Writers Need Mental Toughness—How to Develop a Just Do It Writing Attitude

by Larry J. Leech II @LarryJLeechII

Just Do It.

Three of the most powerful brand words ever used in advertising.

Those words made famous by a world-renowned apparel and sports equipment company have motivated millions of people to get off their butts and take action, whatever “it” might be. 

Walking. Running. Lifting. Golfing. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? At least the ads featuring well-defined athletes can make a person feel that way.

Pushing your body to the limit—no pain, no gain, right?—is the obvious command of those three words. But those three words invoke more than something physical. Oh, so much more than putting on a pair of sneakers and hitting the pavement or pulling on a pair of shorts and T-shirt and heading to the gym.

On television, and maybe in the gym or on the running trail, how often have you seen an athlete with that “look” in their eyes? The look comes from mental preparation that they will not be denied in their effort to accomplish their “it.”

Mental toughness and mental preparedness are an unspoken important key to Just Do It.

Marathon runners talk about pushing through a wall late in the race. Other athletes talk about the mental aspect of success—envisioning making the putt on No. 18 to win the Masters or completing a last-second touchdown pass to win a game. 

The mental preparation of an athlete often leads to great success. Being mentally prepared can lead to great success for us writers as well. As nice as it might be, we can’t Just Do It when we sit to write. Okay, pantsers feel free to prove me wrong here. Being mentally prepared with a plan produces the best results.

Wherever I have lived, I only work in my “office.” I never venture out to work at the dining room table, or onto the couch in the living room with the television on, or propped up in bed with my computer on my lap. This has been my choice. I didn’t want to turn most of my house into an office.

Because, when I walk into my office, I shift into work mode. My brain knows, thanks to repetition and routine, that I am in that room to work. I forget about the dirty dishes in the sink, swiffering the floor, or clothes that needed folded. The mental part of this exercise moves me from desire to productivity.

I also have a “branch office,” an internationally known coffee house that serves hot beverages in green and white cups. My routine there—setting my drink in the same spot near my mousepad, putting in my earbuds, and finding music on YouTube—flips my brain into work mode.

This mental shift stimulates focus and productivity. And, in the end, happiness. 

Completing a writing session in which you hit your target of 1,000 words or 500 words or 5 pages or 10 pages, should bring a sense of accomplishment. Or maybe the goal was to write a blog, or update your website, or connect with readers on social media. 

Whatever “it” was your goal, prepare mentally to maximize your efforts. And then Just Do It.

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Writers Need Mental Toughness—How to Develop a Just Do It Writing Attitude from @LarryJLeechII on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Editor-in-Chief at Bold Vision Books and writing coach of award-winning authors, Larry J. Leech II has spent more than forty years writing and editing. He started his career as a sportswriter in southwestern Pennsylvania where he covered prep, college, and pro sports, including the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers. 

In 2004, after 2,300 published articles, Larry moved into the book publishing industry. Since that time, he has ghostwritten 30 books, edited more than 400 manuscripts, and coached hundreds of authors through the writing and publication process. You can find him online on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Featured Image: Photo by Beth Jnr on Unsplash