How to Complete: Nearing the Finish Line After Fourteen Years

I was a decent runner at school. Well, that’s how I remember it anyhow. 

I definitely recall enjoying both short and long distance. However, one common factor between them was - the home straight. That feeling when I’d pushed myself so far, ignoring the pain, and then the finish line appeared.

The rush of adrenaline coursing through me. My heart feeling as though it was about to explode. Muscles aching. Struggling to breathe. Everything inside of me says, 

• ‘just give up’

• ‘It doesn’t really matter,’ 

• ‘The fact you took part is good enough.’

But the finish line is just there. If I keep putting one foot in front of the other, I’ll make it. I just need to silence those voices telling me to give up; that I’ll never make it. That I’m not good enough. Yada, Yada…

Sometimes I ignored them. I’d cross the line, and the euphoria kicked in. I’ve made it! All that hard work pays off. I collapse in a heap begin to recover.

Fourteen years

Have you dedicated a considerable amount of time to something? You’re so near completion–like me nearing the finish line at school–but things keep coming up (both internal and external) that attempt to derail you? 

I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Well, you may or may not know I’ve been writing a science fiction novel…for the past fourteen years. Yes, that’s right. It’s not a typo. And, I’m soooo close to finishing. I have about a month’s worth of writing to complete, then proof reading, before submitting to the printers. Naturally, there are numerous sub stages throughout the process, and if you’re interested in that, you can follow in my author newsletter.

But if you’re not remotely interested in sci-fi, or even reading books, whatever you may want to achieve, I want to share what’s got me to the point of practical completion.

Negative to positive expectations

Five or more years ago, I couldn’t say for certain whether I’d finish the book. I wanted to, of course. I was plodding through it, but I didn’t expect to finish it anytime soon. Now, God willing–as we never know what happens in life: illness, major family issue, or World War III! – barring all that, I have complete confidence I will complete. The finish line is in sight.

So what changed? How did I go from not having the expectation of finishing to having complete confidence?

Five ways to complete

There were a few things that I’ll outline here and hope will be useful for you in whatever you are trying to complete.

1. Visualise your success

Back in September 2020, I was partaking in an awesome coach training programme with Consciously Digital. During one session, I volunteered to be a guinea pig for the coach facilitator as she trained our group on visualisation techniques. She guided me through imagining the completion of my book. I visualised sitting in a local bookstore–Waterstones in St Albans (it works better when you are as specific as possible.) I could see my book on the shelves. People were milling around looking at a table arrayed with them. Another group was sitting around me listening intently as I read from my novel.

I could smell the print, and the coffee. I could hear the buzz of other customers in the store. And I could feel what it was like to be a published author. It felt like a great achievement.

If you can visualise your success, it’s well known that our brains treat this type of dream in the same way as reality. Think about the last time someone told you that they stubbed their toe on a chair. You feel it right, as though you’d just done it. It’s like that.

I’ve written a guide called How to visualise your future to get you going.

2. Get some accountability

In tandem with visualising your success, the other thing that enabled me to get this far, is making myself accountable to others. This I’d done through my Creatives Hub group ten years ago, and my Conekto group as well as working with coaches latterly.

Being able to explain what I’m doing, when I will do it and commit on a weekly basis to report back on my progress has been an awesome tool to drive me forwards. 

Whether you hire a coach or join an accountability group, or even just connect with a friend on a regular basis, getting the right accountability structures is paramount.

3. Track your progress

When I was running long distance it was harder sometimes to be motivated when I couldn’t see the finish line. Round and round the track, everything can look the same making it difficult to assess exactly where you are and thus how far to go.

With my book, I knew the stages and ticked them off as I got to them. I can clearly see progress, even if sometimes it didn’t feel like it.

Someway to track your progress is key in motivating you to completion. I also use the wonderful project management tool Basecamp which is a Godsend for tracking progress. But there are many other tools you could use also. The important thing is to find a way that works for you.

4. Get others involved

Now you might think this is the same as Accountability point above. But what I mean here is collaboration. I’ve had editors, designers, video producers, social media specialists, beta readers and more involved in aspects of my novel. 

I have commissioned them, either paid or unpaid, to do a specific job. For each of them, I have to do my part to provide them with what they needed to complete their task, which acts as a strong motivator for me to not let others down.

If I was purely working on my own, I would be nowhere near completion. The whole project speeded up once I had others involved. Remember this when you’re trying to complete a project. Ask yourself who can you get involved.

5. Have a little faith

As it says in the bible, ‘Nothing is new under the sun. Everything that’s been done has been done before.’ Maybe in a different way, using newer technology. But the essence of it will have been done before.

Obviously, I’m not the first person to write a science fiction novel, even if no other book is exactly the same as mine. I’d love to say it’s one hundred percent original, but that not even possible.

There is nothing we can do that is new to God. He knows everything and this can give us a lot of confidence in what we are trying to achieve; giving us faith in the process. And this faith in the process can encourage us to be disciplined. Going back to the running analogy… 

Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.…Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9: 24-27, Holmans Bible

Even though I’ve never published a book before, I know the process having learned it, and I will have faith it will all work out. Even if at points it doesn’t look like it will, trusting the process, being disciplined, means you keep going anyway.

The final countdown

So, now I’m into the home-straight. I can see it, taste it, smell it and feel how close I am. I’d love you to help by signing up to my kickstarter crowdfunding page. It’s only a quick form to register and you’re done. Then you’ll be notified when the campaign launches and you can choose to back me financially.

It’s incredibly exciting at this stage with just a months worth of writing to do to complete, then the final production and it will be ready, and people will be able to read the very real story that started off as a simple idea in my mind! 

Whatever you’re working on, keep at it. Visualise your success, get some accountability. Make sure you track your progress as you get others involved. And finally have a little faith. 

I can’t wait to hear how you get on! Please let me know in the comments.