I Long to Finish

September 24, 2012 in Creativity, Life, Quick Reads with 18 Comments

Photo by I Like (Creative Commons)

I long to finish.

Not to just finish anything, but to finish work that really matters.

Starting isn’t the problem for me.

I long to raise my arms up in victory knowing the marathon is over—for now.

There is always another race to run.

Blogging is too easy; too much instant gratification. Put a post up and you immediately can have comments, retweets and likes.

A slow grind is needed to create anything of lasting value.

To keep writing despite the fact that 90% of what I write will not last. I long to strive for the 10%.

I long to finish, despite my fears. If the end result is garbage, then it’s garbage. But the value from the process itself will be lasting.

So I have to sit my butt in the chair and do the work. Less Facebook. Less Twitter. More work.

Less of what I want to do at times; so I can do what I really long to do—finish.


What do you long for?

I’m starting a writing revolution where Writers Unite together in October and do the work that matters.

Interested? Please email me Jim @unknownjim.com Thanks!

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  • Michelle Woodman

    I, too, long to start and finish the race I’m supposed to be running, the words/stories I’m to be writing. Sometimes I forget that baby steps are better than no steps in the journey.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      For sure. Don’t look at it as a normal race. It’s more like crawling in a cross country marathon. :) At least that’s how it feels some days. Other days you will feel like you are in a vehicle. Any way you slice it, you have to keep moving forward!

  • http://www.tammyhelfrich.com/ Tammy Helfrich

    Right in line with you. Look forward to what you will be finishing!!

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Doing the “big projects” is quite different than the small, quick projects isn’t it! Thankfully Tammy we can support and encourage each other!!

  • http://twitter.com/elramey debra elramey

    Same here Jim. Count me in. I MUST finish! Two WIP going nowhere because of all the distractions. You make me feel right at home.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Thanks Debra. Really appreciate it!! We are definitely in this together!!

  • http://recreationalwordslinger.wordpress.com/ Tessa

    I know the feeling. After getting really hyped up this weekend, I have to remember to finish.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Absolutely Tessa! Starting is hard too, but once you get in the habit of starting, it gets easier to start a TON of projects and finish none.

  • http://randomlychad.com Chad Jones

    I long to finish, too.

    My day-to-day work is important–in the moment–but its legacy is questionable.

    I want to leave a legacy, but not for me: for Jesus.

    I’m in the beginning stages of a longer work, and it is slow going because it is so profoundly sad. The story takes its toll, but it must be told.

  • http://intentionaltoday.com/ Ngina Otiende

    Right now, publish my three ebooks and one book. I need to get my head down, pace myself and do what needs to get done..no matter how long it takes. it’s about consistency – the finish line will show up sooner or later :) . Thanks for this great reminder.

  • Roni Carter

    Isn’t it funny how much easier it is to start a project, and how much momentum and enthusiasm you naturally get in the beginning? The middle is sooo much harder and the end? Well, I’m sure it’s out there somewhere. I have started three novels in the past, gotten about 100 pages in and then moved on to another project. I, too, long to finish. Just stick with it, even when you don’t like it, and eventually you’ll get there. We know you can do it!

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Good point Roni, thanks. I think it’s easier to start things than it is to finish. To finish is it’s own reward, even if it’s something terrible. There has to be something learned from the process itself. Thanks Roni!

  • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

    I long to leave a legacy that my family can be proud of.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      That is AWESOME Joe. Fantastic response!!

  • http://deuceology.wordpress.com Larry Carter

    Right now, I long for ……I can’t really identify it. Slowing down may be the best way. Fall is really busy for us. In about a month we can slow down a bit.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      I bet you long for the Vols to play the Zips every single week too :) ha!

      • http://recreationalwordslinger.wordpress.com/ Tessa

        I’m going to pipe in here and say…as long as they play them the way they did in the second half!

      • http://deuceology.wordpress.com Larry Carter

        I hate playing those type of spread teams. We always struggle, like we did in the first half.