Joe Bunting
@joebunting.com
Writer, Founder, Makes Things, Dad
Wrote
The Write Structure
Crowdsourcing Paris
… other books
Built
https://thewritepractice.com
https://automatonarmy.com
https://shortfictionbreak.com
https://writecoach.ai
… other things
❤️
Books
Man U
Tech
Games
Wrote
The Write Structure
Crowdsourcing Paris
… other books
Built
https://thewritepractice.com
https://automatonarmy.com
https://shortfictionbreak.com
https://writecoach.ai
… other things
❤️
Books
Man U
Tech
Games
Learning new skills creates new realities. When I was 4 months into learning French, suddenly French newspapers had meaning, overheard conversations weren't gibberish, and navigating Paris restaurants went from stressful to fun practice. What skill are you going to use to unlock a new reality?
January 2, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Learning new skills creates new realities. When I was 4 months into learning French, suddenly French newspapers had meaning, overheard conversations weren't gibberish, and navigating Paris restaurants went from stressful to fun practice. What skill are you going to use to unlock a new reality?
The editor who rejected my memoir years ago later gave me an $80K advance for a new book. You don't know what the future holds for your writing. That "no" might just be a "not right now."
January 1, 2026 at 12:01 PM
The editor who rejected my memoir years ago later gave me an $80K advance for a new book. You don't know what the future holds for your writing. That "no" might just be a "not right now."
Sold a book for a $125K advance, which is amazing, but the book proposal also took almost a year of development (before the book was ever written). Most writers rush from idea to draft, but successful books often need more planning before they're ready to write.
December 31, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Sold a book for a $125K advance, which is amazing, but the book proposal also took almost a year of development (before the book was ever written). Most writers rush from idea to draft, but successful books often need more planning before they're ready to write.
I set what felt like an impossible (to me) goal: run a sub-20 minute 5K (6:20/mile pace).
Then six months later I ran a race: 25:33 (8:12/mile). Not even close.
But the real win is that before setting the goal, I ran maybe twice a week. Now I run 6 times a week, 25-35 miles.
Then six months later I ran a race: 25:33 (8:12/mile). Not even close.
But the real win is that before setting the goal, I ran maybe twice a week. Now I run 6 times a week, 25-35 miles.
December 30, 2025 at 12:03 PM
I set what felt like an impossible (to me) goal: run a sub-20 minute 5K (6:20/mile pace).
Then six months later I ran a race: 25:33 (8:12/mile). Not even close.
But the real win is that before setting the goal, I ran maybe twice a week. Now I run 6 times a week, 25-35 miles.
Then six months later I ran a race: 25:33 (8:12/mile). Not even close.
But the real win is that before setting the goal, I ran maybe twice a week. Now I run 6 times a week, 25-35 miles.
Learning a language, like learning everything, comes in waves, moments of breakthrough followed by long periods that feel like you're not making progress. I recently read several entire chapters of La Parole de Vie in French. All because I keep showing up every day with my flashcards.
December 29, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Learning a language, like learning everything, comes in waves, moments of breakthrough followed by long periods that feel like you're not making progress. I recently read several entire chapters of La Parole de Vie in French. All because I keep showing up every day with my flashcards.
Flashing back to a run last summer when it rained on me by the sea in northern France as I listen to A Year in Provence. Magic.
December 28, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Flashing back to a run last summer when it rained on me by the sea in northern France as I listen to A Year in Provence. Magic.
I read 45 books this year, nearly 20,000 pages of reading.
December 27, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I read 45 books this year, nearly 20,000 pages of reading.
I'd quit writing books so many times that quitting became my identity. It didn't change until I stopped trying to be perfect and started practicing deliberately. Theory, goals, coaching, feedback, community. These five elements transformed me from a chronic quitter to a bestselling author.
November 26, 2025 at 5:11 PM
I'd quit writing books so many times that quitting became my identity. It didn't change until I stopped trying to be perfect and started practicing deliberately. Theory, goals, coaching, feedback, community. These five elements transformed me from a chronic quitter to a bestselling author.
That moment when you collapse on the floor sobbing because your work feels worthless isn't failure. For me, it was the doorway to breakthrough. I've had a breakdown in almost every major project of my life. Now I see them as promises that success is just around the corner.
November 25, 2025 at 5:16 PM
That moment when you collapse on the floor sobbing because your work feels worthless isn't failure. For me, it was the doorway to breakthrough. I've had a breakdown in almost every major project of my life. Now I see them as promises that success is just around the corner.
You are not lazy. You do not have a discipline problem. The reason you sometimes fail to meet your goals is not because of your lack of willpower. You have a practice problem because you want to be great at more things than you have the time and focus to practice them.
November 24, 2025 at 5:21 PM
You are not lazy. You do not have a discipline problem. The reason you sometimes fail to meet your goals is not because of your lack of willpower. You have a practice problem because you want to be great at more things than you have the time and focus to practice them.
We think success comes from talent or luck. But my breakthrough came when I realized success comes from practice. Not just any practice, deliberate practice with theory, goals, coaching, feedback, and community. Stop waiting for your big break and start practicing.
November 23, 2025 at 5:11 PM
We think success comes from talent or luck. But my breakthrough came when I realized success comes from practice. Not just any practice, deliberate practice with theory, goals, coaching, feedback, and community. Stop waiting for your big break and start practicing.
You can't be Michael Jordan AND Shoehei Otani AND Yo-Yo Ma. The fantasy of unlimited potential keeps you from the reality of actual achievement. Choose what to practice deliberately. You can be ok at many things or elite in a few. Either way, success comes through practice.
