As I sit here with my decaf pumpkin spice, enjoying the early fall weather, I’m reflecting on what I’ve observed with my clients and my own writing projects over the past season. The theme seems to be how small steps move big projects forward.
Think about those beautiful fall leaves. They twirl through the air, one at a time, and land scattered on the ground. You rake them up into that big pile kids and pets love to jump into.
A big writing project is similar. You gather beautiful thoughts and stories, one small piece at a time. When you arrange them together, you have a finished project that will bless your readers.
Busy days and life’s challenges make it hard to consider finishing a big project like a book. But if you approach that project by gathering one small leaf at a time, you’ll get there.
It may look different each day:
- Five minutes of writing what you remember about a particular moment.
- Bullet-point brainstorming on a topic.
- Jotting down a description or piece of dialogue.
- Interviewing a family member.
- Researching a question.
- Recording your thoughts.
- Finding a photo that tells a story.
Those are all parts of the writing process. Step by step, they will get you to your goal. Each small step adds up and often prompts new angles and more memories. Stay in the moment, focus on the leaf in front of you, and soon you will have your project completed.
Writing is a journey, not a race. Enjoy each moment working on your project. If you enjoy putting it together, your readers will enjoy reading it.
Janet Eriksson 