Momentum - Force or speed of movement of a physical object or course of events. A property of a moving body that determines the length of time required to bring it to rest when under the action of a constant force.
You need a force like a hundred horses inside you speeding towards the end of each paragraph, of each page, of each chapter until you reach The End! How do you create this velocity? It requires conditioning the mind and body.
Here are 5 ways to stimulate momentum in your writing career:
Exercise - I'm talking about a blood pumping, heart rate up, breaking a sweat workout. My preference is TAEBO, then I like to mix in some Gilad on the fit TV channel (who knew there were so many ways to tone the legs, butt, thigh region of the body!) belly and ballroom dancing, and some days it's good ole aerobics and elliptical at the gym. The point is get m o v i n g. . .It increases the feel-good energizing chemicals in your brain which encourages your body to keep going. It's also a great pattern interrupt if you're having a challenging writing day and need a boost!
Goals - They propel you to hit the ground running in the morning. Break down each big goal into daily tasks and develop a compulsion to complete each one in record time, knowing that the faster you accomplish them, the quicker you'll be signing books for an adoring crowd of fans, sipping Mai Tais on the beach, or whatever pleasures you've envisioned for your exciting life! Continuous focused action creates a life-force and then, the universe meets you half way to deliver the right people and situations into your environment. But you must be the director and clearly outline the who, what, when, and whys of your future before the universe will participate.
Sleep - I struggle with this one so let me help prevent you from finding out the hard way what a lack of snoozing does to your body. I hear people brag about how little sleep they get because of working, like it's something to be proud of and praised for. NO! It's foolish, it shortens your life, and causes stress, which places unnecessary strain on your body. You need to shut down for a period of seven plus hours a night, ideally uninterrupted. Your body rejuvenates cells on a physical level, such as the immune system, between 10:00 PM and 2:00 AM and the mental part of our being, like our brain function, during the hours of 2 and 6:00 AM. How many of these are you sleeping?
Rituals - In order to receive the desired physical consistency from our bodies we need to condition our minds first. Each night, I record on paper 5 things I'm grateful for. I then list what made me happy, what I learned, what I got excited about. I complete this ritual by reading my goals and a chapter of personal development. I open up the morning with, what will I learn etc, goals, and at my desk, I select one of my Napolean Hill, Denis Waitly, or Jim Rohn newsletters to kick the day off with a positive bang! Get your mind in high gear and your body will follow.
Fail Fast and Often - Acquiring best selling status is achieved through a series of writing, submitting, and rejecting. Decide to reject taking it personal every time a publisher sends you one of those form letters saying "your work doesn't fit in with our current listing." And make a commitment to charge forward and cycle through these three at warp speed, keeping your end goals positioned where they can stand as a constant reminder of exhilarating times to come! I must also add in a blurb about the incredible online capabilities of blogging and article writing, as they lend a tremendous amount of vocal power to any author. More channels of opportunities are another reason to tap into your energy, increase your drive, and be urgent in your quest for story outlets!
Our bodies were designed to move, not to sit on the sidelines. Yeah, you may head off in the wrong direction sometimes but as long as you have your goals to guide you, you'll get back on track. Momentum is contagious so be prepared for an onslaught of writing ideas, vivacious people, and progressive teachers to enter your sphere!
How do you keep the momentum going in your writing endeavors?
Great post! Momentum is essential to reaching your true potential. Too many people waste their time 'getting started' and don't spend enough time in the 'productive' zone to reach their objectives. Great stuff!
Peace,
Bob
Posted by: Bob Crawford | May 28, 2009 at 08:11 AM