How to Learn Anything
You’ve probably heard of what has become known as The 10,000 hour Rule, which says you need to practice something for 10,000 hours to become expert at it.
But somehow the part about becoming an expert got changed to “become good at it”, which isn’t really the case, and that’s too bad because many people let that rule hold them back from all sorts of things they’d like to try because they figure if it takes 10,000 hours to become good at something, why bother since they really don’t have that kind of free time?
The good news is, it doesn’t take that long to become reasonably good at something.
In fact, according to best-selling author Josh Kaufman, it only takes 20 hours to learn something reasonably well.
Wow! Isn’t that encouraging?
Watch this short video where Josh Kaufman explains this further.
Stick with it to the end because the ending is the best part!
Now, just imagine what this means to you as a writer.
Just think how much your writing could improve in just 20 hours if you follow the steps outlined in this video.
If you wish to write a novel, for example, you need to start by deconstructing a novel, so you break down a published novel (by one of your favorite authors, perhaps) into the various types of skills you’ll need if you’re going to write your own novel much like this one.
I do this all the time when I’m working on a novel (I deconstruct other novels much like the novel I’m trying to write), and I have my coaching clients do it, too, when they are writing a novel.
It’s incredibly helpful to become aware of what other authors do in order to learn these skills yourself.
If you need help with this, here are two resources for you:
Write a Middle Grade Novel in Just 30 Days – a self-study e-course from children’s author Nancy I. Sanders
Write Your Novel – my own 16-week one-on-one coaching program for those who wish to write a novel
Now, go back and watch the video, then figure out what you’d like to learn and follow the 4 steps.
Try it!
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