Review: Lifelong Writing Habit by Chris Fox

I recently read (and listened to) Lifelong Writing Habit by Chris Fox, and I wanted to share a review of it with you guys.

Fast Rundown

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Fast Read
• No Unnecessary Fluff
• Actionable Content
• Contains Exercises You Can Complete

Cons

• Developed With the Majority of the Population in Mind (i.e. Developed for Neurotypicals – See In-Depth Review Below for Details)
• Certain Bits Might Initially Rub You the Wrong Way (Again, See In-Depth Review Below for Details)

Cost & Resource Link

Cost: I paid $4.99 for the Kindle version of this book, but it’s also available in paperback for $8.99. I also have the audiobook version of this via my Audible subscription credits.

Detailed Resource Description

Here’s the Amazon blurb for the book:

Are you tired of writing intermittently? Would you like to install a lifelong writing habit, one that gets your butt in the chair every single day? Then this is the book for you. Lifelong Writing Habit draws on well tested neuroscience to help you install a daily writing habit that will endure for life.

It contains a simple to understand system, with actionable steps at the end of every chapter. You’ll learn:

– How to install a permanent writing habit
– How to get organized
– How to set and achieve writing goals
– How to harness discipline and motivation

It’s time to make a permanent shift in your writing. Let’s get moving!

-Amazon Sales Page for Lifelong Writing Habit by Chris Fox

My In-depth Review

I have a bit of an addiction to books that are geared toward helping you become a better writer. I also love guides that are no-fluff and to the point. You guys also know that I wouldn’t be sharing this resource with you if I didn’t think it was worth your time.

For me, the pros far outweighed the (very few) cons of this particular resource. So, we’ll talk about the good parts first.

I love that this book is a fast read. The easier it is to get through a set of material, the more likely I am to implement its teachings. As a human being with ADHD, Type II Bipolar Disorder, and an as-yet-undefined chronic health issue (which may or may not be autoimmune), I like highly focused resources. I love that the writing is straightforward and conversational. There’s no fluff and no BS to get in the way of the point.

I also really love that the content is immediately actionable. Every chapter has a built-in, bite-sized exercise you can complete as soon as you finish reading the material. You can have a measurable amount of progress by the time you finish the book if you actually complete the exercises.

Now, let’s take a minute to talk about some of the bits that were a little bit problematic for me. (We’ll talk about why that was the case, too, because my problems might not affect you.)

I know the neuroscience this book is based on is solid, but it is also geared toward the way “normal” people’s brains work. Most of the people who read this book aren’t going to have a problem with that because they’re neurotypical and the shoe fits. If that’s the case for you, put the shoe on and run with it.

I am not what I would consider “normal,” and the only habits I seem to be capable of creating are bad ones. I know I need to work on my mindset (shout-out to the mindset chapter in 5,000 Words Per Hour), and I’m in the process of doing so. I am also working on my chronic mental and physical health issues in an effort to find a better quality of life while also improving my writing career.

I’m desperate to have a fulfilling and productive writing life. I fully plan to implement the tips in this book to create good lifelong writing habits, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I’m going to have some potentially unforeseen (at least from the author’s perspective) speed bumps along the way.

I have severe executive dysfunction. Consistency has been a problem for me for as long as I can remember. I know I’m going to struggle with follow-through in the process of building good habits. I also have something going on with my body that makes it difficult to function some days. It’s like I wake up and my “willpower bar” is already at zero. My readers who are “spoonies” will totally get that.

Will most people have these problems? No. These were just a couple of small pitfalls that this resource had for me, personally. If you happen to be a “spoonie,” there are certain things in this guide that you are going to have to take with a grain of salt. That’s okay, though. The majority of this book is high-value and I do recommend it as a resource for writers.