On another blog a few weeks ago, a commenter raved about Zero-Resistance Selling by Maxwell Maltz and 6 other contributors. I’m always keeping my mind open on ways to improve my writing, but there’s the business side of writing, too. Selling our work. So I looked it up, liked what I saw, and checked it out from my library.
As I read the book, I realized that Maxwell Maltz is the author of Psycho-Cybernetics, which I read long ago. According to Maltz’s Wikipedia entry, “The book introduced Maltz’s view that a person must have an accurate and positive view of one’s self before setting goals, otherwise he or she will get stuck in a continuing pattern of limiting beliefs. His ideas focus on visualizing one’s goals.”
For the last couple years, I’ve been barely reaching my goals — and it’s getting worse. Telling myself I need to get organized is no longer working. Nor is my determination to write a certain amount every day. Sure, I have excuses. I’m on my chapter board, which can get busy. I’m an area co-contact for my local chapter. I’m on the WisRWA conference committee. I also write a weekly Industry News post for the RWA-WF website. Plus my Magical Musings blogs. And I have a family. A life. But all that is puny compared to what many other writers have on their plates, yet they still meet and exceed goals.
I need to get back on track, so I’m going to try what Maltz calls “The Theater of Your Mind.” A daily mental rehearsal of our day. Studies have shown that this works for athletes. Why not writers?
Because this book is geared for salespeople, Maltz suggests we recall and relive successes. That would work for writers. I have successes. I think all of you do. If you’re too new to to writing to have successes in the field, think of how you felt when you read something of yours and you thought, “Wow! That’s good!” Relive that feeling. That should quiet the doubt monster.
I think I’ve gotten into bad habits, but my doubts could be part of the reason I’m not meeting my goals. I love writing, love the premise of my book, love my characters. I should be thrilled to write every day, eager to start typing. Yet I’m not.
I’m hoping this will get me back into that writing nirvana state. After reliving my successes, I’ll visualize myself writing, feeling good and even excited about my story. Energized. Making my goals. Even visualizing the Word Count numbers. I get a kick out of seeing the numbers go up. While I’m visualizing, I’ll savor the emotion, because it’s emotion that counts when you’re visualizing and when you’re writing.
Though I should feel good while doing this, it’s not a “feel good and everything will be okay” process. It takes work, but visualization is a practical way to change bad habits and motivate yourself.
How do you motivate yourself when you don’t feel like writing? Or do you just do it, no matter what?
I have got to get this book! Writing, like no other career, is so depressing. We hear negative things almost every week. We get paid crap. It’s not surprising that we get so down. And even after you sell, its the same thing. So yeah, we have to learn to blieve in ourselves. I’m going through that right now.
For me, I try to write every day no matter what. Also, another good thing is to get a visual. Get a poster board and glue pictures to it that motivate you; even the words “Published author.” Having something you can just glance up at helps instantly.
Terrific blog, Edie and one that is motivating. I’d never heard of Maxwell Maltz, which is no surprise. However, I might just have to check out his books.
I’m with Lori. I think we have to have self-motivating … visual … reminders of why we write, our successes and our goals. I have a corkboard that I can use for this purpose and will see if a daily reminder will help.
Lori, the authors mention visuals like the ‘Published author’ words. I’m going to the library today to check out the first Psycho-Cybernetics book. That might help me more than this one. Though I am glad I read this. It reminded me what a powerful too visualization is. And it does have a lot of good stuff in it.
As for the character visuals, I decided this morning that I need to visualize them doing things during my half hour visualization. I need to hear their thoughts, feel what they feel, getting deep into their minds.
My main characters are really cool, and the more I do that, the more I’ll want to write their story.
Liz, Maxwell Maltz died in 1975. According to the forward, he was “remarkably prolific” and left over a a dozen recorded books, never published. The co-authors put this book together in his voice.
I know you visualize your scenes, so in effect you’re already doing some of this. For myself, I think I’ve programmed myself into bad working habits. I need re-programming.
I have a corkboard, too. My first place Molly plaque is right by the office door. It’s a good reminder of a past success. And you have your books. That’s a great reminder!
Edie,
I’ve never had a problem writing something creative every day since I decided when I retired that writing fiction would be my second career. Oh, I take a day off or a vacation, now and then but I’m always in my head looking at experiences, settings, faces, characters, careers I hear about and think about how I might use it. So even during that time, my mind is thinking like a writer.
One reason I think this happens is I refuse to believe in writer’s block. If I’m stuck, I do something else and let my mind percolate on the problem. Almost always if I do that before I go to sleep, the solution is there when I wake up, or it wakes me up.
