Earlier in the week, on my Facebook page, I promised a blog post about procrastination.
There is no procrastinator like a writer. Even though we’re fired up and full of joy for our writing projects, we struggle to actually get down and get on with them. We will find many excuses to put off sitting down and opening the lid of the laptop.
Maybe we’re worried about finishing and having to cast our babies into the world. (or at least anxious about sending our precious manuscripts for scrutiny by a publisher or agent)
Or maybe we’re scared of success. Imagine having to give up your day job if your book starts to make you a living. Imagine your life changing so much that you’re able to afford the lifestyle you want. Imagine being asked when you’re going to write the next one. Scary stuff!
Maybe we know that once we start writing we will find it difficult to stop. The housework will slide, the kids will starve and the dog will miss their daily walk.
Whatever our subconscious reasons, we are writers. And writers have to write. Here are some of the jobs I get on with instead of writing, to name but a few:
1. Washing the car
2. Mowing the lawn
3. Sending an email
4. Cleaning out the fish tank
5. Doing my monthly accounting
6. Messing around on social media
7. Online shopping
8. Making a list of lists that need writing
9. Chatting to someone, anyone
10. Cleaning the oven (yes really)
And when I posed this question to some of my students, I was given the following answers:
1. Cleaning the cat litter tray
2. Sitting in Wetherspoons
3. Cooking
4. Watching cat videos
5. Watching old episodes of Benidorm
6. Playing Bridge
7. Smoking
8. Writing a ‘to do’ list
9. Thinking
10. Twitter
11. Cleaning the house
12. Watching You Tube
So a huge variety of procrastinating alternatives to writing – none of which achieve what we really want to – to get that book written, but at least lots of cleaning gets done instead!
I would love to hear why and how other writers procrastinate. Post your responses in the comments section.
And this is the end of the post, I have a dog to groom.
