Stop Procrastinating and Write!

 Stop Procrastinating and Write!

I took the day off work on Monday with the good intention of sitting down and writing most of the day. I have to finish the final scenes of my first draft, go back and add in a bunch of details so things make sense, and fill in plot holes for continuity. 

What did I actually end up doing most of the day? Well, I had to do laundry, sweep the floor, grocery shop, clean the kitchen, go to the gym, meal prep, play video games, and pretty much fail at being a writer. 

I know this has to stop, but I keep doing it anyway. I feel guilty about it too and that usually, in a backwards kind of way, leads to some productivity. 

Why do we do this to ourselves?

Fear of failure. Fear that your writing is not good enough and never will be, aka lack of confidence. You will have to put your word baby out there into the world one day. There will be criticism and failure. 

Time management skills. Remember how they always talk about this during syllabus days in college? Yeah, that shit is a real and necessary skill. I have issues with this one.

Life. Yes your life will get in the way. Most of us have day jobs or families that present obligations we cannot ignore to then go write. 

Distractions. There are so many distractions in this modern, interconnected...LOOK A SQUIRREL! Ahem...yes distractions.

How can I make it stop?

Make writing a priority in your day to day madness. You won't be able to make the fear or chaos of life stop, but you can work with it. Learn to live with it and plan a set time to do some writing or editing. 

If you have little demons, then writer after they go to bed. 

Instead of watching TV for 3 hrs. and shoving popcorn into your face, sit down at your computer and write for 2 hrs. 

Do not punish yourself though. It is ok to still enjoy a Netflix show or go to the gym. Just don't over indulge so you don't feel guilty. 

Limit those distractions. No internet. No social media. No blaring TV on in the background. Just you and your words. Alone together.

Treat writing as a job and set goals or deadlines for yourself. Even if it is a simple one like writing one page a night. I do this and often exceed my own goal because I get into it. Put reminders on your email or phone calendar. 

Be accountable.

Get a GOOD office chair. This is a weird one, but I am a cheap ass and I have a $20 Walmart special which is about as comfortable as sitting on a chunk of jagged concrete. It makes me not want to sit down to write. 

I really need to listen to my own advice.

If you really love writing and want to accomplish something then you will find a way to get past the wall that is procrastination. Otherwise you may have to ask yourself if writing is truly something you want to do

There will be setbacks, but establishing the habit will defeat those (sort of like going to the gym). Following some, or all, of the above tips will help. There are more out there and many have their own unique strategies. 

Find one and stick with it.

Defeated Procrastination Demons

In the end, I did sit down and hover about my typewriter before writing a couple pages for different POV's. When I finally did get t writing I discovered something new about one of my characters that would make him more dynamic and relatable to the reader.

 
What I ended up writing was actually pretty decent too. you never know until you try.

Wow. What are the chances that actually getting over your fears and just doing the thing you want to do would lead to success? 

You know, the thing.

via GIPHY