Top Ten (Ish) Ways To Not Get Work Done
So, I was all ACK! when I realized that I was "up", especially after seeing all of the fabulosity and lyricism of Top Tens Past. And while I could wallow in the fact that not only do I not have fabulosity and lyricism to offer, I definitely don't have ten, I am just going to reveal something so stupendously surprising that it may leave you breathless. (And seriously? Probably grateful for the lack of ten-ness.) In fact, you might need to sit down. I'll wait.
Ready? Deep breath.
Sometimes...I procrastinate.
OK, I'm guessing (hoping) that, at least some of the time, I am not alone in this. So, without further ado, I present some of my favourite Ways to Procrastinate (and how I conquer (ish, again) them).
Walking Around Aimlessly. This is not "going for a walk", which can be remarkably productive, but rather, the kind of wandering around one's home without a purpose, looking at the various messes and piles without really seeing them, and then moving on to the next (untidy) space. Sometimes I grab a supremely unhealthy snack along the way (gummi bears are quite portable). I can spend long periods of time this way, sort of strolling on the hamster wheel. On the other hand, taking a walk, a brisk, one, can be refreshing and inspiring. My motivational walk of choice is over the Brooklyn Bridge, but anywhere will do. Sometimes I walk with a specific manuscript problem in mind, or just some ideas, or just the characters' voices in my head for company. Sometimes I don't consciously "think about anything", but I return invigorated and ready to work again. Fresh air, a new view, the sounds and (most of the) smells of the outdoors spark the creative spirit. And not long ago, I walked to the post office where I picked up surprise package that contained this fantastic book, which was a lovely creativity boost. So, I highly recommend walks to the post office; just make sure to have good writer buddies send you fantastic books in advance. Which leads me to
Talking about Nothing for a Long Time. You know, when you've said for the one millionth time, 'I've got to get to started' and then the phone rings and you can see that it's that old friend that you haven't talked to in a while (or since yesterday), and you know that you can go on for an hour, easily, chit-chatting about teen films of the 90s**, so you...pick up the phone? Or you visit a message board, a chat room, or just text buddies furiously about other random things you've found online, until you're sucked into a vortex of conversational junk food and two hours have gone by? Yeah. Been there, done that. Not that there's anything wrong with connecting and catching up with friends -- it can be cheering, encouraging, and glorious fun. But it can also be a guilt-inducing time-sucker, and I've found that a couple of things prevent that. First, the obvious (and the hardest for me): don't pick up the phone. If you can, make it easier on yourself, by turning off the ringer, but I am physically unable to do that, so I use Caller ID wisely. I do try to make sure that my friends are generally aware of my writing schedule, so they avoid calling during those times unless it's urgent. Or I say at the outset that I'm glad they called, and would love to chat for a few minutes but have to get off the phone, and I ask them to hold me to that. If I feel I must phone or see a friend, I try to make it a writer buddy so that we can lace the chit chat with work-talk -- and that can be FABULOUSLY productive. And online communities can also provide this same sort of recharge, the key for me has been to limit my time (sometimes even using an actual timer), and to try to limit my online friendship frenzy to author-related communities on
Teh Internets, AKA the Interweb, AKA the Digital Shame Spiral. I have some Guilty Pleasure (not that guilty) sites that I like to visit on occasion, um, on many occasions in a single day. Or even highly respectable, informative sites and communities that still take me away from work for long periods if I'm not careful. Or I can just check my email all day long. So, I set specific times and time periods for these, and try to limit my browsing during work hours to online communities that motivate me, like this one, and The Debs, where one can commiserate, co-celebrate and also be inspired to get off of one's behind to keep up with everyone else. Sometimes creative arts but not-necessarily writing-related sites inspire as well, but I have to be careful or I
Immerse Myself in a Complicated Creative Project. I don't need much encouragement to get crafty, and there are numerous unfinished projects around my home (see untidy space above). I'll make a doll or stuffed animal, sew some simple clothes, knit some cables, or go crazy with the freezer paper stencils in a second. And I am convinced that, for the most part, these other creative endeavors inform and improve my writing. HOWEVER, I know that some projects, like the sudden desire to make a family of tiny felt beavers for a dollhouse, are not exactly of the take-a-break variety. Sometimes I try to justify my procrastinator tendencies by working on another writing project, which, of course, can be a very good thing. But yeah, sometimes it's just an unwillingness to face what I need to get done. So any real flashes of inspiration for something else or something new are duly noted in a journal, or on a Post-It, and filed away. Or I use the need to write something else to spend some time writing in a prayer journal, or my handy whatever-comes into-my-head journal for a few moments. I love needlework and stitchery though, and simple embroidery, uncomplicated knitting, and collage are surefire ways for me to contemplate something I've written, move on to something new, or just feed my brain with some serious treats of the imagination. Wait, did someone say treats?
Because Those Are The Best of All. I mean, a good book and good eats -- come on. And I love to play in the kitchen, so I can spend lots of time making something tasty (and usually sweet, for reading purposes) and then wait the required waiting-to-eat-what-I've-cooked-because-I-can't-really-enjoy-it-until-I've-been-away from-it-for-a-bit time doing one of the things I've described above. Then I can crack open an old favourite or a tantalizing unknown, and finally...ahhhh. I mean, it's research, right? Furthering my authorly education. Everything is, really, no? One of the things that I love about being a writer. Somehow, we can make it work.
