Break it down to build it up

Facing a big challenge in life and feeling daunted? Here's how to make it manageable, and maybe even enjoyable, writes Simon Hall.

There's a question a writer often gets asked.

And it's got an easy and effective answer, which can help with just about any big challenge in life. 

 

The question goes like this:

    - How do you find the time to write a book?

 

There are usually some additions, like what a huge piece of work a book is, and how the person concerned would love to write one although wouldn't have the time, but that's essentially it. 

And here's the answer:

    - You're looking at the problem the wrong way.

 

This is what I mean:

It's true, writing a book is a very big project. Most are about 90,000 words as a rough average. 

But! Here's the alternative view. 

 

How often in life do we lament how quickly time passes? 

Often when the New Year comes around we look back and say, Gosh, that year went fast.

(2020 may be an exception given the C word, but let's not go into that.)

Anyway, imagine you took the time to write 250 words of a story every day of that year which has just zipped past. 

Just 250. Not a lot.

And here's the point:

 

By the end of the year, you would have a novel of more than 90,000 words. 

 

This breaking it down to build it up trick works with a whole range of challenges, not just writing a novel. 

Decorating the house?

You don't do it all at once, do you? It's a case of one corner, one ceiling, one room at a time. 

 

A major project at work? Break it down into parts. Deal with each in turn. 

Small steps and tangible achievements help with keeping up the morale and a sense of making progress. 

 

Just like writing a book. 

You can watch it grow, page by page in front of you, until there it is.

A completed novel, the challenge you set yourself conquered.

And wow, what a fulfilling feeling it is.



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