So. You’ve made it this far. What’s your next step?

This question is one I’ve been continually posing to myself. I’ve made some big steps forward—or the steps I’ve been making suddenly feel cumulative. I actually have a publication date for Piper Pan and Her Merry Band: Book One—The Curse of the Neverland. September 19, 2014. Yes, you read that right—only 6 weeks or so away!

When you reach a point that’s further along in your dreamed-of endeavors than you’ve been before, the tasks ahead are unfamiliar, and can seem overwhelming. Therefore the question is an important one: What’s your next step?

Admittedly, I am a person who needs a plan, and a pretty specific one. While I write without an outline, I’m a “pantser” as the slang among fiction writers goes: one who writes “by the seat of my pants” rather than by an outline, I don’t live comfortably that way.

I will actually argue strongly for the importance of not getting too married to a specific plan, of remaining open to opportunities and intuitive hunches. But having a plan, especially having a defined “next step” is key to ensuring forward motion.

I’m sure you, like I, have had a vision, a big dream, or even a small daydream that recurs –something like “Wouldn’t it be nice if…” (It’s all in the dot, dot, dot! Take a minute to identify yours.)

But have you said to yourself “What would be the next step, from where I am right now, to move toward that lovely vision?” The next step must be small, it must be specific, and your gut has to say “yes,” even if it also contracts in fear.

One of the many things I need to do soon is to plan a book launch event. I want it to be perfect, of course, but I don’t really know what will make it perfect.  Can you help? Have you ever been to a book launch? What happened, what did you like or not like, and what would have made it better?

I’m pretty clear that I will do a short reading from the book, and of course sell and autograph books. But I’m not a person who enjoys large events, I don’t “mill around” with ease, and I know this event will not be in a bookstore (allowing people like me to browse while waiting for whatever).

Of course I have parameters, but to start with, I’d really like your ideas and to hear of your experience. Please reply to this e-mail, or post a comment on my site.

Coach’s Challenge: I know naming your dream can be hard if you’ve kept it at bay for a while. So do this: just catch its tail, feel its essence, and name one thing about that vision that makes you smile, sigh, or gives you goose bumps. Now, take that single element. Does it already exist in your life? If so, how can how get more of it? If not, how can you get the smallest possible taste of it regularly into your life? The key to manifesting the big dreams is to feel its presence NOW. Part of that is noticing and dwelling on what you already have that fits perfectly into your dream scene.