I was working recently with a coaching client who felt disheartened by her writing progress.
Rather than “writing” she was spending her time researching, reading and rewriting. Instead of watching the words mount up, she was deleting them. How could she monitor progress and feel positive about her project?
I told her that writing is not a race where we run forward hitting milestone after milestone. It’s more like a dance, where our steps take us forwards, backwards, sideways - and sometimes round in circles. The steps all count.
There are many ways to measure progress. We know this firsthand as we're deep into editing our book - we're at the stage where cutting words is as important as creating them (more on this below).
Think about what progress means for you, and your project, right now.
Psychologists tell us that goals work best when they’re based around simple, transparent rules. They're easy to remember and more likely to stick long-term.
Let’s say your goal is to write on Saturday morning for two hours, it’s going to be very clear to you when you’ve hit that goal, or when you've missed it. These are called ‘bright line’ goals and they work because they’re unambiguous and you know instantly when you’ve stepped over one.
Having a bright line goal gives you mental clarity, helps build a routine, and reduces the need for willpower and decision making to put the rule into practice. What are your bright lines? We'd love to hear.
"Being a workaholic isn't the key to productivity. It's a recipe for languishing. Having fun isn't an enemy of efficiency. It's fuel for finding flow. Play isn't a reward for finally making it through your to-do list. It *belongs* on your to-do list."
– Adam Grant, bestselling author and organisational psychologist at Wharton
👀 What we're reading: The Story Grid
Shawn Coyne is a story nerd. With over 25 years in the business he's edited some of the bestselling authors in the world and co-written and ghost written numerous books himself.
Rather than hide the secrets of good editing he launched Story Grid and this book shows you how to edit your own work - or someone else’s.
Originally based on genre fiction, the methodology has been extended to non-fiction. And it works! We're working with Story Grid editors on our book and it has transformed our storytelling at both the macro and micro level.
As Steven Pressfield writes in the introduction, “Art is not enough. Genius is not enough.” To be a good writer you have to be a good editor – that is the heart and soul of storytelling.
#1. Editorially speaking: From line editing, copy editing, proof reading and evaluation editing, Scribe Media's Tucker Max walks you though the different types of editing and editors you might need for your project.
#2. Back to the office? During lockdown, more than 60% of us started new creative pursuits from home. This Guardian article gives some smashing tips on how to keep your imagination alive if you have to head back to the office again.
#3. Bonkers for biros: If, like us, you believe using nice stationery is akin to a religious experience, you'll love this New York Times review of the best pens on the market. If you're wondering, the Uni-Ball Jestream wins. Naturally...
#4. The lives of others: Robert McKee is an author, lecturer and story consultant. Here, he talks to the Longform Podcast about his work and why it's impossible to create nonfiction or fiction if you're not aware of what is going on inside the heads of other people.
#5. Lightbulb moment: What does it take to come up with a new idea? In this beautiful short film, mathematician Cédric Villani reveals the seven key ingredients that come together to create breakthrough moments in human knowledge and innovation.
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Breakthroughs & Blocks is an email newsletter from writing productivity coaches Bec Evans and Chris Smith, co-founders of Prolifiko.
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