**See, that was what I wanted to do my list about -- film dialogue -- but I got stuck. Maybe next time, if I'm allowed back in.
Ready? Deep breath.
Sometimes...I procrastinate.
OK, I'm guessing (hoping) that, at least some of the time, I am not alone in this. So, without further ado, I present some of my favourite Ways to Procrastinate (and how I conquer (ish, again) them).
Walking Around Aimlessly. This is not "going for a walk", which can be remarkably productive, but rather, the kind of wandering around one's home without a purpose, looking at the various messes and piles without really seeing them, and then moving on to the next (untidy) space. Sometimes I grab a supremely unhealthy snack along the way (gummi bears are quite portable). I can spend long periods of time this way, sort of strolling on the hamster wheel. On the other hand, taking a walk, a brisk, one, can be refreshing and inspiring. My motivational walk of choice is over the Brooklyn Bridge, but anywhere will do. Sometimes I walk with a specific manuscript problem in mind, or just some ideas, or just the characters' voices in my head for company. Sometimes I don't consciously "think about anything", but I return invigorated and ready to work again. Fresh air, a new view, the sounds and (most of the) smells of the outdoors spark the creative spirit. And not long ago, I walked to the post office where I picked up surprise package that contained this fantastic book, which was a lovely creativity boost. So, I highly recommend walks to the post office; just make sure to have good writer buddies send you fantastic books in advance. Which leads me to
Talking about Nothing for a Long Time. You know, when you've said for the one millionth time, 'I've got to get to started' and then the phone rings and you can see that it's that old friend that you haven't talked to in a while (or since yesterday), and you know that you can go on for an hour, easily, chit-chatting about teen films of the 90s**, so you...pick up the phone? Or you visit a message board, a chat room, or just text buddies furiously about other random things you've found online, until you're sucked into a vortex of conversational junk food and two hours have gone by? Yeah. Been there, done that. Not that there's anything wrong with connecting and catching up with friends -- it can be cheering, encouraging, and glorious fun. But it can also be a guilt-inducing time-sucker, and I've found that a couple of things prevent that. First, the obvious (and the hardest for me): don't pick up the phone. If you can, make it easier on yourself, by turning off the ringer, but I am physically unable to do that, so I use Caller ID wisely. I do try to make sure that my friends are generally aware of my writing schedule, so they avoid calling during those times unless it's urgent. Or I say at the outset that I'm glad they called, and would love to chat for a few minutes but have to get off the phone, and I ask them to hold me to that. If I feel I must phone or see a friend, I try to make it a writer buddy so that we can lace the chit chat with work-talk -- and that can be FABULOUSLY productive. And online communities can also provide this same sort of recharge, the key for me has been to limit my time (sometimes even using an actual timer), and to try to limit my online friendship frenzy to author-related communities on
Teh Internets, AKA the Interweb, AKA the Digital Shame Spiral. I have some Guilty Pleasure (not that guilty) sites that I like to visit on occasion, um, on many occasions in a single day. Or even highly respectable, informative sites and communities that still take me away from work for long periods if I'm not careful. Or I can just check my email all day long. So, I set specific times and time periods for these, and try to limit my browsing during work hours to online communities that motivate me, like this one, and The Debs, where one can commiserate, co-celebrate and also be inspired to get off of one's behind to keep up with everyone else. Sometimes creative arts but not-necessarily writing-related sites inspire as well, but I have to be careful or I
Immerse Myself in a Complicated Creative Project. I don't need much encouragement to get crafty, and there are numerous unfinished projects around my home (see untidy space above). I'll make a doll or stuffed animal, sew some simple clothes, knit some cables, or go crazy with the freezer paper stencils in a second. And I am convinced that, for the most part, these other creative endeavors inform and improve my writing. HOWEVER, I know that some projects, like the sudden desire to make a family of tiny felt beavers for a dollhouse, are not exactly of the take-a-break variety. Sometimes I try to justify my procrastinator tendencies by working on another writing project, which, of course, can be a very good thing. But yeah, sometimes it's just an unwillingness to face what I need to get done. So any real flashes of inspiration for something else or something new are duly noted in a journal, or on a Post-It, and filed away. Or I use the need to write something else to spend some time writing in a prayer journal, or my handy whatever-comes into-my-head journal for a few moments. I love needlework and stitchery though, and simple embroidery, uncomplicated knitting, and collage are surefire ways for me to contemplate something I've written, move on to something new, or just feed my brain with some serious treats of the imagination. Wait, did someone say treats?
Because Those Are The Best of All. I mean, a good book and good eats -- come on. And I love to play in the kitchen, so I can spend lots of time making something tasty (and usually sweet, for reading purposes) and then wait the required waiting-to-eat-what-I've-cooked-because-I-can't-really-enjoy-it-until-I've-been-away from-it-for-a-bit time doing one of the things I've described above. Then I can crack open an old favourite or a tantalizing unknown, and finally...ahhhh. I mean, it's research, right? Furthering my authorly education. Everything is, really, no? One of the things that I love about being a writer. Somehow, we can make it work.
**See, that was what I wanted to do my list about -- film dialogue -- but I got stuck. Maybe next time, if I'm allowed back in.