Comments on HN and LW result in immediate reward through upvoting and replies whereas writing a book is a more solitary experience. If you identify this difference as a likely cause for your behavior and if you believe that the difference in value to you is as large as you say, then you should test this hypothesis by turning book-writing into a more interactive, immediately rewarding process. Blogging and sending pieces to friends once they are written come to mind.
More generally, consider structuring your social environment such that social expectations and rewards line up with activities you consider valuable. I have found this to be a powerful way to change my behavior.
Indeed, this is a good insight. I’ve done both, actually. I have an active blog, and actually making a public commitment helped me finish my first book. I wrote about it under “The Joys of Public Accountability”; it does work.
More generally, consider structuring your social environment such that social expectations and rewards line up with activities you consider valuable. I have found this to be a powerful way to change my behavior.
That’s a really powerful observation. Why do you think people don’t do that more often? Ignorance? Also, do you have any observations from your own life of structuring your environment? I’d be fascinated to hear, you seem very knowledgeable and astute on the subject.
Comments on HN and LW result in immediate reward through upvoting and replies whereas writing a book is a more solitary experience. If you identify this difference as a likely cause for your behavior and if you believe that the difference in value to you is as large as you say, then you should test this hypothesis by turning book-writing into a more interactive, immediately rewarding process. Blogging and sending pieces to friends once they are written come to mind.
More generally, consider structuring your social environment such that social expectations and rewards line up with activities you consider valuable. I have found this to be a powerful way to change my behavior.
Indeed, this is a good insight. I’ve done both, actually. I have an active blog, and actually making a public commitment helped me finish my first book. I wrote about it under “The Joys of Public Accountability”; it does work.
That’s a really powerful observation. Why do you think people don’t do that more often? Ignorance? Also, do you have any observations from your own life of structuring your environment? I’d be fascinated to hear, you seem very knowledgeable and astute on the subject.