I’m A Failed Writer #10: Big Projects, Small Lists

(failed writer video)

I’m a coward. When faced with a big project – something time consuming, something that will require sacrifices to be made – my instinct is to run away. Fast. No looking back. For that reason, it took me a long time to come around to the point where I (somewhat) enjoy the challenge of a big project. I’m talking about something like writing a novel or being in a long-term relationship. These are things that require work. Day after day. Month after month. Year after year.

The funny thing is that a key method I use to confront these big projects is so simple, so low-tech (so cheap in therapy costs!) that it almost seems like it’s cheating. And here it is:

I know, I know. It’s not the most profound idea. But I’m still amazed how much it helps. What about you? Do you have tricks like this?

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6 comments
MaverickNY
MaverickNY

Love the orange text with the square box! I needed to do the same thing recently to mimic old science coding, but could not figure out how to get the 1980s box on the screen - how did you do that?

yuvizalkow
yuvizalkow moderator like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @MaverickNY I did it with WriteRoom for Mac. http://www.hogbaysoftware.com/products/writeroom

 

I also downloaded the "DOS" theme for WriteRoom and tweaked it slightly for my needs:

http://www.candlerblog.com/2011/11/07/some-writeroom-3-0-themes/

MaverickNY
MaverickNY

 @yuvizalkow Oh very cool - I usually use WriteRoom late at night with a black background and green cursor, but wanted the orange to remind me of the old DOS versions.  Thanks for the theme link - very cool!

tlalinne
tlalinne

Great video, Yuvi. Totally agree with you about lists. These little things we write every day and get rid of without a single thought are, in my opinion, the essence of writing. Umberto Ecco in "The Infinity of Lists: An illustrated Essay" wrote, "The list is the origin of culture. It's part of the history of art and literature." (1) No wonder that lists are the writer's best friend! One day maybe you'll write a novel in list form. Why not, after all?

 

(1) Thanks to Maria Popova great blog "Brain Pickings": http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/12/22/umberto-eco-on-lists/