How I Almost Wrote a Book, But This Happened Instead…

I Screwed Myself Over...

So I had this crazy idea of writing a book, a digital one.

As digital products, particularly e-books, gained popularity, I felt increasingly compelled to write one.

But what should I write about?

After writing in the MMO (Make Money Online) niche for some time, I have become quite knowledgeable about it. This could be a great topic to write about.

Instead of a regular book, it will be more like a step-by-step guide that teaches people how to earn money online. It will include screenshots, tips, traps, and other helpful information.

Great!

But…

“My writing isn’t perfect. But it‘s not bad either. I guess if I can deliver value, the style of writing won’t matter that much”

Have you ever felt that surge of determination to do something you’ve never done before? That’s exactly what I felt when I decided to take the plunge and go all out.

I started typing, taking screenshots, and typing some more — I was on a roll! I was typing so much that even my keyboard begged for a break.

I haven’t told anyone that I was going to do it. Only 3 people knew: Me, Myself and I. And that was it.

I had a crazy momentum. I wrote every day. 1, 3, 8,…40 pages and counting.

I was impressed with my determination and results.. and this is where I messed up..

I did something that I shouldn’t have done, something that made me lose a lot, and when I say a lot, really a lot of that momentum.

In the past, I was able to write a significant amount of pages for my book with ease. However, lately, I have been struggling to even consider writing for that book.

The thought of starting a new chapter or continuing with the existing one filled me with anxiety and apprehension. It’s as if the motivation has abandoned me.

And now you might be wondering:

“What the hell did you do?”

And that same question is what I asked myself. What the hell did I just do?

If you recall, I never disclosed to anyone that I was in the process of writing a book. Not a single person!

During a warm and cozy family dinner, I was struck by a sudden urge to share my latest passion project with my loved ones.

My mind, which can sometimes have a mind of its own, impulsively spilled the beans that I was working on a book.

The room was filled with a mix of surprise, curiosity, and excitement as my family bombarded me with questions about my book.

Despite feeling a bit nervous about revealing my creative endeavor, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and satisfaction. They were impressed and they encouraged me to finish it. It made me more motivated, or so I thought…

Over the next few days, everything seemed to fall apart. I found myself unable to open the file where I had been pouring my heart into writing my book. The excitement and motivation that had been driving me forward just seemed to evaporate, leaving me feeling lost and helpless.

I knew that I was not supposed to share my goals with others.

But I slipped!

Even though I got encouragement and all positive feedback, it still sucked.

You might be wondering why.

I cannot explain it any better than him. You can watch the first 20 seconds if you prefer.

Here are the takeaways:

• Premature goal sharing and positive feedback impact motivation negatively
• It’s better to avoid sharing goals prematurely to maintain motivation.
• Positive feedback from goal announcements activates reward systems but reduces the likelihood of goal achievement.

Sharing our goals can do more harm than good. I learned this the hard way.

Despite my efforts, I still haven’t found the motivation to finish that book. I hope it happens soon.

As I browse through the Medium platform, I come across many writers who openly share their goals with their audience. However, I can’t help but ponder whether these writers will actually accomplish what they set out to do.

Could you kindly share your perspective with me on this matter? Have you encountered anything similar in your experience?

If you have made it this far, I am extremely appreciative of the time you have dedicated to reading this. Thank you so much.