Please welcome guest blogger and new Plotmonkey pal, Lisa Hendrix, to the jungle! She’s here with a topic that I don’t think has been covered yet in our Saturday series–great advice that we all need to hear. Lisa’s new book, IMMORTAL WARRIOR is out in stores now! Congratulations, Lisa. Awesome hot cover!
Persistence of Vision
In biology, persistence of vision is the phenomenon of the eye by which even nanoseconds of exposure to an image result in milliseconds of reaction (sight) from the retina to the optic nerves. This results from the the chemical nature of nerve response, and the amount of time it takes for the neural transmitters to move from emitter to receptor–in other words, it happens because chemicals are slower than light. [Thanks to Wikipedia for all that]. A closely related phenomenon accounts for ghost- or after-images, the glow that you seem to see after you stare at a bright light for a few seconds.
That’s eyeballs. I want to talk about the other kind of vision, the kind that lets you think about and plan the future, or build a mental construct of what the future can or will be like. The kind of vision that lets you write a book.
As of 10 am Friday 11/21/08, 117,668 writers are involved in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and another 162 are Sweating with Sven (SwS), while an unknown and probably staggering number have set out to write a book on their own. Every one of those writers started with a vision: I’m going to write a book. Yet a significant number, possibly most, will not only not “win” Nano, they will never finish the book at all. The problem of follow-through isn’t limited to beginning/unpublished writers, either. All of us face the same issue: getting from idea to finished product. So how do we do it? How do we make that nanosecond of thought, “I’m going to write a book,” last through a a month, a project, a series, or a career.
We do it with persistence of vision–what some people call goal setting and visualization.
Writing down goals is what gives thought substance outside your brain. The act of writing it down turns the goal into something that lasts after that fleeting thought fades. It makes it concrete.
Your goals can’t be vague, though. An athlete doesn’t say she’s going to “win a race,” she says she’s going to run the mile in under 3:55 or reduce her overall time in the Ironman by an hour. A musician visualizes singing the lead in Carmen at the Met, or playing the Minute Waltz in 45 seconds. A writer needs to plan to write not “a book,” but a sweeping pan-generational epic, a historical romance of 100,000 words, or a comic mystery in three acts.
In other words, that old saw about SMART goals, that’s what you want:
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely
These factors are actually handled very clearly within the parameters of NaNoWriMo and SwS, which is why, given equal motivation, participants have a leg up over those who try to do it on their own.
But some people still have trouble–a lot, if all the zero word totals on the challenge websites are an indication. If you’re one of them, the extra step that reinforces goal-setting and might push you into the winners column is Visualization, or consciously and actively thinking about your goal and how you’re going to achieve it.
Athletes and musicians visualize themselves running that perfect 10K or playing the flawless Brahams D Minor (#1). Writers can visualize the complete space opera or the completed third chapter or the completed NaNoWriMo manuscript. You need to visualize regularly, frequently, and consistently. Visualizing burns the vision/goal into your being much the same way a visual after-image burns itself into your retina. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll see your completed project even after you stop looking. It will be there, right in front of you, calling you forward at every step.
That’s when you’ll know you can keep moving toward your goal even when things get hard, you “lose” NaNo, or the kids get the measles. You’ll know you’ll go back, that you’ll write that next chapter, that next book, that all new series.
That’s when you’ll have persistence of vision.
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Lisa Hendrix is the author of IMMORTAL WARRIOR, the first book in an all-new paranormal historical romance series, The Immortal Brotherhood. Please visit her website for excerpts, contests, and more information about Lisa and her books. Lisa can also be found on MySpace, Facebook and Goodreads
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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Good morning.
I’ve been wanting to write since I was 11 years old, and since then, I would sit and write and write, but never finish anything (actually, I did finish a teenage romance back in the 80′s, which is most likely outdated today). What I want to write has changed, from something similar to Nancy Drew, to high school romance to adult romance. It wasn’t until the story that I’m currently working on, that I was committed to finishing something. I had these scenes in my mind that I just had to write down…and then I was determined to “connect the dots” and finish it.
Now that the story is complete, I’ve been researching the “how to do it” and have had to go back and do a good amount of editing. But I have a goal and I’m sticking to it. My next step is to research literary agents and then learn to write an excelent synopsis. I am determined.
