13. The Secret to Finishing a Creative Project

In addition to the actual edits for Aether Guardian, there was also something else I was working on as well. From building the website, social media pages, these very blogs and newsletters, to gathering ARC team feedback, and an overall general strategy, there was still a lot left to be done!

You've all (hopefully) seen the website and social posts and have glanced through these blog posts, so I won't belabor what I've already talked about. Instead, I want to take the time to help you if and when you hopefully want to start a project of your own. So here are a few tips, tricks, and general strategies that I learned that you can hopefully learn from so you don't make the same mistakes I did.

First, start early and be patient. I started this whole project nearly six years ago. More recently, I've spent the better part of the last six months prepping and getting ready for this book launch. It takes time, especially if you work full time or have a family. Consistency is the most important skill. Smaller 30-60 minute chunks of work over the course of 5 days is so much better and easier than five straight hours on a Saturday.

Second, have a goal in mind. My goal for example is to help encourage you (and anyone else working on their passion project) to give it your best. I've been sharing the behind-the-scenes processes that I worked through so you have a better launching point. Even if it makes your project just slightly easier, I've achieved my goal! So what are your goals? Is it similar to mine? Is it to finally prove to yourself or others that you can do it? Is it to just get it out of your head and get other people excited about it also? Is it to be a billionaire overnight? - Good luck! Whatever it is, have it in mind every step along the way in your journey so it can guide you toward your next step.

Third, create a strategy that will guide you toward your goal. I started with learning everything I could about what it takes to write a book. Then I took several days to learn what it looks like to advertise and make a book available to others. Then I studied up on best practices with the do's and don't's of social media. THEN I wrote down a time table that I could adapt on the fly if needed. T H E N, I ... You see where I'm going with this. A strategy can only help and will help bring clarity, direction, and consistency to your work. Shift when needed, adjust your approach when appropriate, but stick with it and keep moving forward.

Whatever you do, don't give up when it gets hard. Again those smaller chunks make a huge difference. You can't finish it all in a month. But you can take a month to get 15% of the way there. Then take another month to bump up another 25%. Keep going. Don't stop.

Having said that, please take breaks. Please remember to breathe, eat that bowl of ice cream, take that day off and just veg and do nothing. It will get done. Trust me. You need that rest and working on it to much will actually have the opposite intended effect. You will be anxious all the time. You won't be able to enjoy a quiet moment. You will neglect time with family and loved ones. You don't want to neglect those things at the cost of a passion project.

I hope this helps encourage you. I'm always available to chat if you have questions or if there's something I can speak into for you.

Talk with you next week!