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On The Table Read, “the best book magazine in the UK“, author Rich Armstrong talks about the work that went into his new book, The Perfect 100 Day Project, and what inspired him to write it.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed Rich Armstrong about his life and career, what inspires his creativity, and the work that went into his new book, The Perfect 100 Day Project.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
I’m an ADHD artist who creates compulsively. I doodle, code, animate, write, design, teach—I consider myself a world-class generalist. Or a unicorn. But I also love seeing people come alive by creating. Creating myself and seeing others create is the double-edged sword that makes me come alive.
When did you first WANT to write a book?
When I was a kid I wanted to write a book like The Hobbit. Or a comic book. And when I was 25 I began writing a book called Destroy Today. It was all about being productive. Which is a massive theme in my life. ADHD causes havoc to most creatives’ productivity. But I’ve found ways to be super productive.
When did you take a step to start writing?
I’ve been journaling since high school. I didn’t call it that then—that was lame. In my journals I wrote and drew all kinds of things. I doodled weird creatures and characters. I wrote down analogies and allegories about life and what was happening in my life. I wrote down interesting things I heard at church. I wrote my own song lyrics. I wrote little stories. I wrote poems. And drafts of love letters.
How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
My first book is called Doodling Random Words and it took me about a month to write it. It’s short and helps people become more creative by doodling random words on a daily basis. Since then I’ve written a compilation of 100 Web Character stories, and The Perfect 100 Day Project. And they all revolve around 100 Day Projects.
How long did it take you to complete your latest book from the first idea to release?
At the beginning of 2021, just 2 months after we had our first kid, and in the middle of the COVID pandemic, I began writing this book—a lot of it was written on my laptop at the dinner table, with my daughter wrapped to my chest, or on my phone while she slept in my arms. A year and a few months later, it was available to order. I could finally send the link to my friends, family, and followers.
Focusing on your latest release. What made you want to write The Perfect 100 Day Project?
The Perfect 100 Day Project book grew out of a popular online course I made in 2019. Over 30,000 students have taken the course and posted amazing reviews. The projects I’ve seen from that course have been mind-blowing. But as I saw more 100 Day Projects, and answered more questions around 100 Day projects, I realised I had a whole lot more to say. A 100 Day Project didn’t just have to be a “creative” project. It could be something you could change your life with. And this is what I wanted to help readers achieve—in small and big ways. Also! Saying, “I’m a published author.” sounds pretty cool
What were your biggest challenges with writing The Perfect 100 Day Project?
I found separating topics into defined sections difficult. I could be writing about one topic and have it be overlapping with another topic midway through. I ended up making the book into a question and answer format. Each chapter is a question that I write an answer to. I also then ask questions of the reader—it becomes a practical workbook this way, and not just some nice theory to puff yourself up with.
What was your research process for The Perfect 100 Day Project?
Not much to be honest. I researched dates and names primarily. Most of my “research” came from empirical evidence.
How did you plan the structure of The Perfect 100 Day Project?
I split the book up into questions that a reader may ask, and then organised those questions into sections within the book. At the beginning of each section I highlighted chapters I thought would be better to read if there was a choice to be made. However, the book is not linear, and any chapter can be read at any time—especially if the reader has a burning question they want answered. Initially, I undertook the writing process by asking a question, writing an answer, and writing down subsequent questions that came to mind (in addition to the questions I’d recorded since making the online course).
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did The Perfect 100 Day Project need?
I did get support—but minimal (I think). It certainly helped Americanize my book.
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a book?
Write whenever and wherever you can. Try write for at least 10 minutes every day—and it doesn’t even have to be minutes in a row. And it certainly doesn’t have to be at your desk with a steaming cup of cocoa in reach. Write on your phone. Write when you’re in the train. Write when you’re sitting on the toilet. Instead of thumbing through social media or watching series, write! Write in bullet lists. Write in semi-coherent babble. Dictate your thoughts on your phone. Text yourself ideas and thoughts from your partner’s phone. The more you write the more you want to write. Sometimes it takes you writing 1000 words to realise you could write all that in 20 words. But you wouldn’t have gotten there unless you wrote the 1000 words first. Write!
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
That Destroy Today book. A book about simple, approachable, productivity. It probably won’t be called Destroy Today—sounds pretty gloomy.
And, finally, are you proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
Yes. And yes. But it’s by no means the pinnacle of my “career”. As soon as I finished writing I was onto the next thing, and the next and the next. I’m currently in a creative renaissance creating NFTs after spending 100 days creating and selling NFTs in early 2022.
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
Book: https://ttkb.me/100dpbook
Website: https://www.taptapkaboom.com
Social media:
- Twitter: https://ttkb.me/twitter
- Instagram: https://ttkb.me/ig
- YouTube: https://ttkb.me/youtube
- Twitch: https://ttkb.me/twitch
- Dribbble: https://ttkb.me/dribbble
- Ello: https://ttkb.me/ello
- Bēhance: https://ttkb.me/behance
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