How to Make IT Big: Think About it Mondays
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Your first idea is rarely your best so try not to get attached to your own self-titled brilliance.
I made this quote up after my dad gave my latest book idea a “meh.” I had spent 3 days working and typing, stewing in my own awesomeness, until his second opinion woke me out of my stupor – the idea I had was really just aiight. After that I decided to research how I could use my time more wisely. Instead of getting to work on each initial thought, I was going to focus on fleshing out good ideas. I want to make IT big (it being the idea). So the image above is not a kitschy scrapbook exercise, it is my new square one. I know it isn’t much to look at but would you believe me if I told you it took over an hour? I started by writing down words that reflected what I would like my second book to be. I included adjectives, audiences, goals and topics then I tried to place the words that were most important to me closest to the middle.
Trying to come up with a good second book, when the first was based on personal experience, is hella hard (don’t believe me? Ask Koren Zalickas who wrote SMASHED, a tell-all tale of drunken girlhood. Her first book was a huge success, so much so that for the next five years she had no clue how to follow it up. Fittingly her second book due out this fall is called Fury, which chronicles the years of writers block after SMASHED). Secondly, what makes things more difficult for me is that I do not want this book to be called LAID II: Because the Second Round Is Always Better or something cheesy like that. As a matter of fact I do not want the book to be a sex book at all! I think sexuality is very important but I don’t really consider myself a very sexual person therefore making a career solely based on banging headboards, doesn’t really sound like my cup of tea. When I began LAID at age 19, debunking myths and shedding light on the real young adult sexual experience was extremely important to me and it also so happened to be a great book idea. I want to have the same unapologetic enthusiasm for my second.
So off I go in hunt of that great idea that covers what I am now truly passionate about. I think a mistake many of us make when trying to brainstorm is that we expect our imaginations to do all of the work. Don’t just sit there starring at the blinking cursor waiting for the light bulb, get off your ass and make some electricity.
Here are some ways I intend to make sure my next idea is the BIG idea
Brainstorming
Get some scrap paper out and brainstorm often. Create idea maps, 5 W charts, pros and cons lists, etc…
Write a summary paragraph and edit it everyday
Write down your dream in a concise, focused paragraph. Talk about that paragraph with others throughout your day and when you go home at night look at your paragraph again: add/ delete as necessary. Do this even while you have a solid idea, don’t ever allow yourself to forget what exactly you are doing.
Steal other people’s ideas but make your version better
Show me an entirely original idea and I’ll happily give you my flying unicorn. If you are overly concerned about being a biter or copycat you limit yourself: oh I don’t want to do that because so and so is doing this. Who cares! Maybe the Universe only gave them that idea so that you could hear about it and improve it.
Research those who have succeeded at your dream
This is incredibly important, once you have a specific focus, submerge yourself into related materials and become a sponge for what’s worked in the past.
Focus Entirely On What You Want
Mission statements aren’t just for businesses and non-profit organizations! I know this tip sounds supremely selfish but dammit it’s your goal so why not. Close your eyes: what’s in it for you, what’s at stake, how is it going to make you happy (and not just the achievement but also the pursuit).
Set Deadlines
A great deadline to start with is, talk to SOMEONE about my dream in 5 days. Get the ball rolling by writing down dates, avoid next year or sometime this month – make it as exact as possible and set a punishment if you fail to meet deadline (take away punishments are good like no sugar for a week – that one is guaranteed to scare me straight).
Have a Genuine Interest in What You Are Doing
Liking your work makes even the most dreadful parts not so bad. If you love it, your more likely to do it and less likely to hate yourself for not staying on task.
Alter Your Routine Regularly
Walk a different route home, try new food, talk to one new person a day, try new blogs! Don’t allow your brain to go into auto pilot, it shuts off the best parts.
Do One Thing a Week That Makes You Nervous
When we are nervous it means we are completely focused on one thing. I grew up running track and field,dreading summer because it meant a competition a week. I never got over pre-race nerves so I hated competing in tough races. After I quit track I stopped being nervous, then about two months later I developed a weird chronic anxiety in which I was on edge all the time. I think my body was concerned that I was no longer placing myself in trying situations, so I started to stretch out of my comfort zone once again. I know it’s a dreadful feeling but it’s also twice as rewarding.
Carry a Notepad
Why should I carry a notepad? I’ll remember to write it down when I get to a computer… yeah, right don’t play yourself!
Daydream with Enthusiasm
Half ass daydreaming is such a waste. You end up not paying attention to real life while trying to stop yourself from falling into a dream world. Once in awhile treat your daydreams like a lecture and give it your full attention. Often times if I am in a group setting and I feel my conscious starting to wander, I go to the bathroom or someone secluded to see where the train of fantasies is trying to lead me.
Find a Mentor
I really struggle with this one but it is so important to find someone who can offer first-hand advice and tricks of your trade. If like me you haven’t found “the one,” make like it’s 2010 and look up advice from the pundits on Youtube. You can find a lot of candid pow-wows on there, kinda like the one I made!
