Why can’t I write that novel? It’s just that habit thing.
Five hundred words.
Five hundred words a day. You wouldn’t think it is that hard.
It’s a blog post for pity’s sake.
Day after day for over a year, the outline of a novel has wrestled around in my thoughts. Why can’t I designate time to spew out a first draft?
The other week, my eyes happened upon a book at our local library.
Daisy, our kitty, was determined to be in this photo.
Better Than Before, Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives.
I need to master writing each day.
Gretchen Rubin’s book is a fascinating look at personality tendencies and what it takes to form a habit. She hypothesizes that by creating habits we change behavior.
The behavior I want to cultivate is hammering out a first draft.
Rubin stresses what works for one person — to stick with a diet or exercise plan — might not work for 10 others.
It’s important to understand yourself and your unique idiosyncrasies to form a habit or give up something such as a case of wine a day routine.
She designates four personality tendencies toward sticking to habits.
Upholder
Questioner
Obligor
Rebel
Turns out I am a Rebel which means I only follow habits, external or internal, if I want to.
(After reading the book, I thought I was a Rebel. Then I took the survey at the end of book and said yes to five of six Rebel questions.)
Why is this important?
External habits are those we stick to meet others’ expectations. Internal habits are those we adopt for personal desires.
As a Rebel I follow external pressures or internal pressures only if I want to.
Which kind of stinks and explains so much of my life.
Writing a novel falls squarely in the camp of internal expectations.
I’ve had success with pure internal challenges from small things like reading the bible each day – done that every day since January 1, 2015. To bigger challenges such as training for marathons. To huge internal commitments like completing two successful adoptions which included massive internal regrouping and navigating two failed scenarios.
Writing this novel is something I want to do and I’ve commited to tougher challenges — so what is the problem with my attempts to form a daily habit of writing a first draft?
* * *
Update. Since drafting the above last weekend, I’ve written 500 (well, almost 500) words for four days straight.
What’s the difference? I’ve made it a priority and I’ve maybe figured out why it’s so hard for me to commit to this.
There’s no quick payoff. There’s no finish line in sight. It came to me that I’m much more into tackling goals than creating habits.
Goals seem to me as doable chunks of time with a payoff.
So I set the goal to write 500 words every day for 30 days.
A beginning, an end and a clearly defined task.
Hmm?
I’ll report back in 30 day to let you know how I did. Well, if I want to report back I will, since I’m a Rebel and all.
Better Than Before was an insightful read.
Well researched. Rubin was a law clerk for Justice Sandra Day O’Conner so she’s got the researching thing down.
And she’s an entertaining writer. Who obviously can finish the first draft of a book.
Any habits you’d like to adopt that you haven’t quite been able to?
Thanks for the recommendation. I’m definitely curious about where I fall in. I hope you’re very successful in your 30 days. The hardest thing for me to do is start anything and stick with it but when I get on a role it’s as good as done. I just need that kickstart.
Well. It depends on your definition of success. I have written every day. Five hundred words, not so much. But there are days I write more. 🙂
That sounds like a fantastic book, and hats off to you for the process you made! Writing is really flipping hard. Writing every day is even harder (for me, anyway). I give mad props to anyone who has a daily habit of writing, quantity of words notwithstanding. I also do much better with the goal approach, especially if that goal makes me publicly accountable somehow. Short of being handed an advance and a deadline, the way you’re doing it sounds just right to me. KEEP GOING!!!!
I did learn — with the book’s help — that public declarations don’t motivate me. But goals to help. Small chunks of accomplishment are easier for me to complete. Rather than thinking of 300,000 words. 🙂
Once again you inspire me! Funny, I have been working on reading the bible everyday since April and can’t seem to write the book I’ve been talking about. I’m going to read the book you suggested and get my bootie in gear. Xoxo
In the habit book she mentions using the app Scrivener to help write a book. It’s amazing for someone so scattered like me. It helps you organize every thing from research to chapters — images of places or what you think characters look like. Honestly, it’s made be hopeful that I can to this — if I put in time. It helps with fiction, non fiction. Memoir, poetry. I’d love to read your book Tiffani. You have an inspiring story.
Just looking at the list, I feel I too am a rebel. I have been working on a book of daily devotions forever. Please keep posting your progress and maybe I will get motivated as well! You are doing great. Hope the habit is becoming second nature.
Well, I’ve made some progress. I hope to devote time this NaNoWriMo. Might not get a full draft done but maybe a half? A third?