Self Realization Regarding Procrastination

IrishScribbler · Jul 11, 2007

I know this discussion has already taken place, but I wanted to mention something I've noticed in my work recently.

Today I sat down to work--which is great--and ended up tinkering with formatting for about half an hour instead of writing--which is not so great.

I convinced myself working on formatting was, indeed, working because I was making something like progress on my novel. But when I looked at it after half an hour, nothing had changed except * became #.

Ragh!

I think it's because I'm at a point in my work where I have to be really brutally honest with myself about what I'm writing, and be incredibly picky, and it scares me a little. I've been working on this novel for quite a while, and I don't want to ruin it. Ultimately, I know I will take up my blue pen (never red) and make the corrections/additions/deletions I need to, but while I'm reminding myself it needs to be done, I'll be tinkering with margins and layout.

*kicks self in butt*

kristie911 · Jul 11, 2007

I like to procrastinate by doing research. So-called research, that is. Rather than just get what I need, I continue to surf from site to site as if I can't possibly trust the first one.

reenkam · Jul 11, 2007

kristie911 said:
I like to procrastinate by doing research. So-called research, that is. Rather than just get what I need, I continue to surf from site to site as if I can't possibly trust the first one.

I do that, too. I'll look up a word in the dictionary...but then I have to check it a few times. Then maybe find the origin to be sure I really like the word. Then maybe move on to the history of language, though it has nothing to do with anything. Before I know it 2 hours have past and the word still isn't in the manuscript.

Kaytie · Jul 11, 2007

Hm. I'm procrastinating by posting here. [I bet no one has ever typed that before. /sarcasm]

RLB · Jul 11, 2007

Kaytie said:
Hm. I'm procrastinating by posting here. [I bet no one has ever typed that before. /sarcasm]

Nope. The rest of us dutifully type our 20,000 words a day before allowing ourselves to post here. And sometimes we send out query letters too.

blacbird · Jul 11, 2007

I'll respond to this later.

caw

lfraser · Jul 11, 2007

Proscrastination is a my biggest bugbear, compounded by my daily work schedule and general state of exhaustion once the garden is watered, dinner cooked and eaten, clothes laid out for the next day, and the odd conversation with the spousal unit. But I do find time here and there. Tonight, for instance, I've thought of two scenes that will take place later in my WIP. Because I don't really have time to write much tonight, I'll sketch these out in perhaps one or two pages. Once the scene is sketched out, it gets written at some other time when I have a few clear quiet hours. I'm inching forward.

Scrawler · Jul 11, 2007

I used to procrastinate often. But then I got an update on someone I hadn't been in touch with for 15 years. I learned she is living a wonderful life, fulfilling her dreams ten-fold and is very successful.
It (jealousy? envy?) inspired me to quit screwing around and start meeting some serious goals. I realized this: I don't want to wake up 10 years from now still futzing around trying to decide if I should go with chapter numbers spelled out, or if I should go with chapter titles. I want to be prolific.
:e2BIC:

blacbird · Jul 11, 2007

I prefer to procrastinate right now. No waiting around. Seize the moment to wait. You might never get another chance. Until later, maybe.

caw

Ziljon · Jul 11, 2007

Irish Girl, you've got to polish your MS sometime. If you call it procrastination you give yourself an excuse to feel guilty. Just call it "weeding" or "nit picking" and do it without guilt. The great thing about writing, the whole point if you ask me, is being able to work at your own pace. Sure, we have to be disciplined, but not as much as someone working in an office! If it's a miraculous day, no way am I gonna sit in front of a computer!

Accept the fact, the big and absolute fact, that your brain does a ton of work subconsciously--while your sleeping, while your running, while your watching a show about sea-lions--and allow it to be dormant for a day or two.

Anyway, that's my idea.

Shadow_Ferret · Jul 12, 2007

I love you guys! :e2grouphu

I got my last rejection several weeks ago and I've been "researching" what agent to send it to ever since.

Well, I've also been "polishing" my query, synopsis, and parts of the novel itself.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Prawn · Jul 12, 2007

Hard work and determination will pay off eventually, but procrastination pays off right now.

Spiny Norman · Jul 12, 2007

I tend to think of procrastination as just another form of fear, but that doesn't stop me from repeatedly doing it.

Then there's the old addage that procrastination is a lot like masturbation, because at the end of the day you're just screwing yourself.

Pardon my French, of course.

Ullikummis · Jul 12, 2007

Kaytie said:
Hm. I'm procrastinating by posting here. [I bet no one has ever typed that before. /sarcasm]

I'm procrastinating by reading that.

Siddow · Jul 12, 2007

I procrastinate by doing research and making lists. I'll trip through duotrope.com, see what markets are looking for specific things, brainstorm what I can write to fit that market, make a long list of all the things I'll work on for the next week...and then pack up the kids and head for the pool.