I’m already loaded with ideas for the next book in the series, but if I start putting then on paper, I’ll loose focus of the “getting a agent and getting the first manuscript out there.” But I’m anxious to get this one on its way so that I can focus on writing the next story.
I do visualize a printed book with my name on, and I refuse to let go of that vision. In all the years that I’ve wanted to write, I’m finally at that stage of being totally determined, and nothing is going to detour me now.
Unfortunately, because I’m unpublished, I don’t make any income from writing, and have to maintain a full-time job. How I wish there were more hours in the day, and more days in the week. But like everything else, we have to work with what we’ve got.
Everyone have a great Saturday, I’m off to that full-time job.
Debbie
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G’morning, Lisa and welcome to the Jungle. This is my third year for NaNo, plus a year of Script Frenzy stuck in the middle there somewhere. I “won” my first two years and while I’m a day behind on my word count for this year’s, I’m at just over 34K words. My motivation this year is not just 50K words, but a viable novel to prepare for submission – especially so since this story is the second in a two-story arc and the first manuscript is with an editor at Silhouette – at her request. (*squee* – even if it’s ultimately rejected, I still got this far!) I also recently made my first sale (not my first novel bu first sale) to a small publishing house, The Wild Rose Press, with an anticipated release date sometime this spring or summer.
How did I get there? Perseverance and NaNo. Participating each November helped teach me the discipline to write every day – or research or SOMETHING that had to do with writing my current WIP or future books. It taught me to get organized and stick with it. I also try to read every day to learn how successful authors turn a phrase or set up a plot or…just what sells. My husband laughs at my “ginormous” TBR pile. “Market research?” he asks arching a brow.
You have some great advice, Lisa!
Donna? Hang in there! You’ll make it. It is especially hard to find time to write when you have a “whole other life”. I’m proud of you! (And anyone else who is as focused and determined and gets a book written!) I would offer one bit of advice. Figure out a note system – mines a write-on/bulletin board and sticky notes. I’ve got sticky notes up there for books I may never write, but the idea hit and I didn’t want to forget it. I jotted down the premise, or the title, or the character, and tacked it to the board. I use the write-on portion for my current WIP when inspiration hits and I don’t want to forget it when the actual scene in the time-line arrives.
Here’s to the writing life!
Now it’s time for 
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Hi Lisa – welcome to the jungle. And WOW! What great advice!!
Anyone who’s seen The Secret (or read it) might remember the Vision Board that John Asaraff talks about. It’s a board where you put a picture of everything you want and it allows you to constantly keep that vision. Well, I have one set up as the screensaver on my computer.
So, when I’m not writing and my screen saver is going I see images of Blaze covers, I’ve written my own reviews that scroll across the screen (You wouldn’t believe the fantastic things they’re saying about me!) :happy2:. But all of it keeps me focused on my goal – being a Blaze author.
Another neat trick I’ve heard, and had started using myself, is to make your login password something that reinforces that feeling. “author” or “published” or whatever makes you get that excited, tingling, yippee feeling when you log in.
I’m saving your wonderful advice so that I’ll be able to pull it up and read it whenever I need that reminder boost. Thanks so much for being here today!!!!
Oh, and Debbie, congrats on finishing that WIP!!!! And good luck with the agent search!
Silver – *ducks head and mumbles under breath* I sortof got sidetracked from NANO. I had this grand plan of editing my current WIP while at the same time writing something new for NANO. I don’t know what I was thinking, but it hasn’t happened. A big
on all that you’ve gotten written this month!! Good job!!
OK…back to work for me….. Have a great day, everyone!!
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Welcome to the Jungle, Lisa. It’s great to have you here! Thanks for the wonderful advice. Vision is so important. Recently I made a “Wish” board for myself or perhaps I should call it a “Vision” board. It is filled with all of my visions for what I will do and what I will achieve in my career. It’s in a spot in my office where I can just look over from my desk and see it. Just like I’m doing now as I write this. I’m jazzed everytime I look at it.
Have a wonderful Saturday all,
Cher :jumpleaf
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Julie, I almost forgot. I received my RWR yesterday and you have a gorgeous add on the back cover! Yay! Congratulations! Can’t wait to read Phantom’s Touch.
I’m so proud of you!
Cher
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Oh, my everyone has already had such wonderful things to add! Let’s see if I can catch up.
