hours as you choose.
My day job is an average 8-hour shift. I spend more time watching the clock for lunch time and quitting time than I do being productive. Try stretching out and away from the average work day; this is extreme book writing after all. You may be surprised to find the day goes by faster.
- Rev up to recharge.
Often times I get in the zone, and I fatally wait until I am depleted before boosting my batteries again. Think about it: Do you wait until your cell phone is completely dead to plug it into your charger? Of course not, you see the signal warn you of a low percentage left, and you charge it up! Same with your brain and your physical body. Recognize if you are losing momentum or feeling discomfort and do not wait until it goes from bad to worse.
Have snacks and meals ready ahead of time so you can nourish yourself quickly and appropriately. Also, do not wait until your butt goes numb before you stand and stretch. Keep the blood pulsating through your body with small movements and stretches periodically. - Start really early–or really late.
Again, extreme book writing requires extreme behavior changes. By starting your book writing day really early or really late, you kick yourself out of the norm and trick yourself into a productive book writing weekend. Often times when I take long road trips, I leave at midnight and take the first shift of driving. For whatever reason time flies by, and next thing I know, I have driven about seven hours and get to enjoy an amazing sunrise! - Finish what you started.
Good enough is not good enough. Do not stop short of your goal. Yes, a third of the way through your weekend, you will see progress and be proud. But do not celebrate too early. Get motivated by your small accomplishments, but delay all-out gratification.If you do not write your book, it will not get written. Finishing is always better than starting. A short story: My husband ran his first half-marathon in November 2012. When he started the race, he was pumped and hyped to be achieving a goal. Adrenaline was high! But around the halfway point, he became a bit more fatigued. Still amped, but more pacing himself. When he got to the last quarter mile, he was neither excited or smiling. He was tired, achy, and ready to be done. But he did something in that last quarter mile that I want you to adapt into book writing. Once he saw the bright colors of the finish line, he re-energized and sped up his pace!
Lift up your eyes and pick up the pace. You can finish strong! You committed to doing an extreme book writing weekend so get your fingers to the gold line! Write, write, write. Do not allow lies to make you quit or stop short.
Extreme book writing is an excellent tool to knock you into the game or knock you out of the slumps. One thing is certain: You will go to another level! Have fun and be blessed!
Yours in book writing!
LaToya
Book Writing Coach
Say it Right, WRITE Now!
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