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Ira Glass, Host of This American Life, says at the end of his How I Work interview with LifeHacker to “Begin now. Be a f**king soldier about it and be tough.”

I read this interview a few years ago and I loved that last line.

So, when I had yet another disappointing day of serious self-doubt where I started looking for jobs again and thinking that I just don’t have what it takes to be a writer, I remembered that piece of advice from Ira.

I woke up early today and decided things were going to be different, starting now.

I’m rearranging my schedule and my attitude to make writing and learning about writing my main goal.

I want to be a successful writer.

I want to write the best novels that I can possibly write.

I want to share stories that let people know they aren’t alone.

I want to feel proud of my work.

When I die, I want to die knowing that I did what I wanted to do.

Over the coming months, I’m putting into practice a routine for myself that includes regular exercise, healthy food, reading, writing, and even time to socialize. I’ve realized over the last two months that trying to be a writing monk doesn’t work for me. I have to balance the solitary nature of writing with my extroverted need to talk with people.

I have the time and resources this year to delve deep into my writing and to improve my craft. It’s time to take advantage of this gift.

Future blog posts will be about the new habits, practices, and techniques I’ve put into place and how it’s working out.

No more excuses.

No more whining.

Time to solider up and do it.

Peg Cheng is the author of The Contenders, a middle-grade novel centered on the question, can enemies become friends? She is also the founder of Prelaw Guru, a law school application consulting company, and the author of The No B.S. Guides for prelaw students.

Photo by Paul Abell / AP Images of U.S. Army Reserve Major Lisa Jaster, center, the third woman to graduate from the elite Ranger School. Jaster, 37, joins just two other women, Capt. Kristen Griest, 26, left, and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, 25, right, in gaining the coveted Ranger tab.

I’m jumping off the cliff. I said I was jumping off the cliff in February and becoming a full-time writer but I didn’t really. I edged my way to the water. Stuck a toe in. Then a leg. Then got out. Too scared. Then put a toe back in.

‘Eff it!

I’m done with all this hemming and hawing!

I’m shutting down my Prelaw Guru business in July. I’m committing to writing full time for the next ten years.

If my money runs out, I will get a job. But as long as it hasn’t run out, I’m going to keep on keepin’ on.

Dividing my time between writing and trying to run a separate business tears me apart a little bit each day. It’s a drain on my energy. It’s a drain on my creativity. I don’t want to be torn between two things any more.

People often comment on my ability to make a decision and then go for it. To turn on a dime. But they don’t realize that I agonize over big decisions for years. Not days or weeks or months. YEARS.

I’ve been seriously contemplating being a writer since 2003. This is something I’ve headed towards for 13 years. I’ve reached for it, gotten scared, avoided it like mad, then reached for it again, rinse, repeat. It’s often been two steps forward, ten steps back.

I realized that the last 13 years have been all about planning my next career move, saving up money to support myself, developing my skills, talking to people (and reading their blogs) who have made the dive into full-time writing, and then talking myself into actually making the dive.

I know many people in my life will be surprised at my decision. Some will marvel at it. Some will support it. Some will despise it but won’t tell me that. Some will show how they feel in passive-aggressive ways. It’s all part of the territory. No matter how anyone reacts, it’s alright. It’s a reflection of them, not me. This is my decision to make and the person that it most effects, my husband Marcus, is on board with it. Most importantly, I’m finally on board with it.

The water looks beautiful but it can turn choppy at any moment. I know this and still, I know I need to do it. It’s time.

Peg Cheng is the author of The Contenders, a middle-grade novel centered on the question, can enemies become friends? She is also the founder of Prelaw Guru, a law school application consulting company, and the author of The No B.S. Guides for prelaw students.

Cliff diver photo by Jarek Tuszynski. Skateboarder photo by SandroSum.