Procrastination **spoilers**
His procrastination about writing a novel is a theme that runs throughout the movie. It was even there before his wife and child were killed. I have to wonder what his life would have been like had he not had that fatal flaw.
And, what his life would have been if Land had not walked out.
He sure had a lot of bad luck...really didn't see much good luck as was referred to in the movie.