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This was a great post. I enjoyed the book, and it's always interesting to hear about a writer's process. Everyone tackles the big challenge in a different way.
by hawkharris 12y ago
This was a great post. I enjoyed the book, and it's always interesting to hear about a writer's process. Everyone tackles the big challenge in a different way.
The only detail I disagree with is the one about telling your friends and family what you're doing as a way to keep motivated. A few years ago I read a paper about the psychological effects of talking about goals. [0]
The takeaway was that, for most people, sharing a goal provides a sense of satisfaction and self-validation. While it is pleasing, the sensation makes us significantly less likely to accomplish goals such as writing books, losing weight, etc.
Again, I enjoyed the post very much and don't mean to nitpick. I just think this is another interesting perspective to consider when you're setting out to tackle a big goal.
[0] Unfortunately, my memory is failing me, but if anyone knows of the paper - or an article or paper along these lines - please feel free to contribute.
- kandalf 12y agoI saw this paper as well. But I suspect for some people the effects of telling others will be net positive, even if that's not the average. Anecdotally, I believe that to be true for myself.
- lhc- 12y agoI dont have a link, but I know the paper you are referring to (and have found it to be true to my own real life experience). Congrats to the author for using that as motivation to keep up writing.
- eberfreitas 12y agoThis talk from Derek Sivers comes to mind: http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_keep_your_goals_to_yourself http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_keep_your_goals_to_you...
- kandalf 12y agoI saw this paper as well. But I suspect for some people the effects of telling others will be net positive, even if that's not the average. Anecdotally, I believe that to be true for myself.
- munificent 12y ago> The only detail I disagree with is the one about telling your friends and family what you're doing as a way to keep motivated. Yeah, I didn't mention this in the post, but it ended up doing nothing for me. I did it because at the time I saw some stuff recommending it, but I don't intend to do this again.
- shabble 12y ago> Unfortunately, my memory is failing me, but if anyone knows of the paper - or an article or paper along these lines - please feel free to contribute I believe it's normally referred to as the "Substitution effect", there's a paper by Gollwitzer et al called "When Intentions go Public"[1] that might be the one you're thinking of? [1] http://www.psych.nyu.edu/gollwitzer/09_Gollwitzer_Sheeran_Seifert_Michalski_When_Intentions_.pdf http://www.psych.nyu.edu/gollwitzer/09_Gollwitzer_Sheeran_Se...