Why Celebrating Small Wins Matters for Writers

From Edie: Celebrating small wins helps writers stay motivated, protect creativity, and keep moving forward when the writing journey feels hard.

Why Celebrating Small Wins Matters for Writers

by Larry J. Leech, II @LarryJLeechII

Man, us Americans do love our celebrations. Not just the big ones like birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Easter, and New Year’s Eve a few weeks ago. We love celebrations so much that Cinco de Mayo, Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, and Halloween have grown in popularity during the last 15 to 20 years. And let’s not forget National Coffee Day, National Hot Dog Day or National Donut Day. Seems like there is something to celebrate every day of the year.

Your celebrations could extend to your writing career as well. Why not? Why not take a moment and enjoy reaching a goal?

Since the calendar flipped to the new year, I had a conversation with a fellow writer about what we face as creatives, especially those who write for a higher power. We face constant doubt, emotional roller coasters, an enemy whispering in our ear that we’re not good enough or worthy. Not all jobs endure these of attacks and invasive thoughts. An assembly line worker only has to worry about doing their job well enough to please their boss and meet federal regulations. Creatives don’t have it that simple. 

So, when we reach a goal of writing 500 words a day, or 2,500 a week, or 10,000 a month or a blog a day or an article a week or whatever the goal is, take a moment and enjoy. Doesn’t matter how you celebrate. Whatever makes you, and your family, happy. Maybe you indulge in a beverage from the best coffee chain in the U.S. or a donut from that other one.

For me, I like to binge-watch Castle. Or dine out with my wife, Wendy. Another go-to celebration is to chill on the couch and binge-watch anything Star Wars. 

When I don’t take a moment to celebrate, grinding away to produce material becomes more difficult. And eventually work feels like sludging through mud, and I suffocate my creativity. I have learned that valuable lesson that life is too short to keep my nose to the grind all the time. So now Wendy and I celebrate big … and little accomplishements. 

And now this blog is done, I’m off to … party all day and rock ‘n roll all night. 

TWEETABLE

Why Celebrating Small Wins Matters for Writers from @LarryJLeechII on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Usually with a hot beverage nearby, Larry J. Leech II spends his days working with words—as a writing coach of award-winning authors, as well as Acquisitions Editor and Master Book Coach for Illumify Media. More than forty years ago, Larry started his career as a sportswriter in southwestern Pennsylvania where he covered prep sports, college sports, and the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers. In 2004, after 2,300 published articles, Larry shifted to book publishing. Since that time, he has ghostwritten thirty books, edited more than 450 manuscripts, and coached hundreds of authors through the writing and publication process. For nearly two decades Larry has taught at numerous general market and inspirational conferences nationwide. When he has a minute, Larry likes to hang out on Facebook and Instagram. You can also find out more about him on his website: larryleech.com.