My friend, Procrastination

I thought after the last two posts (ok, technically three) that it would be useful to have one concerning blocking out all those distractions and getting down to writing. Sure you now have the awesome website, and nifty social networks promoting yourself, but you seem to be running out of time to get any actual writing done.

First, surround yourself with other authors. Twitter, while it is a distraction all its own, also can be a good kick in the pants. Nothing guilts me into writing more than seeing all these writers out there talking about how many words they have written so far. They are at 900 for the night...already? I haven’t even started yet! Followed closely by mad typing on my part so I can post that I’m now at a measly 350. Peer pressure at its finest..without actual pressure that is. ;)

Find someone to hold you accountable. A best friend works wonders for this role. Hand over that imaginary whip to them and ask them to bug you about it. Just make sure you don’t snap their head off for asking. Sometimes something as simple as that can make you realize that although you would love to be surfing the internet at the moment, that chapter needs to be finished and is much more important.

If you find another author, whether published or no, and can trade what you’ve written for the day, it’s a help to you both. It holds you accountable to have something for them to read over, and vice versa. Not only will you be writing more, but you have the benefit of having someone else point out errors that you may have missed. This step could easily be incorporated into the last one if your best friend happens to write as well.

You know how when your trying to lose weight you post a picture of a horribly obese person, or maybe even yourself on the fridge to deter you from snacking? Well you can do the same with writing. Find you a picture that reminds you of writing, or maybe even one of your characters and make it your desktop. Adding a caption saying “GO WRITE” or “I WANT TO LIVE” will help bring the point home. How can you be selfish and procrastinate whenever a character is not only begging to be born but literally staring at you as your playing?

Which brings me to my next point, surround yourself with your world. Notes you’ve made, pictures you’ve found, chapters you have printed, anything really. Just make it so that it’s the first thing you see when you settle down at your computer, or however you write. Tape notes or pictures everywhere. How about the before mentioned character staring at you from the medicine cabinet as you brush your teeth in the morning? Granted your spouse and kids might find it freaky but I’m sure the character will appreciate it. Lol

Follow a schedule. Sit down and slot you in specific times to write, distractions be damned. You can play during the time allotted for it, but not before. If other people continually distract you, let them know what’s going on and ask for privacy. I’m sure if you tell them with some modicum of politeness they will easily understand and leave you be, if not, well... invest in a deadbolt. Personally the only way I can get my husband to leave me alone is to get pissy with him. Sounds horrible I know, but it works and allows me some privacy. Plus, he is aware what I’m doing so its not so bad, and he knows if he’s hit the pissy stage he’s bugging me too much and backs off.
So there you have it, a few simple things to do to battle the urge of procrastination. I would love to hear of any ways you manage to get yourself in gear and write. And once again I apologize for making the weekly blog a day late. Most of you are not aware, but through the week when I’m online I’m actually at work. So every now and then, if situations arise I just get so swamped I have to give up my precious laptop time.

Until next time peeps,
CoD

And in honor of the subject matter, I present to you not one, but two video’s to procrastinate on...