Some time ago a writer friend on Twitter asked:
“I have two novels I’m working on. I could write this or revise that, but I really am not invested in which one I should do first. Which should I do first?”
My answer:
“Do the thing that is closest to done.”
In the next week or so, we’re going to be inundated with advice about new year’s resolutions and changing our lives and making ourselves better people (sweating, remodelling and starving ourselves, if necessary.) I have something planned for that, too, so buckle up for more on that later.
As you evaluate what to do next, especially in your writing, do the thing that’s closest to done. You need to get your work done and out there. No, I’m not saying publishing is a sprint (though it is that and a marathon, too.) No, I’m not saying you have to change. Maybe you’re one of the few who have everything going for you. But probably not. That’s not saying anything against you. It’s just statistically likely that you’re just as screwed up as most everyone else. Few of us will keep our high-minded resolutions past January 15th. But we could. It’s our choice to screw up and our choice not to. You can do everything right and still fail, of course, b
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ut your chances of not failing are much better if you at least play, participate, ship, compete and do.
As Seth Godin says, “You’ve got to ship.”
As Bruce Lee said, “You must compete.”
As Larry the Cable Guy says, “Git ‘er done!”
Oh my God, I just quoted Larry the Cable Guy. Shit. I really have to change my life around.
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- New Year’s Resolutions and why you need to set them (lovesexandhappiness.wordpress.com)
- 85% of New Year’s resolutions fail, so pledge not to make one with this app (thenextweb.com)
- Is Your New Year’s Resolution Really Worth Doing? v2012 (studio44concepts.com)
- Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail (And How to Keep Them) (livescience.com)
Filed under: getting it done, What about Chazz?, What about you?, writing tips, Bruce Lee, completing work, Larry the Cable Guy, New Year, new year's resolutions, seth godin
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