System
Imagine you have a story idea that’s truly riveting. It makes you all excited. You can see the world, the characters and you know what’s happening in a scene or two. You’re almost dancing with joy.
It’s an awesome feeling, one that I hope you know.
It’s the magic of beginning.
But very often, after putting in a day or two of writing and liking the story, I suddenly want be finished. That usually happens when I run out of the wonderful first ideas and need to come up with more.
Yes, I’m a pantser. (Someone who doesn’t plot in detail.) And I’m really, really impatient.
I also notice that after finishing a story. I want it out in the world immediately! Of course, there has to be editing and formatting and getting a cover, and everything else which takes time and thought. And I know this.
Impatience isn’t good for your writing business.
It leads to rushing a story to the market without planning or system. It leads to skimping on the editing. It leads to weak descriptions and bad timing.
In order to make the best out of the story you have written, you need to take the time to polish it. Make it shine. (Just don’t lose yourself in that process.)
And even if you outsource the formatting, you need to take the time to check the final files in detail. They don’t call it a proof for nothing.
You must spend time on crafting a good description or blurb that shows off your story well. Skipping this step will make your book invisible.
And it takes patience to do all this well.
So how do you manage to maintain patience to do the work?
By setting up systems and trusting the process.
First of all, you need to trust your writing process. It’s different for every writer, but once you find what works for you stick with it. Tweak it from time to time, to see if there’s room for improvement, but stick with it. Write every day and add to the story. Let it grow. If you outline, write it out and then follow it as much as you need to.
Set up a system for editing. Find beta readers who love regular work from you. Find an editor you click with. Find formatting help, and set dates for writing the descriptions. Choose a publishing date and set up a promotion schedule.
Again, figure out what works for you and stick with it. This will take out the guesswork from that part of the whole book creation process.
Systems bring order and structure to your process.
And once you can see how the whole process of writing, preparing and releasing a book really works for you, once you have that kind of system in place – impatience disappears.
Because the story is always moving into the right direction. And you always know what you have to do for your story.
Sounds overwhelming?
I understand that, especially if you haven’t gone through the process often. Here’s some tapping for it.
Even though I just want to write stories, and all this work to get it published feels so overwhelming, I’m a good writer, and I now choose to see it as part of the process.
Even though I just want my story to get out there and make me millions, I’m okay the way I am, and I now give myself permission to create a system for the whole process.
Even though I dream of writing a story and having it published without any pain or effort, I’m a good writer, and I now choose to see and value the whole process of creating a book that can sell.
Your Turn:
What part of the process is the hardest for you?
How does the idea of a system feel?
Can you imagine using a system at all?
And finally – what are you working on?
Write a comment and share the good stuff!
Image Source: F. Moebius
PS: Feeling unhappy or worried about something that is needed to make your book perfect is simply a sign that you are not familiar with it, or have made some bad experiences doing it. That often happens with editing. The good news is that struggling with such feelings isn’t necessary. It’s possible to make the entire process enjoyable.
I have used EFT to release lots of unpleasant memories and experiences, enabling my clients to enjoy what they are doing. It is absolutely possible to enjoy editing, formatting and writing blurbs. If that idea appeals to you, click HERE and send me an email. Together, we’ll figure out how I can support you best.
PPS: My newsletter contains a full tapping round to go with my blog posts, so you can start shifting your mindset. Sign up through the form on the upper right hand corner, and receive that tapping round plus occasional special offers. If you’re on a mobile, you can sign up through this link: Newsletter Sign-up.
