Sometimes, you want to tackle a big writing project. You head into the work and discover you’re not ready for it. The work defeats you.
You stare at the crumpled pages and discarded drafts and wonder where you went wrong. This is the project you’re supposed to undertake, isn’t it? Doubts multiply. Maybe you aren’t a good writer. Maybe you should get a job at Starbucks and forget about this writing bit.
Don’t. The big writing project is yours. It’s called your name, and it’s yours to do. You aren’t ready for it today, but you will be. All you have to do is level up your writing.
It isn’t fun; you’re going to spend hours, days, weeks, months, and maybe even years preparing yourself. You pick fights with any writing projects that come your way. You go through the exercises. You write about things you’re passionate about and things you’re not.
You test your mettle against bigger and bigger projects. Some you conquer; others conquer you. You lick your wounds and try again. More wandering in the wilderness. More fighting the writing, making it obey. More discovering of weapons, arming yourself against discouragement and doubt. More experience.
All of it is preparing you for the big project. You see it on the horizon, a turtle blotting out the sky. It has some dents in its shell; it didn’t leave its encounters with you unmarked. It’s marked. It’s been staked out. It’s yours.
You begin the approach. You’re ready. You stalk it, a hunter on the prowl. One night, you come face to face with it. It doesn’t laugh or kill you in one stroke. Oh, no. You’re prepared. You have the right weapons. You’ve learned to deflect its arrows and words of abuse. You have resurrection potions and totems to keep you safe and in the game.
You take aim, a David against a Goliath. Your aim is true, and the weapon strikes home. The turtle falls. It shakes the earth, but you—you stand firm. You have conquered the big writing project. You hear the victory music for a few seconds, then exit. You have work to do. There’s another big writing project calling your name, and you have to prepare to meet it.
Image: Keng Susumpow (Creative Commons)