I think it helped me that all my adult life I’ve had to make plans for each day, week, month, year and had to meet them. It’s ingrained in me. Or call me anal.
I also think if you believe yourself to be something it’s easier to fall into that role and do the tasks required. I now see myself as a writer, no longer a teacher as a career. I also see myself in my other roles, of which I have many, and know I must portion my hours accordingly to make the most use of them and meet my goals. It’s worked for me, but then all individuals are different.
Mary Jo, you are so together! That’s fabulous!
I was never blocked, though. I was putting everything else before the writing, and it got to be a bad habit.
Visualizing is a relatively easy thing for any athlete to do, but for a writer it’s near impossible.
Why? you ask.
Athletes visualize for a short period of time: Runners do it right before a race, even a marathon is less than four hours. Pole vaulters right before their ten seconds of run and vault. Gymnasts right before their routine. And even horseback riders (moi) visualize right before riding a course. When I rode hunters, I had an intro circle, break into canter, jump eight jumps, and finishing circle–all in less than two minutes.
Writers are a different beast. We can spend upwards of a year to write a book. So this method wouldn’t work very well. I think this is why many of us have daily goals–except me, since I’m punking out this month–and that will see us through the day to day grind, which is why the 100-word challenges are great. It forces you to sit and write just a little, and from what I’ve heard, it works for many, many writers to keep moving forward.
One thing I have tried is to visualize the next scene the night before I need to write it. Sometimes sleeping on it works out the problems.
I agree with Mary Jo. There is no such thing as writer’s block. If you get stuck it’s because you took an unexpected tangent that might not have worked out, or your character is acting out of character, etc.
Great blog, Edie. But I will say the topic didn’t lure me in–it was Capt’n Jack.
Margaret, I can visualize myself sitting at the desk, and experiencing the feeling I have when I’m in the flow. And visualizing past successes, too. I have to admit I wasn’t able to do this for a half hour this morning. I’m going to add visualizations of my h/h in action to get me excited and eager to write.
I do the night before thing, too. And I don’t have writer’s block. It’s the habit of writing I need to get back into. As for upwards of a year to write a book — way too long! And Capt’n Jack is very alluring.
I’m where you’re at, I’m struggling and have been for a lone time. I think I’ll try the visualzation process once the holidays pass. This time a year is a killer for writing time, with all the family situations and travel.
Lee, I know how you feel. For whatever the reason, I’m energized and not waiting for January. I’m feeling good. Maybe the visualization is working already.
I hope you’ll be energized and eager to write after the holidays.
When not feeling motivation, I go with it. Forcing the issue can make me hate my work, which stops me completely. So, for me it’s better to just go with the mood swing.
Edie, great blog and very timely for many of us. For some odd reason, I’m okay with not getting my pages done over the holidays this year. I know the post-downtime is a great space to kick it up again.
I’m a big fan of visualization while writing and in life. Just like we breathe life into our characters, we do it in all things; sometimes without knowing. Your book sounds like a great source too. I’ll have to check it out.
Edie,
I am a very firm believer that we have to find our own motivation and force ourselves to write, even when we don’t feel like doing so. I’ve become much better at this in the last 2.5 months, but I also know I need to be even better at it. I am writing almost every day, but I need to train myself to become more consistant about the amount of time spent at it.
I love Lori’s idea of a visualization board that I can glue pictures too. I think this could really work to keep me motivated. Just having something present like that, a visual representation of what all this hard work will pay off with, would be a big help.
Right now I have trouble getting up as early as I need to. I can handle 4am maybe 50% of the time. The other 50% its more like 5am or even 5:30 sometimes. I’m thinking if I start visualizing *THE CALL* while I’m laying there trying to work up the motivation to get up, that might help get my butt out of bed.
This is a wonderful post, Edie! I’m very unhappy with my productivity and progress lately. I’ve been trying everything. I think this is next. I really hope it helps.
And visualization can work for longer things. Every night when I went to bed, if I had a performance, I’d visualize my pieces. Which is incredibly hard to do, since you have to have it memorized, and even playing it through in your mind would take the hour or more it takes to play it.
It’s freaking hard work, though, LOL. But worth it. I hope.
Edie, I just do it no matter what. Writing is my job. A job I happen to love. On the production end, it’s a commitment to produce a story by a certain date. On the artistic end it’s a commitment to give readers a bang for their buck. That’s the hardest part of this job, not wanting to disappoint.
