Day 2944 – How I Wrote A Book In Six Months – or – Eat The Elephant One Bite At A Time

I’m not one to lie to you or to give a pretty picture of my life. I’ve put myself out there in pretty much all the ways that you can. There’s so much on the internet about how people don’t show the hard and gritty side of life. The hustle, basically. I hope that I give you my honest life. So in that vein, a few days ago, I was not doing well at all. I was feeling completely overwhelmed. I felt like I was never going to complete my to do list. I felt like a failure at so many things in my life.

Thankfully, I didn’t stay there long. I was reminded that a completed to do list will never happen. There are so many more important things to worry about than an incomplete to do list. I have skills to do the things I need to do. But my biggest realization over the last few days is that big things happen when you’re faithful with the small and the daily. There are certain things I do every day, and almost every day, and they have built up to big accomplishments. I think my biggest accomplishment is this blog. I’ve blogged every day since April of 2011. There were a few days in the beginning that I missed, and there are a few posts that have been removed, but I have shown up every day. Even though it’s a different type, I am writing every day. I have written just shy of 2,300 posts. I have blogged for 78% of my marriage. I didn’t realize these numbers until right now, but I am amazed at them. I have severely underestimated the power of small steps.

I’m grateful for a book I randomly found at the library Dream Big, Think Small by Jeff Manion (This is an affiliate link to Amazon. This means I will get a small percentage if you buy this book or something else. I only share affiliate links to things I have used. This book changed my life and I highly recommend it). It can be read cover to cover quickly, but he recommends reading a chapter a day. I’m taking this route. I keep the book with with my bible and journal as a reminder to read the chapter after my devotions. It has been such an encouragement. It has made me want to think of more ways to add small routines into my daily life.

So how did I write a book* in six months? I worked on it slowly, as much as I could in a day. I didn’t work on it every day, but each small step, each short editing/writing session took me another step closer. Today marks three months on my alcoholism memoir. I’m not sure how much longer it will take to finish, as it’s a whole other type of project. It reminds me of the process of writing my first book* – one where it’s about growing and changing me in the process. It’s really starting to take shape, I’m in the “taking all the ramblings and putting them in a sensible order” stage.

Don’t underestimate the power of taking one bite of your elephant every day. And don’t think writing only 10-15 minutes a day won’t add up to your book one day.

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