Backwards Planning and Other Insights 

Elizabeth M. Ibarra

During Day 4 of Unleash Your Story; Sierra Melcher of Red Tread Publishing encouraged me to look at the practice of backward planning as a tool for creating a successful writing plan. It is a very valuable tool which helped me focus on my ultimate goal first while working backwards through each step needed to accomplish the goal. This is much more useful than working with the steps needed first. There is a tendency towards putting up a psychological/subconscious block about what it takes to fulfill the ultimate “someday” goal of actually writing a manuscript. Think of it this way; would you actually stick with your writing if when approaching getting started was a big ‘ol mess of convoluted steps and giants to slay (obstacles in the way of your success)? I personally feel an oppressive weight of uncertainty when approaching the writing process from the very beginning. I get lost in the minutia of “what ifs” and bogged down in taking notes about characters, plot outlining, how it needs to flow, which narrative style to use and “Oh, I need to put this in book 3”. Eventually all the mental chatter gets in my way and “I would really rather not look at all of this right now” shouts in my thoughts; turning me away from my writer’s journey. How many of you have been there before?

         Working backwards really gets the gears running smoothly! That is what is needed to begin. Start from the ultimate goal and work backwards, step by step. It is like a psychological game of Tetris or an emotional Rubik’s cube. The mental clarity and excitement from doing this practice (really for any big task), but especially for writing, is so illuminating and easy to follow. “Microshift” is a powerful and magical word which Sierra taught me all about. It is so concise and easy to follow. I love that! What is the smallest step I can take towards fulfilling my goal? Is it buying a planner and dividers to organize my book outline? Is it setting up folders on my computer desktop to contain all of my work with extra folders for each chapter (so satisfying), is it clearing out a workspace? Is it scheduling writing time on a dry erase calendar? For me it was all of these things and more! Writing my outline came effortlessly when the mental chatter was cleared up and I had worked through my literal and perceived obstacles; all with Sierra’s adept reminders and guidance.  

         Sierra also discussed (in each class) the importance of working with the phases of the moon. Rolling with the ebb and flow of rest during the New Moon, preparing to write during the Waxing Moon, productive writing during the Full Moon and then, editing during the Waning Moon. As women; we are tied to the power and pull of the Moon and its ancient mysteries. If we follow our hormonal cycle; why not track our creative cycle as well? The goal with all of the preparations and following the phases of the Moon is to better prepare oneself for the get it all out “shitty first draft” as Sierra sassily calls it with wry humor. Once we prepare ourselves psychologically to write; by clearing out the emotional blocks holding us back and working with our strengths by planning (priming the pump of our inspirational well), prepping and scheduling the writing time, then the dam will burst and out will flow all the words, the unfiltered, get out as much of it as you can style of writing. The first draft is meant to be messy! I am currently one day away from the Full Moon and am ready to get out another draft of a very powerful chapter of my book. I can feel the inspiration. My creative well is full of everything I need to move further into my manuscript.

Another powerful idea that Sierra put forth for me to look at is to keep the details of the work sacred; not to share the concept or idea with a lot of people prematurely; perhaps a select few but even then, not in great detail until I am ready to have my manuscript read and edited. “Well-meaning comments pour water on the fire”, Sierra said. I have taken that to heart. I discuss the general theme with people who are interested; but not the details of the work. I am guarding those powerful aspects of my work close to my heart right now; until the time is right for me to let other people read my manuscript for editing purposes.  

I leave this with you to ponder while you look at your own writing process and what you need support with in order to successfully complete writing your book! I highly recommend this powerful 5 day workshop with the wonderful and insightful Sierra Melcher.

Happy writing!