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Edition #239 – September 12th, 2024
​A newsletter by Anne-Laure Le Cunff​

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The Story Behind Tiny Experiments

It was a lovely summer day in 2022 and I was about to close my laptop to enjoy the sunshine, when an email from a well-known publisher appeared in my inbox. It read: “I would love to have a chat with you about the possibility of writing a book.”

I sat frozen in my chair, afraid that if I moved, the email might vanish.

For many, writing a book is a lifelong dream, and I was no exception. As a kid, I helped run the largest community of young French writers and even submitted a novel to a few publishers. But at the time, I didn’t manage to remain focused on one project long enough to see it through.

So, when asked if I wanted to write a book, my answer was a resounding YES… Promptly followed by BUT HOW?

I’ve written hundreds of blog posts, research papers, and newsletters over the years, but a book is a whole different beast. I started asking myself:

​​• How do you overcome impostor syndrome? Despite interest from several publishers (others reached out after that first email), I didn’t exactly feel like an expert.

​​• How do you manage such a big project on your own? Without short-term deliverables and regular checkpoints, staying motivated and on track is much harder.

​​• How do you maintain creativity on the same project for months? Continuing to see the topic with fresh eyes can become a challenge as you go deeper.

I spent the past two years experimenting with various approaches to answer these questions, and today, I want to share 12 lessons I learned while writing a nonfiction book.

12 Short Lessons for Long Creative Projects

1. Trust the intelligence of others who want to work with you. Impostor syndrome can make you doubt your abilities, but remember that those who express interest in your work do so for a reason. They see something valuable in what you offer. Trust their judgment.

2. ​​Create your own accountability system. Partner with a buddy, hire a coach, or join an accountability group to keep you on track. I personally had weekly book check-ins. These external checks can not only help maintain momentum but get you unstuck through creative conversations.

3. Accept uncertainty as part of the creative process. Throughout the book’s development, I faced numerous changes—three different editors, four title revisions, and we explored 21 different cover designs. It felt scary at times, but embracing these liminal moments allowed me to ultimately produce a much better book.

4. Prioritize quality over quantity of time. More hours spent working doesn’t equate to better results. Sometimes, the best ideas come when you’re making lunch or taking a walk. Design a creative routine and shield time for strategic focus rather than forcing productivity during every waking hour.

5. Reflect on your past progress to fuel future work. By looking back at what you’ve accomplished so far, you can gain insights into what works for you and what doesn’t, revealing patterns and ideas that can inform your next steps.

6. Learn in public and seek early feedback. Throughout the creative process, I hosted feedback sessions, recruited beta readers, and invited newsletter readers to share feedback on the cover designs. This ensured my work was constantly evolving based on real-world input, making the final book much stronger than it would have been in isolation.

7. Protect your mental health to protect your creativity. Your mental health is your most valuable asset when it comes to long creative projects. You can’t produce great work when you’re stressed, anxious, or depressed. Take breaks and practice self-care to avoid creative burnout.

8. Be ready to think nonlinearly. Even with a solid outline, some of the best creative decisions came from completely departing from the original plan. I completely restructured the book and even deleted an entire chapter that was core to the original book proposal but no longer fit the book. Creativity requires being ready to explore unexpected directions.

9. Know when to let go. There’s a point when further rewrites won’t add value. Avoid over-editing. At some point, it’s good to move on and share it with the world.

10. Balance creative input and output. The quality of what you consume directly impacts the quality of what you produce. Be mindful of what you’re feeding your mind and make sure it aligns with your creative ambitions.

11. Celebrate small wins along the way. In long creative projects, it’s easy to get fixated on the end goal. Don’t wait until the finish line to celebrate. Reward yourself for both small and big milestones, like treating yourself to a nice dinner for submitting the manuscript or taking a walk after solving a tricky chapter—both things I did!

12. Surround yourself with fellow curious minds. This book wouldn’t exist without the support of the Ness Labs community, my editor(s!), beta readers, and everyone who offered feedback. While creative work can be a solitary activity, remember you don’t have to do it all alone.

If you’d like to know everything about the wild journey of creating this book—from finding an agent to the auction with over 10 publishers, choosing the title, and changing editors—I’m hosting a Behind the Book session on October 18th.

You’ll also get an exclusive look at the book proposal (which I won’t share anywhere else), the 21 covers we considered, how we tested them, and how I managed the entire project without sacrificing my mental health.

Preorder today to get access. If you can’t join live, you can send your questions and access the recording with all the answers.

⚡ FAQ

How can I support the book launch?
​The best way is to preorder the book and share the news with your friends and colleagues! You can forward them this newsletter, or share the Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube announcements. And if you run a book club or would like to order for your team, just let me know by replying to this email.

When will I receive my bonuses?
​You will receive an email upon submitting your receipt on the Tiny Experiments website which will explain how to access your bonuses. Please email tinyexperiments@nesslabs.com if you didn’t receive a confirmation.

How do I join the Behind the Book session?
​You can join the session on October 18 by pre-ordering at least one copy of Tiny Experiments by October 17. There will also be an opportunity to submit your questions in advance if you can’t join live. Find out more about the session here.

🤝 Brain Trust

If you enjoy the newsletter, you'll love our community of curious minds who grow together through interactive workshops and safe discussion spaces. Here is preview of what’s happening in the next week:
​
​• Find your creative voice. Join Gosia Fricze for a one-hour interactive self-reflection session on Monday where you’ll explore how to find your unique voice as a creator and express it authentically and confidently in your content.
​• Conduct a weekly review. Reflect on your progress for the week and plan your next projects with Ben Covington during our weekly community review on Sunday.​
• Join a coworking session. Tackle your to-do list while connecting with fellow community members. Fellow community members are hosting sessions on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays covering all timezones.
​• Improve your productivity and creativity. Take one of our self-paced courses to help you make the most of your mind, with exclusive worksheets and exercises, all from the comfort of our online community.

All of these and future events are included in the price of the annual membership ($49), as well as access to the recordings of all our previous sessions and a growing collection of case studies.

🌊 Brain Waves

Have a friend who wants to make the most of their mind? Send them the newsletter using your unique referral link below and unlock Reflective Minds, a database of good questions from great thinkers and creators.

Take care!
Anne-Laure.

P.S. Please do hit reply if you have any questions about the book, I’ll do my best to answer everyone :)