Following-through can help a writer to commit to writing projects. Without following-through, the writer may become inspired to complete a project but when times get tough, and motivations dwindle, you won’t be sufficiently motivated to continue working on the writing project until completion. One of the reasons why following-through is so important is because it ensures that writers don’t start projects unreflectively. You’re writing goals and the progress your make on them should be a much more conscious and reflective process of constant re-evaluation and assessment. You shouldn’t take things for granted as writers. By following-through you will be able to make an objective assessment about whether or not you are on track with your writing goals. If, on the other hand, you are mistaken in starting a writing project because it is not right for you or perhaps you have too much on your plate already, you could decide to put the writing project on a back burner and pursue it at a later time. But if you decide to do this you will know when you’ll be getting back to it. It’s not easy for writers to become committed to projects by developing self-discipline and to move past the initial inspiration to actually completing the manuscript. It requires more than being excited about pursuing a project. It involves making a decision to see a project through to completion, regardless of the obstacles that get in the way. And this is where following-through comes in. Commitment and self-discipline are crucial to reaching your writing goals and becoming a self-discipline writer. Commitments become apparent when something is gut-level important. Your commitments can pave a path to success as time goes on. Ideally, commitment involves a decision to start and complete a writing project. In addition, commitment is a self-disciplined decision or choice to pursue a particular writing project. Writers need more than motivation to complete their manuscripts. Here are a few ideas to help commit to their writing goals. 1. View writing commitments as important and not just a nice thing to do. Writing commitments should advance your writing careers. If they don’t you shouldn’t commit to them. 2. Carefully reflect before committing to a writing project. Many writers unreflectively commit to the wrong things. This can result in a lack of productivity. The writing goals you commit to must be instrumental to your long-term success. Don’t just set goals and then hope for the best. Assess the goals and determine whether or not they are right for you before committing to them. 3. Always try to keep learning and researching as much as you can about the topic you want to write about. It takes a lot of research to write a good quality book or article. Researching can also help commit to a project. 4. Plan for success. Success doesn’t just happen. It takes a lot of hard work. Each step taken can lead to success, one small step at a time. You just have to plan your steps and bring them about one day at a time. One important thing to notice about the above four steps to committing to projects is that all of them require more than mere motivation. They are all founded on some source of self-discipline. Self-discipline ensures the completion of writing goals. To develop self-discipline, you should follow-through on your short-term goals which will bring about long-term results and the completion of manuscripts. Self-discipline stops unnecessary tasks from taking top priority in your writing lives. You must focus on larger more necessary writing goals however to ensure that you complete your manuscripts. By following-through you could ensure that you will be successful and feel fulfilled as a writer. Until next time! Irene S. Roth