Even the wonderful ideas that just fall into our lap need polishing. Today I am going to write my summary paragraph and set a few deadlines, what will you do today? Lastly, if you have any great tips on How to Make IT Big Puleeeeeeeeease don’t be a greedy goblin!
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I believe that you are already on the right track. All your ideas are excellent and very profound. With all of that stated above and the obvious: dedication, positive attitude, and that go-getter mentality then you would be great.
But what also helps for me to get the brain circuits going is to reminisce on my past. I tend to think back on important events or whatever that has happened to me that made me the woman I am today. So what you could do is just set a few minutes aside just to be alone “me time”, don’t write, no typing just sit back and chill and think back on times in your life that is important to you. How things happened? what if it never did occur, how would the ending turn out? etc. If that means going to visit favorite places, familiar areas or old friends and talking about the good ole days. Majority of the time you can get your basic answers like: your main audience to focus on, the setting, etc. Most great writers already know what their next BIG IT is going to be, they just fail to realize it, or haven’t put much thought toward it. But don’t worry that BIG IT is right under you sleeves it’s just the part of you pulling it out and applying it to paper.
Great Job Shannon
You should moonlight as a life coach, Shannon. Your message always seems to be “Don’t get down — get constructive.” It never ceases to amaze or encourage me. No matter what your next book is about, no matter how it compares to Laid, I know it will be a worthy read because if there’s one thing you’re great at, it’s talking about things that are important to you.
For the past two months, I’ve been working on putting together a video blog of my own (largely inspired by how awesome this one is), focused on Toronto history and culture. And honestly, I have been working — I’ve been doing a tonne of research, I have almost twenty scripts written, I’ve filmed stuff and taken pictures, I have the layout almost ready… But I still feel entirely overwhelmed. I was hoping to have the blog launched in June, but I might have to move it because to July now because I’m having a lot of trouble with the video editing side of things.
My home computer primarily runs Linux (my husband is a computer geek), so I’ve been trying to use freeware video editing software, but either the programs are crap or I have no idea what I’m doing (either is entirely possible). I have a computer at home that runs Windows too, but no editing software. I’ve been planning to buy a Mac book for a while, and I’ll probably buy some decent commercial editing software through Ryerson (I’m taking web design night courses right now), but I don’t want wait any more to start actually editing than I have to. I’m afraid if I give myself an opportunity to procrastinate, I’ll take it – maybe indefinitely.
So goal for this week: Look into buying a Mac and some software, WHILE researching online how to use the software I already have, and complete the blog layout and continue writing/filming/photographing.
And while I’m taking over your comment section with my side project, I might as well as you since you’re an obvious resource: what software do you use to edit your videos? Any advice for someone in my situation?
I use Movie Maker OR Premier Pro. Andrea has a Mac so she uses iMovie. I think Premier Pro is great but it does give me troubles exporting with all of the options, movie maker is so easy to use but limits you in so many ways. It reeeeeeeeeally depends exactly what you’re planning to do on this fantastic project of yours. Ever watch the TV show Structures on Rogers TV? That’s kinda what your idea is reminding me of.
True or false?
yup i dig this. My only add-on would be to treat your pursuit as a job. If possible, designate a daily time slot and get your work done between those hours, and only then. If there’s extra time, create more work, or create more thoughts about your work. It eliminates the procrastination. And also always find time to do nothing.
this really motivated me to not be a lazy ass on my day off. good stuff as usual.
The sort of challenge that leads writers “to start drinking gin at 9am”, according to Elizabeth Gilbert.
(If you haven’t done so already, watch her TED Talk lecture. It dovetails nicely with this topic: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html).
All good points. My 2 cents: see if your publisher can spring for glossy pages and incorporate your photography skills into the project. It works really well when you do it on this site, so why not in print?
GREAT link and I would love to include pictures..hmmmmmm I wonder if I could swing that
Wicked. Brainstorming, writing ideas…refining them is an awesome method. I use it myself for illustration or anything I’m creating from the ground up. I try not to be afraid of mistakes and act without fear…of a line or color or decision. I’m excited for you!
@ MIKE….. I LOVE TED.COM!!!!!
Gary Vaynerchuk —-On point
http://www.ted.com/talks/gary_vaynerchuk_do_what_you_love_no_excuses.html
Stop Learning From Your Failures, It Creates a Culture of Fear
http://www.fastcompany.com/video/stop-learning-from-your-failures-it-creates-a-culture-of-fear
NEW Blog: How to Make it Big: Think About it Mondays http://thosegirlsarewild.com/2010/05/31/how-to-make-it-big-think-about-it-mondays/
I like your tips, especially treat your daydreams like a lecture. Looking back on the book i wrote and was so excited to get published, i can now see that t wasn’t as good as i wanted to make it out to be lol.
this was a great post with lots of constructive ideas. thank you.
It might seem insignificant but carrying a notepad is huge! I used to run through so many great ideas and come across so much great information but realized I was losing it all to typical memorization issues. I actually wont purchase a phone unless it has a note taking option or voice recorder for this very fact.
http://thisiswhyuBROKE.com
(Because your weave is most likely making you BROKE!)