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Do you know how to finish the writing you start? Being a good finisher is an entirely separate task from being a good writer…
I recently returned from a glorious two-week holiday on British Columbia’s Salt Spring Island.
We’ve been going to the same cottage (pictured here) for about 10 years, and the minute I walk in the door, I can feel both my shoulders and my blood pressure drop. All we did for two weeks was eat, read and swim. Oh, and tour a nearby lavender farm and look at the marvellous view!
Of course, extracting myself from my office for two weeks was a bit of an ordeal, because I had so many projects to wrap up before I could go. Still, I have a strong need for completion, so I’m pretty good at finishing projects I’ve started.
I was lucky to be born with plenty of stick-to-it-ive-ness, a trait my parents also encouraged. But if you weren’t so lucky in the genetic lottery, and you don’t know how to finish writing, I can suggest some ways to frame the process so you have better odds of success:
1-Examine your previous patterns
Make a list of every past unfinished writing project you can remember. List why you started those projects and when and why you stopped. Can you determine any common themes? Being aware of your habits will help you better arm yourself against them in the future.
2-Differentiate between experiments and commitments
When researching this column, I discovered an intriguing proposal from blogger Scott Young. He suggests we need to differentiate between tasks we really want to finish and those we are just experimenting with. For example, we don’t need to finish every book we start reading. Thus, you can view starting a book as an “experiment.” But there is also great merit in building the habit of being a “finisher.” The message of Young’s column: Be mindful about what you put in the “finishing” category. And if you put it there, do it.
3-Consider the full cost
Sometimes we don’t finish projects because we haven’t fully prepared ourselves for them. And, frequently, we accept goals that are simply too BIG for us. If you are going to commit to a project, make sure you truly understand it first. Talk to others who have undertaken similar goals and learn what they discovered while doing it. Most of all, don’t let “stretch” goals turn you into a pretzel. Be ultra-realistic as you plan for your project. Even if you’re unhappy with the idea that it might take you 10 times longer than you want, isn’t it better to be aware of this timeline than to be surprised by (and disappointed by) it later?
4-Don’t think too BIG
With a big project, it’s all too easy to feel overwhelmed about the size of it. That book you want to write needs to be 80,000 words. ACK! How can anyone ever write so many words? Don’t think about this right now. Instead, just get started. Focus on the small steps you need to take every day. Do those and let the big goal take care of itself.
5-Set exceptionally small daily goals
I’ve noticed that many of my clients overwhelm themselves with lofty, onerous goals — thinking that this strategy will help them become more accomplished. Instead, the reverse is true. The bigger the project, the smaller the goals need to be. I like what psychologist Martha Beck has to say about this idea: “To train an animal,” she writes, “you give high levels of reinforcement for very small moves. To train a killer whale to jump out of the water, you start by rewarding it just for coming to the surface. If it won’t come all the way to the surface, you reward it for advancing four or five feet.” (You can read her entire piece here.)
6-Find the pleasure in the work
Work will ALWAYS take longer than you expect. And if you focus on the endpoint, you’re likely to become tired and worn out. Instead, if you can remind yourself of WHY you’re doing this piece of writing and create some pleasure while you’re doing it, you’ll better prepare yourself for dealing with the inevitable frustrations of any large project.
7-Track your progress
Many people who don’t finish projects fail mainly because they have no accountability to anyone else. If you’re looking for accountability, my Get It Done program might be the right choice for you. Or you can also track your own writing. I call tracking a “secret sauce,” and you can learn how to use it here.
8-Stop ruminating
Sure, things will go wrong while you’re writing. That’s just the nature of the beast. But if you focus only on your failures, you’re going to hurt your chances of finishing. Instead of obsessing over what’s gone wrong, focus on what’s gone right. Celebrate your successes — even the small ones. This will not only boost your creativity, but it will also improve your odds of finishing. (I suggest you generate a daily list of one to three things you’re happy with in your project.)
9-Change the story you tell about yourself
Do you describe yourself as a slacker or a procrastinator or a perfectionist? Stop it! Those kinds of labels are not only not helping you, they’re also explicitly hurting. By attaching a negative label to yourself, you’re increasing the odds of it being true. Instead, tell yourself that you’re diligent and hard-working and successful. Even if those statements feel like a lie, they will work on your brain, gradually helping to transform you into someone who is more accomplished.
The only obstacle to finishing what you start is YOU.
Your fears.
Your anxieties.
Your inability to plan.
Don’t let these issues hold you back. Decide you’re going to be a finisher.
An earlier version of this post first appeared on my blog on Jan. 29/19.
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My video podcast last week addressed how to set up a literary café. Go here to see the video or read the transcript, and you can also subscribe to my YouTube channel.
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Need some help developing a better, more sustainable writing or editing routine? Learn about my three-month accountability program called Get It Done. There is turn-over each month, and priority will go to those who have applied first. You can go directly to the application form and you’ll hear back from me within 24 hours.
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Do you know how to finish big writing projects? What tricks do you use? We can all learn from each other, so please, share your thoughts with my readers and me in the “comments” section below. If you comment on today’s post (or any others) by July 31/24, I’ll put you in a draw for a digital copy of my first book, 8 1/2 Steps to Writing Faster, Better. To enter, please scroll down to the comments, directly underneath the “related posts” links, below. Note that you don’t have to join Disqus to post. See here to learn how to post as a guest. It’s easy!
