The Finishing Habit

I’m teaching
a short story and novella writing course.
One of the challenges
I give students weekly
is to write flash fiction
(a story using 150 words or less)
around a certain theme.

You might think…
150 words?
What is that going to do?

It accomplishes a number of things.
Challenges kick start creativity.
Writers are trying different techniques, genres.
They’re writing… something

But best of all, they’re finishing.

Because finishing is a habit.
Quitting also is a habit.

The successful do both,
quitting when something isn’t working,
finishing when it is.

The unsuccessful are almost always quitters.
They haven’t learned how to finish.
Finishing small projects
such as 150 word stories
teaches us how to finish.

Learn how to finish.