Don’t WIP It
I’ll get notes sometimes from young writers, in which they’ll refer to their “WIP,” i.e. their work-in-progress.
My blood runs cold when I see that phrase.
It’s bad juju. It plants in the subconscious the notion that the book or movie we’re working on is “in progress.” In other words, it’s not finished. The implication (which the subconscious reads as reality) is it will ALWAYS be “in progress.”
My own bete noire for years was being unable to finish something. So I’m particularly sensitive to any nuance of self-brainwashing that plants that dastardly idea.
Here’s what I do instead.
I think of the project as already done. Even if I haven’t started yet. If you say to me, “C’mon, Steve, you haven’t even opened a new file!”, my response would be, “Yeah, true … I haven’t completed the formality of putting words on paper. But that’s just a matter of time and effort. The book is done.”
Do you remember the series of episodes on “Seinfeld” when Kramer was moving to Los Angeles?
Kramer, the ultimate New Yorker, was packing his stuff, getting set to make this previously-unthinkable move. I can’t remember if it was George (or possibly Newman) who put it to him, “Come on, Kramer, are you REALLY moving to L.A.?”
Kramer, if you recall, set his forefinger against his temple. “Up here,” he said, “I’m already gone.”
That should be our mindset. “Up here, I’m already done.”
DO THE WORK
Steve shows you the predictable Resistance points that every writer hits in a work-in-progress and then shows you how to deal with each one of these sticking points. This book shows you how to keep going with your work.
THE AUTHENTIC SWING
A short book about the writing of a first novel: for Steve, The Legend of Bagger Vance. Having failed with three earlier attempts at novels, here's how Steve finally succeeded.
NOBODY WANTS TO READ YOUR SH*T
Steve shares his "lessons learned" from the trenches of the five different writing careers—advertising, screenwriting, fiction, nonfiction, and self-help. This is tradecraft. An MFA in Writing in 197 pages.
TURNING PRO
Amateurs have amateur habits. Pros have pro habits. When we turn pro, we give up the comfortable life but we find our power. Steve answers the question, "How do we overcome Resistance?"
I love this. The whole idea of the book is in our heads. We just have to get it onto paper.
Bete noir. Alienation is tolerating what’s destructive to our soul. Resistance is the monolith of all malignancies to our souls. Resistance lives to stop us from finishing things. Resistance causes paralyzing alienation. We transform into optimum humans when we decide to finish our tasks, at all costs!
True, Steve. Thanks.
The idea is whole and complete,no parts … finished . The fields are already white with harvest.
Thank you so much dear Steve.
You let me know RichRoll interviews a couple of years ago, I don’t have the time to watch all those important figures (what I loose…), but yesterday I saw to my surprise my teenager year’s icon, Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden (actually the group was the icon, he was the frontman, but I think I was jealous of him and wanted his force, but admired the deepest the head of the band, Steve Harris, who would always stay in the shadows of the live stage) in a great review with him. I watched about the first 30 mins up to now. The interviewer wants to find the cause of Bruce’s seemingly unbreakable confidence from the first moment. Bruce says that (1) it’s not something metaphysical or so (I read that between the lines), but (2) he says he just *knew* that he was the man for Iron Maiden etc. It’s what I read here from you, to be there already. With my book, I have lost this feeling, although thankfully not my deep connection to it, but it won’t cost a dime to bring it back (I think it was there in the beginnings). It may be a strong trick of the frontmen, a light of Gods in terms of determination.
Thank you so much.
Old friends of music, or rather of rebellions, check it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvHb7q5UXYI&t=1989s
Unbelievable. Hitting the spot. Thank You. Great lesson. (Presented in a clear, deep, resolute, fun way.)
I’ve introduced many of your masterpieces to my friends. I always give them “The War of Art,” first. It spoke to me as an aspiring artist and I bring it up as much as… well, as much as they and everyone else needs to hear it. Then one morning as I woke up in my photography studio in Miami with my brother he comes with his phone to me and shows me he responded to his comment. I don’t know if he was showing off or testing me, but both worked damn it. You have become a major part of my life and through me many many others so I would just like to tell you job well done. If the world isn’t telling you, which I’m sure they are, hear it this morning from me.. job well done.
This post on this day gave me hope. I am a visual artist, a painter, and I have hundreds of #wip – most were completed paintings at one time but I no longer like, and ya … what the hell am I doing storing 100s of paintings?! I sell a few but geesh. Time to declare all of them done ✅ whether I like them or not. So that the universe – sales gallery – is open for business. Thanks!
Excellent post. What’s even worse than having a WIP, is have multiple WIPs, all in a state of pending completion. . .someday. Another wake-up call from Steven. Thanks!
spot on, it all begins and ends ‘inside’ our scull, no less, no more.
Thank you Steven for sharing the most intimate of fears and dreams with us. The road to creation will always remain a mystery.
Much needed post today. I’m meeting with the illustrator for my middle -grade children’s book. Not only do I fight with resistance, but also I’ve brought someone along for the ride.(Her first large project.) What am I thinking? My illustrator called the other day and asked if one can get artist’s block. I related at some point about writer’s block. So there, I put the thoughts in her head. I was able to pass on some acquired wisdom, though. The greater the resistance, the greater the importance of the project. In my head, we’re already published. This project scares me silly. I have such faith in this book and our collaboration. And the thanks goes to the wisdom and support I find here. Much appreciated,Steve.
You’re right about the risk of “WIP” becoming a mindset that traps us in perpetual drafting. But maybe working on multiple projects incrementally is just another individual approach, like a whimsical clothesline of understanding, each piece waving until it’s ready to be taken down. Not every path needs the “just do it” heroism—sometimes, it’s about letting things unfurl in their own time.
I love this! I’m a holistic physical therapist and often at the end of my sessions with a patient, I will ask them to close their eyes and picture themselves doing something that they can’t do to right now because of their pain or dysfunction. I will say something like “see yourself doing X without pain, with joy, with vibrance, with a smile on your face. You don’t need to know how you will get there, but consider it done!” I’ve adapted this visualization from my mentor John F. Barnes. I explain to my patients that the more they can see this in their minds eye, and feel it in their body, the subconscious will start to believe it!!
No arguing w/ Krame.
WIP has long been a part of my vernacular and after many years I now know how to make the switch from in progress to finished. I go from WIP to RIP and say goodbye to my literal companion who now lies in state on paper and go in search of another.