One Thing
Remember the famous line in the movie “City Slickers?”
Jack Palance, as the grizzly Curly, sneers at Billy Crystal and imparts the wisdom of the ages while holding up one finger. “One thing,” he says. “One thing.”
Many freelance writers fall into the trap of spreading themselves too thin. They try to write novels, short stories, fillers, greeting cards, brochures, book reviews, magazine articles, website content, etc., etc.–all at the same time. Like jugglers with raging chainsaws filling the air over their heads or old-time plate spinners, they try to do everything at the same time.
How about trying something new? Instead of rushing from one type of writing project to the next, this week focus on the “One Thing.”
Now, as the philospher Jack Palance/Curly explained, your “One Thing” is going to be different from your neighbor’s “One Thing” or mine. Perhaps, you’ve decided that you want to get a novel written. It’s the one thing you want to accomplish as a writer more than anything else. Well, then, do it. But break it down into bite-sized chunks. Your assignment to yourself this week might be to write the best first scene you can write. Do that one thing before you move on to anything else.
I have a million projects I’m either working on or want to work on. Like you, I need to take a deep breath and decide what’s my one thing this week.
It’s late, so my one thing for the moment is sleep. Perhaps, I’ll find the one thing I need to focus on tomorrow. If I do, I’ll be sure to let you know.
Until then, remember to read, read, read, and write, write, write.
–Jack Sundown
