The 12 Week Year for Writers

CHAPTER 9MAKING YOUR FIRST 12 WEEK YEAR A SUCCESS

My goal in this chapter is to prepare you for a successful first 12 Week Year. These next 12 weeks are critical because that's when you'll either embrace the system and learn to make it work for you, or you'll hit an obstacle, falter, and quietly abandon your plans. If you're nervous about how things will go, you're not alone. How many times have you watched someone start a new diet, a new exercise regime, or some other new system, only to see them drop it within a week or two? I'm guessing you can think of a lot of people in this group. By contrast, how many people can you think of who stuck with a new program for 12 weeks, had success, and then failed to keep moving forward? My guess is that you can't think of too many.

If you trust the process I've outlined, three important things are going to happen in your first 12 Week Year. First, you are going to learn how to apply the 12 Week Year system on a week-in and week-out basis. Your ability to plan your writing and carry out your plans will improve weekly. Second, you are going to start building new habits associated with applying the system and getting your writing done. Finally, you are going to reach the goals you set for yourself.

As with the launch of any new endeavor, there will be obstacles to getting off the ground. Shaking off unproductive old habits is hard. Building new habits is also hard. Figuring out how to integrate new systems and processes into your life takes ...