Commitment

OK, I know there are literally a zillion people out there share the same dream with me: becoming a novelist. And many of them probably are more talented and/or have more resources. The situation seems bleak. In his website (peacecorpswriters.org) teaching people how to write a novel in 100 days or less, Mr. John Coyne says in 1996 alone there were 140,000 books being published in the United States. But instead of intimidating the readers, he re-frames this scary number and says: “So, why not you?”

I like that kind of “naïve positivity.”

The other day I watched the movie “Julia and Julie,” and I found the idea of determination, persistency, and consistency in finishing a project very therapeutic. I’m attractive to it! Therefore, I hereby decide to initiate my project: write a novel in a hundred days, carefully follow the guidelines of John Coyne.

This is just a test project. A trial. It’s OK nobody reads and/or cares about it (so I stated to convince myself). It’s possible what comes out is a junk. But that’s ok; it’s just a starter for me to cultivate a habit and to finish something from head to toe. I would say I have many excuses not to finish this thing: I have a family, 3 kids, both my wife and I are pursuing Ph.D.s, and I already sleep less and less. I have to propose my dissertation pretty quick, I have another project or two at hands, and I’m teaching a troublesome course. I have to compile another potential course, and I have to start to investigate job market. All in all, adding another task that seems to be unrelated to my academic goal on top of what I have to do is crazy and stupid. Finally, I’m old.

I know. Now, let’s try it, shall we?

Project:
A novel in 100 days
(link: http://www.peacecorpswriters.org/pages/depts/resources/resour_writers/100daysbook/bk100da.html)

Proclamation:
I promise I will commit to this project by devoting at least 30 minutes every day on writing a novel. And I will finish a novel by the 100th day (May/24/2010).

Schedule:
Every day I’ll write from 8:30am to 9am. In case of conflict schedule, then 12:30pm to 1pm or 7pm to 7:30 pm.

The 1st day: Feb/14/2010 (Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year)

Day 1:
Make a promise to yourself that you are going to do it.
"I do."

99 days to go!