Early to be early to rise and visualize, visualize, visualize
Being able to clearly visualize an outcome dramatically improves my chance of achieving that outcome. I had always thought that I had read the above quote somewhere, but darned if I can find it, so it’s mine. It’s appropriate for me right now. I woke up at 1:00 pretty darned excited and had trouble getting back to sleep. This happens to me on occasion, especially when I have caffeine too late in the afternoon the previous day. After trying and failing to go back to sleep for a while, I thought I would get up and write this.
I’m going to put together as clear a picture of the day as I can, in light of the fact that I am going to need a nap. Napping is doing something you know. It’s called rest. And rest is supremely important to recovery and growth.
Where was I? Ah, yes visualize. First, what are some important things that I want or need to do? It can’t always be about need. Sometimes you have to satisfy your wants.
One of the things I want accomplish today is to finish a comprehensive outline of the rough draft of my third novel, Aristocrasea. I am writing Aristocrasea differently than my other novels ReWire and ReKill. Did I mention that they were available on Amazon? Did I mention that if you click on the links you could read about them and then buy them?
I wrote ReWire and ReKill knowing where I was going with them. At least I thought I knew where I was going. With Aristocrasea, I sort of knew, but just went for it. Now, the rough draft, at 90K words, is just too big to keep in my head.
Hence the need for the outline. Hey, wait. Did I just discover that my want has actually become a need? Yep.
Is it reasonable to get this done as part of a day where I have also have some have-to’s? How long will the outline take? I am on page 210 of the rough draft. The draft ends on page 234. That is 24 pages to outline. Based on my previous experience, this is doable and will take two hours. Do I have two hours available in my day, based on my other needs? Let me think. If I rearrange some things, while still leaving time to work on my freestyle swimming stroke, finish this blog and format one of my books for print, this is doable.
First, I visualize where I will work on the outline. I think part of the work will be at my dining room table watching the American River. Being a social creature, I will also work on the outline at a coffee house. Temple, Naked Lounge or Tupelo-which coffee house shall it be? Hmmm? Since they all work, I will decide when I am in my car.
What time will I work on the outline? Since the outline is more necessary work than creative work, timing is not critical. If it were creative work I would work on when I am at my mental and emotional peak-first thing in the morning or after my post lunch nap.
Do I need any tools or additional resources? Nope.
Now, to visualize the actual finished product, which in this case, is an outline of a rough draft. The outline will be about 9,500 words. I am at around 8500 words now. Doable, especially since I cut and paste some of the key words and sentences.
Next, I visualize how I will feel when I complete the task. I am sure I will have mixed emotions when I look at the outline. I will probably think, What a hot mess! How in the f%^&K am I every going to finish this damn thing? This thinking will leave me feeling less than. And, I will probably think Damn! Great job Johnny! You are already 90K words into your third novel! Who would have thunk it?
This will leave me feeling elated. (Did I ever tell you that when I talk to myself, I call myself Johnny?) No? Well, that’s probably the subject of another blog.
What will be the impact of finishing the rough draft? Oh, there are many impacts. I will feel elated and a little overwhelmed. I will certainly be able to write much more effectively because of being able to refer to the outline instead of searching the whole freaking book trying to remember if I have already written something. I will know if finishing this novel by August, as I have promised, is doable.
That’s how it works folks and here are the steps.
- Think about your schedule, skills, energy and other commitments. Does this task require a special time and place?
- Is it reasonable to get this thing done?
- Focus on how you will feel when the your goal is achieved. We are feeling creatures.
- See how I snuck goal setting in there?
- Think about how reaching this goal will impact you and others around you. There are always multiple impacts to achieving something.
- And, lastly, since you now have a clear target, you will be able to hit it. After all, when Seth Curry puts up a game winning three, don’t you think he’s already seen the ball go through the hoop in his mind?