Yesterday, the habit was to start. Today, the habit is to build. What’s the difference? All the blood, sweat and tears. Ok, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but hopefully you get my point. Starting something is that initial moment (or more likely lots of moments) when you begin to do something – like setting up a blog, for example. Building something is the work you put in day after day to make it into what you want it to be. So, building off of yesterday (see what I did there? hehehe), we’re going to take something we started (something ugly) and build it (make it beautiful).
The challenge for Day 8 is to finish something. To pick a project – whether it be a blog post, or a book, or something in-between – and finish it. Today. Well, I don’t think it’s possible to finish my BIG project today (though I will be working on it next), I can finish this blog post. And, guess what, I’ve been finishing blog posts every day now for 8 days – I’m building momentum; building habits.
Jeff also encourages participants in the Series to build another writing tool: a team. a group of people (at least 2 in addition to yourself) who become your team. These are the people who you then turn to for advice or emotional support during your writing process. These are the people whom you may ask to proofread a portion of your book or test something on your website or … basically do whatever you need them to do to be a part of your writing team. These are people who want you to succeed, in whatever way you define success, as much as you want it for yourself. The ones who cheer you on and push you further and further.
Right now, my husband is the only one with whom I’m sharing any of the BIG project actual writing. I suppose I need to “recruit†a few more team members. This is the tough part, though: finding people to listen to what you have to say, to be dedicated readers with constructive feedback. It’s similar to building an audience, just on a much smaller scale.This, I think, will take more than one day, but I’m starting and I’m building. Hopefully, one day soon, it will be beautiful.