Great blog, Edie. Visualization isn’t something I often try, but I really believe in the power of having the right mindset and the right view of yourself. A friend of mine is off recording a demo tutorial for an art book and we both took a few minutes before she had to head out to help her shake the feeling that she’s just a newbie starting out on her career, and get her remembering how much knowledge and talent she has to offer budding new artists. That mindset will make all the difference on how she comes across on camera.
That same confidence, not just telling ourselves, but knowing our writing is great, that we have compelling stories to tell, can really help us keep on the job. As you say though, it’s not just a matter of thinking positive and everything will work. It’s fuel to keep us going and force us to sit and work regardless of the day’s mood.
Kath, the visualization isn’t forcing the issue, it’s making me want to write. Eager to write. That’s why I’m doing it.
Today I was gone most of the day. I’m catching up on email. “You Think You Can Dance” is on for 2 hours tonight, and I plan on watching it. (I didn’t watch anything last night.) So I’ll be happy to write 500 words. But last Tuesday I didn’t even do that. Today I will.
LaD, I knew this was something you’d be interested in. I checked out Psycho-Cybernetics 2000 from the library today. I’m thinking that one might be better for you.
Theresa, those are all great ideas! Maybe 5am or even 5:30 might be more do-able for you. You won’t be setting yourself up for failure half the time. But to me it sounds like you’ve been making awesome progress. Better than many writers I know who don’t work full time.
Natasha, you’re my idol! Your productivity rocks! I can’t believe you think you’re not doing enough.
It sounds like you’re already an expert on visualization. You can give me lessons.
Karin, You’re another idol!
I know if I had a contract and a deadline I’d do everything to make it. For a long time I met my own personal deadlines. But the last couple years I’ve been slacking off. I need to change that.
It’s fuel to keep us going and force us to sit and work regardless of the day’s mood.
Hayley, I love that! You get what I was talking about. It’s not feel-good mumble jumble, it’s reminding myself why I should be excited about this book and that I’m more than capable of writing it. So when I do start writing, I’m ready for it.
This is an excellent post, Edie, and it happens to be one I really needed to read today.
I think the task of writing is so complex and daunting and requires so much thought, emotion and energy that (for me, at least) people have to gear themselves up for it. So, I do all of these little, easier-to-accomplish tasks first before trying to settle down into the big one of really writing. But that builds in an automatic block of procrastination into every day. If I could visualize myself delving into drafting without the hour or more of warm-up time, it would be great…
I think the task of writing is so complex and daunting and requires so much thought, emotion and energy that (for me, at least) people have to gear themselves up for it.
Marilyn, me too! I think the visualization will take the “daunting” out of that sentence and add energy.
Hi Edie,
I don’t write everyday. I’d like to but I just don’t have that in me. Some days after work and kids and cooking and cleaning, I just don’t feel creative. So what I do is labeled “research”! I take some time to read a good book, or watch an hour long drama on TV or on rare occasions…watch an entire movie. I cut myself a break, relax and then get back to it. I can’t go more than 2 days in a row without writing though. If I do I really start to beat myself up about and that’s not inspiring at all. So after those 2 days off (which is rare) I force myself to sit down in front of my story for a few minutes, just to see what happens. Before I know it I’ve got a good flow going and that is a wonderful thing.
Elle, good for you for not beating yourself up over it. You shouldn’t! It sounds like you are doing great.
Edie, thought-provoking post as usual. I’ve never heard of Maxwell Maltz; thanks for the review of his work. You remind me of the Star Ship Enterprise, you always go at warp speed. The point is you *are* making your goals. Everyone occasionally slows down, but visualization and affirmations are terrific reinforcements. I’m reading this month (after getting my GH in the mail of course) and looking forward to the break. But as I gave my entry a final read today, I could feel the excitement building again — and I think it’s because I have slowed down. Funny, most people take vacations, but you don’t often hear that about writers. Great post!
Donnell, I think we don’t often hear about writers taking breaks because we start getting that itch to write.
Good luck on your GH entry! I’m keeping everything crossed for you.
This is so interesting, Edie. I actually do run through a schedule in my head before I get up each morning. It’s just what I do. LOL. Now I feel even better about doing that. And even if I only write one sentence, I write every day.
But I most definitely have to give myself encouragement to make my goals.
Michelle, you inspire me! I’m so eager to write, it’s not funny.
Edie, as always, your posts are so interesting! I think I’ll have to check out this book (and thanks for posting that pic of Jack–so what I needed!).
Cindy, we always need pictures of Jack.