Pathway 2 Success! Part 2

P1+P2+P3=Pathway to Success! P2 is Process.

Last time we talked about the importance of P1, planning. This post let’s explore process, the pathway to success.

Think of process as your routine.

The dictionary defines process as; a series of actions or operations conducive to an end.

We all have daily processes. For instance, I have a process for getting dressed in the morning, for getting the laundry done, for getting a meal prepared. I have successful processes built into my day that make it easy for me to accomplish my goals of being dressed and presentable, my family having clean clothes, and dinner on the table.

Successful writers also have a process for getting the writing done, promoting themselves as professionals and developing their contacts and skills. I have several processes I go through to accomplish my weekly goals for my writing. I have a process of planning what I want to accomplish each week and how I’m going to make that happen in the midst of a busy life. (See last post) I have processes for getting the writing done, and even for transitioning into my writing time every day. This transition time helps me move my focus from the details of my life into my writing tasks.

My process begins when I enter my office. I close and lock the door, shutting out distractions and interruptions. My husband and kids know, when the door is locked, I’m working. I take regular breaks (more about this next time when we discuss pomodoros) so they know that I will not be unavailable indefinitely and have learned to be patient. Next, I light a candle. I love the scent and relaxing ambience of the flame. I also enjoy background music. Not too loud, and instrumental. I find vocals to be too distracting if I start to try and listen or sing along(heaven forbid). Finally, I spend a few minutes with my journal. Sometimes I might use a writing prompt, or maybe I’ll start out with a few notes about what I’m going to work on. I find spending a few minutes with pen in hand, helps to get me into the flow of writing…then, I’m ready to begin.

I find it helpful to build my processes backwards starting with my desired goal. For example, I want to finish my YA novel by the end of August. There are things I need to accomplish in order to do that. One is, of course, to write, planning what to write and then actually, butt-in-chair, getting the work done. I need to edit what I’ve written and I need to prepare a synopsis and query letter and find editors or agents I want to send it to. So this includes a lot of different tasks.

I work best in blocks of time. So I prefer to spend a certain number of days writing, editing, and marketing, rather than move from one task to another each day. This is my weekly process. Switching around is too much like starting over for me and I waste a lot of time transitioning. You may prefer the variety of moving from one task to another. The main thing is to understand how you work, what your process is, and work with it instead of against it.

I used to read writing books that would spell out some successful author’s process. Susie so-and-so, wrote the great American novel spending four hours every morning writing in bed with her laptop. Then I’d try to imitate Susie’s process, except, I’d wind up taking a two hour nap. Finally, I realized, the perfect process, is the one that works for me.

Spend some time this week exploring what processes you are implementing in your writing schedule. Evaluate whether they are accomplishing your desired results, or not…then make the necessary changes to put you on your pathway to success.

The perfect process, is the one that works for you.