Procrastination doesn’t set in because you suddenly see your writing as work, and all work must by its very nature be nasty. Procrastination generally sets in when you subconsciously convince yourself that you are going to fail. I read a very interesting article on a pretty good way to beat procrastination. Sit down quietly and visualise yourself – you, living your life from that point on.
See yourself pointedly not writing. Making coffee, washing long departed Granny Sue’s apron by hand on the off chance that you will ever desperately need to wear it. See your manuscript – just sitting there – not growing. See this going on for the next few weeks or months – or years. Then look that future self up in your head and say, “Hi.” Tell yourself how fabulous your new jeans are, and ask your future self how she/he feels about you not making the effort to write your book way back then, when the apron seemed so important. Caring about your future self and well being is actually a very big deal in the procrastination busting department. Feel the disappointment when old Future tells you that she’s totally lost the desire to write, and that there is no way of ever knowing just how different your life would have been if that book had been brought into the world.
It’s a very odd experience feeling the hurt of hurting your future self like that by your own free choice. Odd enough maybe to just get your superhero all fired up enough to put rear in chair and get to getting on with it. If that doesn’t work though, sometimes it’s a good idea to build yourself a Procrastination Palace. I’ve been working on ideas for this for the workbook I’m working on right now, so I’ll share one of my favourites with you.
Rather than just make list of your possible plot holes, get a little crafty with your writer’s block. Buy a whole pile of sticky notes, or just cut up some paper into squares. Think of this as your procrastination busting jigsaw puzzle. Write a character on a square, together with all his fabulousnesses and foibles, and the way that he looks too. Turn it over and write a bit about his role in your book. Do this especially with people who seem not to have any further direction in your story. Write out some pivotal scenes the same way. Scenes already written, scenes that you’ve been planning to write, and scenes that just pop into your head while you’re playing with your puzzle. Move them around. Talk to them. Ask them kindly if you can assist them in any way to move forward. It’s probably not a good idea to do this in a coffee shop unless everyone there already knows that you’re a writer by the way. Amazing the stuff that we can get away with. And you may also be amazed at the ideas that pop up this way while you’re seeing the parts of your story as physically different parts, and physically interacting with them, even if in a strange way.
Go ahead. Have fun with your procrastination. Wear a jolly hat and scarf to get in the mood. It’s really hard for fear (fear = blockage) to retain its grip when you’re having a ball, and before you know it you’ll be scribbling away.
Reblogged this on Jo Robinson.
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great post
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Jo Robinson with one of her on point posts about the writing process. Procrastination.. Jo explores how to turn this time consuming waste of time into a positive exercise..
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Great post, thank you! I find I procrastinate because I see writing as work and the last job I was in I was bullied. So I have to concentrate hard on the fact that writing is something I *want* to do, *choose* to do, and enjoy. Once I’m writing, I’m fine. It’s the STARTING that’s so difficult! xxx
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I have no desire to ever write a novel, so I’m not procrastinating regarding that. I did, however, enjoy browsing your blog. Enticing ideas.
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Reblogged this on firefly465.
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OMG. Is that what I’m doing? Thanks, Jo. Must try this. Sounds plausible. 😎
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
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Great suggestions. Thanks, Jo! (the only risk is that you indeed make procrastination sound fun!)
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Love this post, great idea for getting back to it!
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Excellent piece Jo. 🙂
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Very motivating, Jo! 👍
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This looks like a post I need to read. Perhaps tomorrow…..
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Or you could write a letter to your unborn characters explaining why you just couldn’t buckle down and bring them forth. You never know, they just might respond.
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Excellent idea. have been stuck on one point of my WIP all week. Will try this. Thanks Jo
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Reblogged this on Notes from An Alien and commented:
Today’s re-blog gives you (or, your writer friend) two genius ways to make this statement true:
“It’s really hard for fear…to retain its grip when you’re having a ball, and before you know it you’ll be scribbling away.”
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