I've got lots of things to work on, and I choose to work on my tan? Something seriously wrong with me. Like a death wish or somethin'.

Jen_D · Jul 12, 2007

I've never been much of a procrastinator when it comes to my writing or digital art. The dishes and laundry on the other hand . . .

But I find myself doing it a lot now. My problem is that I already wrote my WIP once. I lost large, important pieces of it in a computer crash. Some of the details come back slowly, while other parts I have to make up from scratch. It's frustrating, which makes me not want to write. So instead I come here and learn, lol.

JAGiunta · Jul 12, 2007

This is just me, but I've discovered I procrastinate when I wasn't truly ready to write the next scene. I hadn't thought about it enough yet to the point where it's solid in my mind.

The only time I run into trouble is when I put off writing by playing video games... there's NO subconscious scene building going on there. =D

Sean D. Schaffer · Jul 12, 2007

I procrastinate any time I start focusing on other people and their opinions. I get into discussions about things that don't matter in life and then the discussions become more than they were intended to be.

In the end, I get physically sick from stress and no writing gets done.

I also procrastinate by talking about writing instead of buckling down and doing the work.

Anyway, those are my big thoughts for the day. Now I have to get off-line so I can actually focus on my project and possibly come up with some new ones.

Azraelsbane · Jul 12, 2007

I tend to procrastinate by editing. I specifically procrastinate querying by editing. I'm always so nervous that I find any reason not to query.

Also, I tend to procrastinate after getting extremely scathing reviews

I can take constructive criticism fine, but when people get all crazy and actually angry about what I've written I go into a short bout of depression, eat tons of ice cream and don't touch my writing for days.

It makes me feel like I'm obviously a horrible writer just wasting my time on crap. Of course, then I realize that their opinion matters little, and even if I suck I'm not going to stop doing what I love.

Sassee · Jul 12, 2007

I am queen of procrastination. It's my first, middle, and last name. It is the very essence of the ninja bunny!

Right now I'm not writing because I'm trying to sort through my ideas for possible endings of my WIP, and until I know even the most vague direction I want to go, I can't write towards it. (Now I have a vague direction, but not sure how I want to get there.) I think a little part of me is really worried that I'll disappoint my beta readers if I don't come up with something really cool to end the story... so I'm just not writing anything right now. Instead I'm forum trolling and having some great day dreams.

Andre_Laurent · Jul 12, 2007

Shadow_Ferret said:
I love you guys!

I got my last rejection several weeks ago and I've been "researching" what agent to send it to ever since.

Well, I've also been "polishing" my query, synopsis, and parts of the novel itself.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Ditto....to every word of that.

BarbJ · Jul 12, 2007

I procrastinate, therefore I am writer. :tongue

IrishScribbler · Jul 13, 2007

JAGiunta said:
This is just me, but I've discovered I procrastinate when I wasn't truly ready to write the next scene. I hadn't thought about it enough yet to the point where it's solid in my mind.

The only time I run into trouble is when I put off writing by playing video games... there's NO subconscious scene building going on there. =D

Funny you should mention that...a friend in college would team up with my husband (then boyfriend) and get me to play video games with them, claiming it was "for my craft."

So lots of times when I'm procrastinating and Hubby notices, I argue it's "for my craft," jokingly.

IrishScribbler · Jul 13, 2007

Ziljon said:
Irish Girl, you've got to polish your MS sometime. If you call it procrastination you give yourself an excuse to feel guilty. Just call it "weeding" or "nit picking" and do it without guilt. The great thing about writing, the whole point if you ask me, is being able to work at your own pace. Sure, we have to be disciplined, but not as much as someone working in an office! If it's a miraculous day, no way am I gonna sit in front of a computer!

Accept the fact, the big and absolute fact, that your brain does a ton of work subconsciously--while your sleeping, while your running, while your watching a show about sea-lions--and allow it to be dormant for a day or two.

Anyway, that's my idea.

Thanks for the encouragement! You're right about it needing to get done, but sometimes I do that instead of what I should be doing, which is rewriting a certain scene, developing a character, or just plain writing.

zornhau · Jul 14, 2007

Write a to-do list. Work through it.

Self Realization Regarding Procrastination

IrishScribbler

kristie911

Happy to be here

reenkam

aka cupcake

Kaytie

RLB

bundled

blacbird

lfraser

Bored and Frantic

Scrawler

Bored fanatic

blacbird

Ziljon

Tortilla di Patate

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

Prawn

Writing is finite,revising infinite

Spiny Norman

Ullikummis

Siddow

I'm super! Thanks for asking

Jen_D

JAGiunta

Sean D. Schaffer

Azraelsbane

Agony is defeat

Sassee

Momma Wolf

Andre_Laurent

BarbJ

IrishScribbler

IrishScribbler

zornhau

Swordsman