Do you have a chronic habit of starting projects...but then you lose steam, get overwhelmed, give up, and don't finish?

 

This email is for you.

 

Here's my advice on how to finish what you've started. While I'm speaking about "writing a book," really, these suggestions apply to any kind of project: organizing your finances, decluttering your closet, applying for a grant, anything.

 

. . . 

                                     

Do you have a half-written book manuscript buried somewhere on your computer? Or maybe a book outline you started tinkering with, but never completed? Or a list of great ideas for book chapters you never got around to finishing?

 

For many people, the story goes something like this:

 

You get a great idea for a book. You start writing. You feel optimistic. You have every intention of finishing. You even pay money to enroll in a writing course, or hire a writing coach, hoping this will be that extra edge you need to complete the project successfully.

 

But then…something happens.

 

The initial burst of motivation wears off. You get overwhelmed. You get distracted. The project begins to feel cumbersome, complicated, and heavy. Doubt creeps in. Or, life happens—a child gets sick, a pet passes away, your roof needs to be repaired, and so on.

 

Somewhere along the line, your beautiful book gets deprioritized. The project gets put aside until “later.” Time passes. You never get around to finishing it. It’s disappointing.

 

And you want to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

 

But how?

 

Here’s my best advice on how to make sure you actually finish writing your book…and don't lose steam, get overwhelmed, and give up.

 

1. Start with an extremely simple book concept—and stick with it. Keep it simple. Do not add unnecessary complexity.

 

My very first book was titled 50 Ways to Say You’re Awesome, and that’s exactly what it was: a list of 50 creative ways to tell someone you love how awesome they are. Because I stuck firmly to this very simple concept, I was able to finish writing the book without getting overwhelmed.

 

Often, the most powerful projects are also the simplest. Think about the sweet simplicity of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, a TV program that touched millions of children’s lives, including my own.

 

Making something “complicated” doesn’t necessarily make it stronger, or more impactful. Simple is good. Let it be simple.

 

2. Clear distractions.

 

We live in a very noisy world. If you’re a “typical” American, this means you’re exposed to 4,000-10,000 marketing/advertising messages daily, you deal with 121 work-related emails daily, and you spend 144 minutes per day on social media.

 

That’s an incredible amount of incoming information pouring into your brain. It’s too much. And it’s very difficult to finish anything under these conditions.

 

If you want to write a book (or complete any kind of project), you need to declutter your mind. You need less info-overload, and you need a quiet space so you can actually think, feel, and create.

 

Clear distractions, and do it with seriousness and fierceness, like a mama lion protecting her precious cubs.

 

Turn your phone off. Take a sabbatical from social media. Log out of email. Talk to your family/housemates and implore them to leave you in peace for 3 hours so you can write. Put on noise canceling headphones. Do whatever you need to do.

 

You will be astonished by how much better you feel, and how much faster you can get into the flow and stay there, once you clear distractions out of your workspace.

 

3. Write down a list of 5 reasons why you really want to finish this project.

 

There are so many good reasons to write a book. What are yours? Make a list. Read your list back to yourself daily. Keep reminding yourself why you’re doing this. Remembering why you started…can help you find the energy to finish.

 

. . .

 

Even if you have started, stopped, and given up 100 times in the past, the next time can be different.

 

You can learn from past mistakes. You can build a new plan. You can give yourself the conditions you need to thrive. You can do this. Your dream is doable.

 

To quote Dr. Sasha Heinz, “Just because something hasn’t happened yet…doesn’t mean it won’t.”

 

The future can be different from your past.

 

Your evening can be different from your morning.

 

This next project you start can be the one you finally finish.

 

Today is not over yet.

 

-Alex

 

PS. If you want to write a book, but you feel overwhelmed by the notion of writing a gigantic 300-page book, writing a "tiny book" might be a good option for you. A tiny book is a short book (any topic you want) that's not too long. Around 30-80 pages, max. It's a simple book that you can realistically complete in a short timeframe. Big ideas in a tiny package.

 

PPS. The Tiny Book Course starts very soon. Are you in? :) We guide you from Point A ("I want to write a book") to Point B ("I did it! My book is done, printed, and in my hands!"). Let's make you a finisher. Because it just feels so good to finish what you've started.

 

PPPS. If you’re thinking about enrolling in the Tiny Book Course, but need to ask a question first, please email support@tinybookcourse.com and ask away! Thank you.

 

PPPPS. FYI: we have two enrollment levels: Regular course (follow along, watch tutorials, do things yourself) or VIP package (which includes professional copyediting, cover design, and more). And yes, we do have payment plans if you want to pay in a few installments over time. No problem.