I’ve spent the last few months working on my new manuscript. The first month I laid some groundwork, like doing research, background character development and reading articles on some real-life people who are very loosely inspiring my main character. I didn’t want to overly plot out the entire book from the get-go, so I decided to start writing with the plan to return to the plotting once I hit about 10% of my word count.
Things were moving, but slowly. I was doing a lot of various forms of procrastination, then I started to second guess the entire concept. It’s been done already (hasn’t everything?). It’s not progressive enough. Interesting enough. It won’t sell. I hadn’t even written 5,000 words.
Then, a character from an entirely new story came to me, literally waking me out of my sleep. This, I must write immediately. I wrote more in a few days with this new idea then in the two or so months I’d spent on my previous concept.
I told my writing group. “Shiny new carrot,” one said.
And that’s the thing. When something is new and exciting, we launch into it with full enthusiasm and energy. Our spark of an idea is fuelled with boundless potential until we hit a friction point. Inevitably we’ll come face to face with road blocks and set backs. Not only is this normal. It’s part of the process.
You might have seen this visual of how success is not linear in nature (pictured below)1. You could easily swap the word success for creative projects, since they also follow the same non-linear path. We take twists and turns, and ups and downs, as we move from concept to creation.
It can be difficult to persevere and push through when progress starts to dip — whether it due to be motivation, time, or the skill set to know what to do next, to name a few. This got me thinking: what actions and thoughts does the person who completes a difficult task do differently than someone who stops mid-way?
“People who expect great things are going to have more trouble with adversity.”
You’ve put your idea on a pedestal
Two Wharton professors co-authored a paper on why top performers often quit when faced with adversity and discovered that potential embarrassment of not meeting expectations was why they threw in the towel. While their research subjects were professional tennis players, they applied the same logic to performance in the workplace. In a podcast conversation about the paper, co-author and professor Katherine Milkman said, “People who expect great things are going to have more trouble with adversity.”
As I considered why I was eager to drop my manuscript idea that I first went in with so much gusto, I realized I had placed the concept on a pedestal. I’d told myself that this manuscript needs to be amazing. If I couldn’t sell my previous novel, then this had to be it. It makes sense that I wanted to drop it. How could I ever meet the impossible expectations I’d placed on myself and the idea? (Maybe I was being too delulu?)
You don’t have the knowledge to move forward
Maybe you’re stuck on a section that requires additional research — be it a character detail, historical fact or topic that you’re not versed in. My main character is facing specific business-related challenges that I’ve never experienced or know a lot about. My plan is to do some additional research, as well as interview a few people in my circle with MBA’s to ensure my details are accurate.
Depending on what you’re writing, you might need to slow down to gain the knowledge you need to move forward. Progress doesn’t always equate to word count, so don’t beat yourself up when it happens. Instead, find experts, conduct research, schedule interviews, and then get back to writing when you’re armed with the information you need.
You’re afraid of failing
Producing a creative project requires grit and vulnerability. For many, the fear of the outcome can be so strong, it can prevent you from finishing your work. Arthur C. Brooks wrote about perfectionism and fear of failure for The Atlantic, writing, “The fear of failure seems to actually be about unknown outcomes, at least for those who are most anxious.”
Writing a book is full of uncertain outcomes. There’s no guarantee of financial reward, recognition, accolades, or securing an agent/editor.
Instead of fearing failure, if you don’t meet the goals you set out for yourself, Ethan Ross, a psychologist from the University of Michigan, found that self-distancing (aka third person reflections) can help to regulate your emotions when confronting failure, as it allows you to have a more objective perspective on the situation.
I didn’t manage to successfully sell the first book I wrote, but I also didn’t let it stop me from writing another.2 Failure is a part of life. Hallgeir Sjåstad, a professor of psychology and leadership at the Norwegian School of Economics told the BBC, “If you never fail, you’re probably aiming too low.”
“Grit isn’t about being more talented, more intelligent or more confident. It’s showing up to write on a regular basis and writing even when you’re not motivated or inspired.”
Build grit through good habits
The good news is, developing the mindset to persevere during difficult times is something you can learn to do. The difference between reaching your goals and not, can often be attributed to grit.3 Angela Duckworth, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, and a leading expert on grit, says that passion and sustained persistence to a long-term goal is a high predictor of success.
Grit isn’t about being more talented, more intelligent or more confident. It’s showing up to write on a regular basis and writing even when you’re not motivated or inspired. If you wait for inspiration to show up, you might be sitting in front of your computer for a long time.
While you don’t have to write daily, instilling a schedule or habit, is key. I currently am part of a writing group and we meet three times a week to co-write. I also have a habit tracker (I print a monthly calendar) that’s posted on a cork board beside my desk and I check it off (in neon pink) every time I write. The visual representation helps me to keep up my writing habit and allows me to celebrate my small wins along the way.
A couple weeks ago, I returned to the manuscript that I’d abandoned, taking it off the pedestal and focusing on what I can control — anything else is just noise.
What do you do when things get tough? How do you persevere? I’d love to know how you push through.
I like to give credit where credit is due, but unfortunately I don’t know who the original poster of this idea is. If you know, please tell me so I can add the credit.
According to one source, authors write an average of 3.24 books before debuting.
It’s not without saying that privilege, luck, and timing, are other factors that can contribute to success in publishing (and adjacent art fields). However, grit is something you can control.
another great post! Awesome advice.