Don’t break the chain

January 9, 2014

I’ve been struggling with my motivation lately. Actually, that’s only partily true – it’s motivation + a changed work situation that have thrown my old routines into disarray. But what’s an excuse, and those aren’t useful. What I need are solutions.

Two things. First, I refer you to Jerry Seinfeld’s Productivity Secret. Side note: Though he revealed on his recent AMA that he didn’t come up with it, I’m sticking with the name because it’s how I remember it. Sorry Jerry, you’ll just have to continue being an inspiration. I’m sure you’ll manage somehow.

When I finally finished the first draft of my book, it was largely thanks to Mr. Seinfeld’s productivity framework, which allowed me to make steady gains each and every day. 1,000 words a day, get a streak going, don’t break the chain. It works.

But I haven’t been using it since. When I moved from only generating content to heavily editing it as well, the productivity trick didn’t work as well. Or maybe I didn’t think it would, so I didn’t keep it up. I’m not sure. What I do know is that I’m reviving it, and once again I would like your help.

Every day I’m challenging myself to do two things: write 1,000 words of new content, and edit (or rewrite) 1,000 words of previous content. (By the way, only writing/editing my fiction counts – blogging is extra.) Then, on every post I publish here or on Random Curiosity, I’m going to put my current total for the two chains at the bottom of the post where everyone can see them.

If you know me, you know why I’m doing this. When I’m only answering to myself it’s easy to take a day off or let a short chain lapse, but when I have to tell all of you that I’ve been slacking off…well, that’s another story. I hope to once again harness the power of pride and public shame to keep me going, but I’ll need your help to do it. Oh, you don’t have to do much; just keep reading what I post and silently judge me when I falter. Just knowing you’re watching makes all the difference.

I’m probably biting off more than I can chew. I’ve never both written new content and edited this consistently. I’m probably being too ambitious–but no, those are excuses too. I need solutions. I need action.

Writing chain: 0 days long; Editing chain: 1 day long.

I have some work to do.