Are we in a time warp?! Seriously, where did those first six months of 2024 go?
And here I am, still “wrapping up” my next book, titled Covid, a Love Story. I started writing it a year ago, and I thought that by now, the book would be finished.
Covid, a Love Story is my ONE BIG THING that is going to impact the world in a huge way.
And, it is literally my retirement plan. It’s a memoir that tells the wild story of when my beloved Drew was put on a ventilator and I had to say goodbye through a window. And, then the miracle that unfolded, helped by thousands of people. It is a true story of unbreaking spirit, love and faith. It will help many people who are struggling with what feels like an impossible diagnosis.
Creating your NEXT BIG THING, like a book, a sculpture, art series, or album, requires dedication. And like my wise husband Drew says when he’s working on a big painting,
“You just have to put in the time. This thing isn’t going to paint itself.”
I planned to have this book finished by now and I was going to start my next project, my monthly Artist Business Mastermind membership. But, my plans were thwarted.
The book is my top priority, and, I cannot have two giant projects going at the same time. So I had to choose to stay focused on the book and not do anything else until it’s finished.
It’s been hard, because to stay focused putting in the hours of writing every single day, I had to stop doing my monthly sound healing events. I had to stop putting on events at the art gallery. I had to take a break from my social activities. It’s what it takes to get one big thing accomplished.
So, I thought of all of you, my dear creative friends, and how so many of you struggle with the same affliction: wanting to accomplish ONE BIG THING while trying to do all the other things at the same time!
The purpose of this post is to remind you – if you are going to make a huge impact in this world with your next big creation, you have to focus entirely on that creation, until it’s complete. Let all the other things go and stay focused.
So, what are you going to focus on this next six months?
What is that one project that you would LOVE to bring to life before 2025? You have six months to do it. And boy, those six months are going to fly by 🙂
SHARE YOUR NEXT BIG THING IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
Love you all,
Maria xoxo
PS: If you want to be notified when my memoir book, Covid, a Love Story, is released, please SIGN UP HERE.
10 Responses
My OWN book has been THE NEXT BIG THING for too long. I’m always painting new work, producing new products and licensing, but THE BOOK is the procrastination project that always gets set aside. Every year I swear I’ll have it done by this time next year, and every year I fail. So frustrating. Nobody to blame but myself for not making it a priority, the mountain I’m always climbing.
And BTW, thanks for your OTHER book. I’ve listened to it twice so far, one of the best I’ve read on art marketing. I’ll look forward to reading this new book.
Patrick, thanks for sharing. So glad you like my book! And, as for your own book, there’s only one way it will get finished: if you commit to working on it every single day until it’s finished. I hope you do! 🙂
My ONE BIG THING is publishing my sixth book NLT September 1. I finished writing on April 20th, and I’m now finishing the editing and writing the short components that go in the front and back of the book. It’s a nonfiction book entitled “Curious John Explores—A Journey Through New Territory.” I expect to sell lots of books.
Once it’s published, I’ll start writing number seven. I write one chapter a week and publish once I have fifty-two chapters written.
You’ve got a great process there. I might borrow that! 🙂
Great reminder, Maria, thank you. I find that often it’s difficult to prioritize my painting time over all of life’s to dos.
My next big thing is a series of paintings, returning to a theme from almost 10 years ago, with the skills I’ve aquired since. I feel if I can just stick to my vision, without going off on tangents (usually brought on by others opinions) that I can truely say what I want and offer it out to the cosmos💖
Can’t wait to read you book, great job getting to the finish line👏👏👏 I imagine there is a lot of pain as well as joy reliving it.
Oh wow Maria! Important topic. I have trouble focusing on one thing in general for very long. That said, there are two gallery shows locally (but they’re national shows). My one goal is to have several of my best paintings ready for both- which I’ve been invited to.
Dear Maria, It’s great to hear from you! I can’t wait to read your book. I really love reading memoirs. I wish you all the best, and your advice to “stay focused” is pure gold. Keep pushing forward! We’re rooting for you (and for our art as well). Rhia
Timely message! I need to move my art business in a new direction but I keep clinging to the old model that is no longer working. I need to go all in on the new, BIG, model and it will change everything!
I want to do mural work all around the island (Nassau, Bahamas), sharing cool art and hope quotes. I wanted mural work to be a big component of my work this year, and I had this idea for several years (it resurfaced this year). And as I think about it, I want to do 10+ murals, some sponsored by the government and private donors, and have an art exhibit this year with smaller works of a similar style and nature. I’d love to document the entire process too and share it online.
A series of Hope Quotes on walls, canvases and shirts.
Working on my next big art project: a 12 piece painting series, to show by November 2024.