Don’t Meander

Summary

The author of the content is reflecting on the challenge of writing a novel, specifically the difficulty in determining the protagonist's transformation, and has found inspiration in Stephen Covey's concept of "beginning with the end in mind" to overcome writer's block.

Abstract

The provided text discusses the author's personal struggle with completing a novel, a task they have been working on since the 1990s. The author credits the second habit from Stephen Covey's book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," which is to "begin with the end in mind," as a pivotal strategy in their writing process. After waking up with a clear vision of the protagonist's transformation, the author wrote over a thousand words about the novel's ending, giving them a newfound direction to fill in the remaining parts of the story. This breakthrough has provided the necessary clarity to potentially finish the novel after years of stalling.

Opinions

The author finds Stephen Covey's habit of "beginning with the end in mind" to be a valuable tool in overcoming creative challenges.
Not knowing the direction of the protagonist's change was a significant obstacle for the author in completing the novel.
The author believes that having a clear ending in mind will enable them to bridge the gaps in the story and move forward with the writing process.

Begin With the End in Mind

Stephen Covey in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, introduces the habit of beginning with the end in mind. I read the book more than 25 years ago, and habit #2 has stuck with me.

One of my struggles with writing the novel has been not knowing where the story is going. I did not know how Peter, the protagonist, was going to change—how his life was to be transformed. I think this kept me from finishing the book in the 1990s and where I am stalling out even now.

I woke up this morning with the idea of writing about what happens to Peter. I wrote over a thousand words about the transformation of Peter at the end of the novel. Now that I know the ending, I believe I can go back and fill in the gaps. I have a direction to my meandering.

Country Charm #4

Don’t Meander

Begin With the End in Mind