Debbie — You wonderful creature! I love that you have hung in there for all those years, learning at each step along the way. And while I know that some people might tell you to step right into that next novel, I think it’s crucial that you’ve recognized your own need to stick on the path you’ve chosen to accomplish what you need to. I will warn you that getting an agent can take a while, though, so once you’ve figured out how to approach them, how to assemble a submission packet, etc, you may want to check your plan and see if it isnt’ time to start working on that new book
Silver J — Multiple congratulations: on winning NaNo twice, on selling to Wild Rose, on having a book requested at Silhouette (and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you on that one). It seems to me you’ve already discovered how to keep your vision in front of you, and found the way to bring it into reality. I love your white board/sticky notes combo to keep track of ideas. I keep mine on my computer, with an Ideas File, and a working notes file–mostly because I don’t have a great office space yet (I write a lot in coffee houses and in the cafeteria at the local hospital. Seriously.)
More in next comment….
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Alannah — Love the idea of a vision board as screensaver. Just think how fun it will be when you get to sub in your *real* covers and reviews. I made an affirmation desktop, and I use the affirmation-as-login trick, although the one I picked (something to do with a desired position on a certain bestseller list) is so long I think I’m going to change it.
As to NaNo–You still have 9 days, you know. Settle down with the new WIP and do those 9 days, keeping to your schedule. You’ll feel so good about yourself, you’ll keep going afterward. And that’s the whole point.
I’ve never done NaNo myself, but I just completed a drive to deadline that was the approximate equivalent, except for that they had to be usable, edited words. I sent the ms in yesterday. I know it’s going to come back for revisions quickly, because I was late and we’re bumping up against scheduling, but I’m still starting the next book today, in between PM posts.
Cher — Jazzed is good, however you get there. Another Vision board. Can’t help but relate that to Persistence of Vision. Very well done, ladies.
I’m hoping my RWR is in the mail today.
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Lisa, what *excellent* advice! See yourself doing something, believe it can happen, and you’ll have a better chance to attaining your goal.
Thanks so much for being here with us today!
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Lisa, I never thought about it, but I guess that’s what I do, also. I see my results in the future instead of a blank page that tends to scare some writers or inspiring writers. I see them as opportunities. Each blank page is an opportunity to make the visions in my head come to life. I’m already imagining what that fourth book is going to look like on the shelf alongside the other three and can’t wait to have it there.
Yes, very good advice.
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Hi Lisa,
Good advice to authors at all stages of their publishing career. Being published isn’t the end of the road, just a beginning, and I’m constantly having to refine my goals and knuckle down to reach them. I use the vision quest idea to write each scene as I come to it. I used to outline extensively except that took the joy of discovery out of writing each scene. Now I write from a looser outline. Each day I visualize the worst possible outcome for my character and my knee jerk reaction to save her. I ingnore the knee jerk reaction and keep making things worse.
Have a great weekend,
Maggie Toussaint
romance.danger.mystery
http://www.maggietoussaint.com
Writer Wednesday with Maggie at The Book Spa
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Lisa, whatever you do, you always put out great stories, so keep it up!
I can write lots of words in a day if I know where I’m headed–that is, unless I’m headed into the mist. In that case, there might be a lot of words on the page, but they’ll all end up being deleted, and I really hate that. So while I don’t have to plot every detail, I do want to have a target, plus it’s always nice to know what threads need to be touched upon in the chapter.
Can’t wait to read your new book!
:jumpleaf
Jacquie
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Hi, everyone. Popping back in to catch up.
Knowing where you’re going is always good, whether we’re talking goal setting or plotting (which is, after all, setting the goal of the characters in your book)
Tracee–Remember, if you really want to do this, you need to be specific. Not “I’m going to write a book someday,” but something like “I’m going to write a romantic comedy beginning January 2, 2009, and I’m going to do 200 words a day until it’s done.” SMART
Accountability is good, too. Having to report to someone. I put up a word counter online to show the world where I’m at. I already have the one up for the next book, even tho’ there won’t be countable words for a while because I’m pre-writing.
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I love the idea of the finished book burning in my brain! That explains a lot of things…
And I just like this little guy who I think is the clue to keeping your vision:
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Love the whip guy, Jessa. Does he have anything to do with your books???