November 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
You can't be Michael Jordan AND Shoehei Otani AND Yo-Yo Ma. The fantasy of unlimited potential keeps you from the reality of actual achievement. Choose what to practice deliberately. You can be ok at many things or elite in a few. Either way, success comes through practice.
The point of practice isn't to get things (trophies, accolades, success, acheivement). The point is to GIVE things. When I shifted from writing to become famous to writing to serve readers, everything changed.
November 21, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The point of practice isn't to get things (trophies, accolades, success, acheivement). The point is to GIVE things. When I shifted from writing to become famous to writing to serve readers, everything changed.
With any practice sometimes you have bad days, days when your game is so off you question everything. “Why am I trying to do this when I clearly suck? Should I quit? Whats the point anyway?”
November 21, 2025 at 2:38 PM
With any practice sometimes you have bad days, days when your game is so off you question everything. “Why am I trying to do this when I clearly suck? Should I quit? Whats the point anyway?”
You're always practicing something. Every day, every action creates neural pathways in your brain. Are you practicing inaction? Procrastination? Self-doubt? Quitting? Or are you practicing the skills that will get you where you want to go?
November 20, 2025 at 5:09 PM
You're always practicing something. Every day, every action creates neural pathways in your brain. Are you practicing inaction? Procrastination? Self-doubt? Quitting? Or are you practicing the skills that will get you where you want to go?
"'The desire of the sluggard kills him because his hands refuse to work," says the proverb. Endless desire without action leads to emptiness. But action without purpose leads to burnout. The secret is transcendent action, work that serves something greater than yourself.
November 19, 2025 at 5:13 PM
"'The desire of the sluggard kills him because his hands refuse to work," says the proverb. Endless desire without action leads to emptiness. But action without purpose leads to burnout. The secret is transcendent action, work that serves something greater than yourself.
It's so easy to get swept up in the novelty of a new project. Then comes the plateau. The point where what you were doing stops working. This isn't where you quit. This is where deliberate practice begins.
November 18, 2025 at 5:21 PM
It's so easy to get swept up in the novelty of a new project. Then comes the plateau. The point where what you were doing stops working. This isn't where you quit. This is where deliberate practice begins.
I realized I could quit my book and keep living in the fantasy of who I might become. Or I could compromise, allow myself to practice, and serve the world with whatever I had, even if it wasn't "genius." The reality of practice is humbling, but it's the best part.
November 17, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I realized I could quit my book and keep living in the fantasy of who I might become. Or I could compromise, allow myself to practice, and serve the world with whatever I had, even if it wasn't "genius." The reality of practice is humbling, but it's the best part.
The fantasy of success feels amazing. But the reality of deliberate practice, the learning, the daily work, the coaching, the feedback, the community, is worth so much more. Don't chase the outcome. Fall in love with the practice.
November 16, 2025 at 5:13 PM
The fantasy of success feels amazing. But the reality of deliberate practice, the learning, the daily work, the coaching, the feedback, the community, is worth so much more. Don't chase the outcome. Fall in love with the practice.
When you've nearly given up hope that you'll ever accomplish your goal, that's the moment when breakthrough is around the corner, if you can bear it. Keep practicing. The darkest moment often comes just before success.
November 15, 2025 at 5:16 PM
When you've nearly given up hope that you'll ever accomplish your goal, that's the moment when breakthrough is around the corner, if you can bear it. Keep practicing. The darkest moment often comes just before success.
Want to know the secret to completing difficult projects? Make quitting harder than continuing. When I co-wrote my first book, I created consequences for quitting that were worse than the pain of finishing. That's when I finally broke through.
November 14, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Want to know the secret to completing difficult projects? Make quitting harder than continuing. When I co-wrote my first book, I created consequences for quitting that were worse than the pain of finishing. That's when I finally broke through.
Success isn't about willpower. It's about systems. When I finally finished my book, I had a mentor with deadlines, a coach providing guidance, a community believing in me, and consequences for quitting. Design your environment for the practice you want.
November 13, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Success isn't about willpower. It's about systems. When I finally finished my book, I had a mentor with deadlines, a coach providing guidance, a community believing in me, and consequences for quitting. Design your environment for the practice you want.
What separates those who accomplish their goals from those who don't? Not talent. Not luck. Deliberate practice. Study the theory. Set clear goals. Find coaches. Seek feedback. Build community. Show up daily. The results will follow.
November 12, 2025 at 5:11 PM
What separates those who accomplish their goals from those who don't? Not talent. Not luck. Deliberate practice. Study the theory. Set clear goals. Find coaches. Seek feedback. Build community. Show up daily. The results will follow.
Any time you fail at hitting a goal, ask yourself: "What do I REALLY want?"
Didn't finish your book? Didn't hit your marathon time? Didn't get the job? Didn't make the team?
The best goals are always about IDENTITY.
Didn't finish your book? Didn't hit your marathon time? Didn't get the job? Didn't make the team?
The best goals are always about IDENTITY.
November 5, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Any time you fail at hitting a goal, ask yourself: "What do I REALLY want?"
Didn't finish your book? Didn't hit your marathon time? Didn't get the job? Didn't make the team?
The best goals are always about IDENTITY.
Didn't finish your book? Didn't hit your marathon time? Didn't get the job? Didn't make the team?
The best goals are always about IDENTITY.
I lost 15 pounds from nerves when I first tried to get my now-wife to date me. Not because I was on a fancy diet but because I literally threw up before our conversations. That's how badly I wanted it to work.
The things most worth having sometimes take everything we have.
The things most worth having sometimes take everything we have.
November 4, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I lost 15 pounds from nerves when I first tried to get my now-wife to date me. Not because I was on a fancy diet but because I literally threw up before our conversations. That's how badly I wanted it to work.
The things most worth having sometimes take everything we have.
The things most worth having sometimes take everything we have.