I can’t think of any artist who could succeed with any sort of on-again off-again approach. Whether you paint, play an instrument, or if you want to run in a marathon, you have to be committed. Otherwise, your chances of success are infinitesimal. It comes down to this:

How badly do you want it?

I’m not talking about fame and riches. I’m talking about the work. I’m talking about producing a book (or painting or any other work of art) and knowing it’s good. If it’s weight-loss you’re after, it means reaching your goal weight and keeping it there. It’s about finishing a marathon, even if you come last.

These aren’t platitudes, they are realities. They reflect what might be the most important aspect of commitment: setting realistic goals. I’m not saying you shouldn’t strive to be the best you can, but that setting impossible standards is a sure-fire guarantee of failure.

Let’s examine that more closely. There is a difference between wanting to be the best you can be, and wanting to beat others. The first is a realistic goal, the second is not. Why? Because you can only control your own skills and behaviours, not those of other people. You can decide that you will write a book you can be proud of, just as you can decide you want to finish a race within a certain time. But you can’t force editors to publish your work, and you can’t force the public to adore your stories. In the same way, you can’t determine who in the race might be faster or slower than you. You control your own actions, no one else’s.

Therefore, the first rule is to set realistic goals, both short and long. For instance, your short term goals might be to produce X number of pages or Y number of words per day or per week. They don’t have to be good words or pages. They don’t have to make Hemingway weep with envy. You just have to get those words down. Make your objectives manageable. If you try to write an impossible number of pages a day, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Make your goals a stretch, but achievable.

Long term goals might involve completing a project, or submitting X number of stories per week to different journals. They might be reaching your ideal dress size, or running 5k. It’s like the old joke about how do you eat an elephant — one bite at a time.

If you fail — and you may sometimes fail — don’t give up. Just try again even harder. This brings us to the second rule of commitment, be kind to yourself. If you are unwell and unable to reach your goals, then take your medicine, dispose of your icky tissues, and look after yourself. It’s okay. We understand. But when you’re feeling better, get back to work. A lot of things can interfere with your progress. Family issues, work problems, computers throwing a hissy fit. You deal with them and you continue.

Another thing that helps you to remain committed to your goal is to make the results as tangible as possible. A lot of people advocate positive visualisation. This involves imagining yourself holding your published novel, or crossing the finish line, or wearing that dress that’s currently three sizes too small for you.

I take it a little further. I see myself writing ‘THE END’ at the, uh, end of my finished novel. You could get a friend to photoshop a picture of you crossing a finish line, or looking svelte, depending on whatever your goal may be. Put that image over your desk, or on your gym bag, or somewhere that you will see and be motivated by.

Tell a friend. Let them know what you’re trying to do and encourage them to ask you for periodic updates. It will give you a sense of accountability for your efforts. You can also join a writers group or another type of support group. There’s nothing like to power of peers to keep you going.

Finally, reward yourself for reaching small goals. You finished a chapter? Buy a nice new pen (for signing autographs, of course). You reached a new milestone, treat yourself to a new plant, or a pair of gloves. When I was in university, I treated myself to something leather every time I earned a First. A leather jacket, a watch with a leather strap, a leather-bound notebook. I still have all of them, and they still make me smile.

Find something to make you smile. You’ve earned it.

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