January 27, 2010

All of our actions have results, or consequences. That’s not news to anyone. And yet, do we act like we believe that?

Not all that often.

Too many writers (myself included sometimes) believe that if we work our hardest and try our best and keep a good attitude, we’ll end up successfully published. Why? Because we have good intentions. But it’s “direction-not intention-that determines our destination,” says Andy Stanley in his new book The Principle of the Path.

Here’s a simple illustration. You may intend to be a great archer. However, if you work hard, shoot arrow after arrow, and lift weights to have stronger biceps-but don’t pay attention to direction-shooting arrows is a waste of your time. Oh, you might luck out and hit your target once in a blue moon, but that’s about it. Sadly, many writers approach their careers like this.

Good Intentions-No Direction

In every part of your life (health, relationships, writing career) you’re moving in some direction toward a specific destination. We don’t end up at that destination out of luck or sheer hard work or good intentions or because “it all worked out somehow.” Destination is the end result of the choices you made yesterday, added to the ones you make today, added to the ones you make tomorrow.

There are paths we choose that lead us to destinations we never intended, and there are paths we’re on right now that are leading us away from-not toward-our dreams and goals. If we’re headed in the wrong direction, no matter how good our intentions or how hard we work, we won’t reach our goal.

Personally Speaking

It’s the decisions you make on a daily basis that determine your path and your destination. For example, for many reasons I want to be super-healthy the older I get. I want it more than most other things because it affects all areas of my life. I know a lot about nutrition and exercise and weight loss and what my body needs to run its best. A healthy body is my intention and has been for years.

BUT the daily decisions I made last year to eat candy instead of the hated vegetables, to watch a movie instead of go running, and skip the weights work-outs have NOT led me to great health in 2010. My path led to higher cholesterol, higher blood pressure, much less stamina, and more headaches. (I bet you can guess what my goals are this year!)

Writerly Direction Needed Too

I see writers doing the same thing. They’ve got their goals written down, they’ve set deadlines for themselves, they’re determined to finish that novel and submit it, and ultimately they want to be published. They knock themselves out to create websites, network on Facebook and LinkedIn and writer chat rooms, write newsletters and blogs-but they never have time to actually do much writing. They spend so little time actually writing that they don’t improve.

Despite their great intentions, their daily choices are not taking them in the direction they want to go. (That’s my main reason for staying off the Internet till the afternoon, as mentioned in my Not-to-Do List. It diverts me from the path I want to take.)

“I know it’s tempting to believe that our good intentions, aspirations and dreams somehow have the ability to do an end run around the decisions we make on a daily basis,” says Andy. “But at the end of the day, the principle of the path determines the outcome. Simply put, you and I will win or lose in life by the paths we choose.”

What path will you choose today?

5 Comments »

1. 

   Great post. All those small decisions we make throughout the day tell us where we’re going, no? This year I’ve been more mindful and it’s helped in being productive.

   Laini Taylor uses the quote: You will go in the direction you’re looking for this post: http://growwings.blogspot.com/2010/01/you-will-go-in-direction-you-are.html

   I think it dovetails very nicely with yours.

   Comment by Vijaya — January 27, 2010 @ 10:04 am

2. 

   Wow Kristi,

   This is probably the deepest topic you’ve unearthed this year so far.

   Your words always make me think, and this post help motivate me to finally put together a schedule for both my writing and my life. Starting Monday, I’ll put it into practice.

   That said, is it me, or are you getting pithier in your topics? Anyway, thanks for this post. Also, thanks for admitting that you work on your blog posts in advance.

   It gave me the courage to try blogging again. I hope when I get it up and running you’ll check it out.

   C.J.

   Comment by C.J. Rockwell — January 27, 2010 @ 4:41 pm

3. 

   Thanks for the article referral, Vijaya. Yes, it sounded very similar! And C.J., thanks for the pat on the back. Not sure how deep this is, but sometimes the simplest ideas come out sounding the most profound. Have no idea if the posts are pithier or not. I just write about what I’m thinking about at the moment. I’ve only been doing the posts ahead of time since the beginning of the year, but it’s something I intend to do regularly. It really helps my work week be more productive when I can stay offline till the afternoon. Good luck to you!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — January 29, 2010 @ 3:39 pm

4. 

   This is such a great post, I’ve sent it on even to friends who aren’t writers. And placed a hold on The Principle of the Path at my public library. So thank you!

   And my path today…get my entry off to this contest over at Kidlit.com: http://kidlit.com/kidlit-contest/

   Comment by HelenR — January 30, 2010 @ 5:24 pm

5. 

   Just wanted to say your blog is very good, gracias.

   Comment by feldküche gulaschkanone — September 9, 2010 @ 7:38 pm

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