9/30/09 - Writing Words of Wisdom - Procrastination

[damcphail]

(disclaimer, this article was written many years ago, so the time references are a bit off by now ;)

Tomorrow is Always Another Day Away…

BY DANIELLE ACKLEY-MCPHAIL

So…you wonder why you don’t get any writing done…right? Let me guess…Work gets in the way? You have Writer’s Block? You’re tired? You’re not good enough? Enh…Wrong answer.

Procrastination

Comments

[greene_man]

I'll get back to you later...

[damcphail]

wiseacre!

[norda]

An excellent, excellent column, and one I will be forwarding on.

[damcphail]

Why, thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Danielle
www.sidhenadaire.com

[musingaloud]

Computer games! My worst promise to myself? "just one game to "relax" before I start writing. Three or four house later .... sigh. Right now my game of choice is Spider Solitaire, which, let me warn you, is truly an evil plot to hijack my life. Haven't yet figured out who wanted my life, but there is someone out there. I had finally cured myself from another Evil Game, but then came the new computer all shiny and I was curious. Curiosity killed Pam. That should be my new byline.

This post could have been written by me, except I do realize most times that I am procrastinating. I'm just powerless against it (it's my excuse and I'm sticking with it). Major A-1 Professional Procrastinator, that's me.

[damcphail]

Now see, I cured myself of this one forcefully...had no choice. Not only was it sucking up writing time, but it was also affecting my hands (from too much repetitive clicking), which mean typing was painful.

Any time I get a new computer the first thing deleted are the games. Extreme, but I know I have to do it. Of course, this might not be practical on a communal computer, but definitely do it if you have a dedicated writing computer...if you want to break the habit, that is!

[musingaloud]

Oh ack! The pain! I have considered deleting the games. But, but that means they're GONE!!! Oh ack. I may have to consider it. I actually have very strong will power when I can invoke it. It's getting my mind to that point that's hard.

[damcphail]

See, I have other computers so I only delete it from the computer I'm supposed to be writing on ;)

[jongibbs]

I've a good excuse so far this week. I'm ill - probably one of those computer viruses that's doing the rounds :(

Usually it's just lack of definite a daily goal, which is easily fixed, so long as I can summon up the energy to actually write a daily goal ;)

[damcphail]

LOL...now that's original...but I don't think my boss would buy it.

Sorry you still aren't feeling well. Get better soon!

Procrastination

[antydragn2]

Danielle, I am absolutely shocked you would procrastinate about anything. That is a shocking confession to me. I will now have to re-examine the world as I know it. Say hi to Mike for me!

Re: Procrastination

[damcphail]

ROFLMAO! I know...I have shattered more than a few people's opinion of me...I think...so hard to know who is and isn't reading this ;)

Like I said, it isn't even always a conscious effort to evade whatever I should be doing, but way too many times to count I've sat down to work on something with limited time and found most of it sucked up by other things. The trick is to catch yourself when you are doing it and examining what you did so you can remove the potential for that in the future...such as removing games from the computer you write on or working on one without internet access. Though I have to admit, I can't really do that last one because I depend on it too heavily for on-the-spot research...but if that isn't a concern for you but unsanctioned email writing replaces planned creative writing, you might want to try it.