My biggest problem at the moment is starting to write

Fortz said:

Okay so I'm doing a thousand words a day and I've done so for about ten days now.

The hardest part of the whole thing are the first 20-50 words. I sit there and procrastinate for like an hour, checking reddit, different forums, checking email.

Once I get the 20-50 words down, I write the rest. Maybe taking a break here and there but it's not as hard restarting as the first few words are.

Am I alone? Is there some kind of psychology behind this? Anyway to make it easier?

Click to expand...

Based on this, the distraction seems to be the internet. My first step, in this case, would be to disconnect when it's time to write. I would turn off my router/phone/tablet and anything else that could access the internet. Then I'd open my document and either stare at it or write.

Or have you tried this and simply found a different means to procrastinate when the internet isn't available?

All the best,
Riv

Try one of these Browsing Restriction Apps.... https://www.theguardian.com/small-b...dec/17/internet-restriction-apps-productivity

For me, I have to be in a mood to work, or in a different mood to do a different kind of work. That time, procrastinating, may be time spent to change moods. Or it may be procrastination.

Or, if the Internet is the problem, try writing with a pencil and a journal. It keeps me away from distractions, and I always get a higher word count that way.

I like the SelfControl app, which I get a lot of traction out of (and is going on as soon as I type this).

I find that the way I start my day will set the pace for the rest of it. If I get up and start writing right away, then I can look at the internet later on, but my mind is already engaged, so I don't shut down. If I start browsing first thing in the morning, then it's really difficult to get into work.

What I do when that happens is to close my eyes, let my mind go wherever it wants, and just let my fingers type whatever is in my head. Then go back to see if anything but drivel showed up.

If I'm really struggling, I use a timer. Something about seeing the seconds go by in the menu bar usually forces me to work.

Fortz said:

Okay so I'm doing a thousand words a day and I've done so for about ten days now.

The hardest part of the whole thing are the first 20-50 words. I sit there and procrastinate for like an hour, checking reddit, different forums, checking email.

Once I get the 20-50 words down, I write the rest. Maybe taking a break here and there but it's not as hard restarting as the first few words are.

Am I alone? Is there some kind of psychology behind this? Anyway to make it easier?

Click to expand...

You're not alone at all. I start each day in pencil and don't move across to the computer until the speed has picked up a bit. It seems to help. I tell myself it helps a bit, anyway. (Also, if you have chickens, go out and look at the chickens. It won't help you write, but chickens are lovely things.)

Fortz said:

The hardest part of the whole thing are the first 20-50 words. I sit there and procrastinate for like an hour, checking reddit, different forums, checking email.

Once I get the 20-50 words down, I write the rest. Maybe taking a break here and there but it's not as hard restarting as the first few words are.

Am I alone? Is there some kind of psychology behind this? Anyway to make it easier?

Click to expand...

That's me, too, though I can't say I'm as productive as you. Sometimes, the 20-50 are all I get. I just assumed that it was because I was assembling the mental troops, and getting organized. Editing what I'd written the session before has helped my focus a bit.

Fortz said:

Okay so I'm doing a thousand words a day and I've done so for about ten days now.

The hardest part of the whole thing are the first 20-50 words.

Click to expand...

Sounds normal. Although maybe you can cut your procrastination time down disabling your internet and putting your phone in another room.

-Riv- said:

Based on this, the distraction seems to be the internet. My first step, in this case, would be to disconnect when it's time to write. I would turn off my router/phone/tablet and anything else that could access the internet. Then I'd open my document and either stare at it or write.

Click to expand...

Echo this. Beyond which my recommendation would be to just rip off a bunch of stream-of-consciousness crap for a couple hundred words or so. You might come up with a diamond or two hidden in the manure, but even if not, you'll have moved off being stuck, methinks.

caw

I relate to this.

As others have said, limiting your internet access might stop the procrastination, though it is always possible you might investigate other distractions.

When I have difficulties in putting words on the page, I write notes for my scene, including lines of dialogue , what my characters are thinking and feeling etc. This may not work for everyone, but it works for me.

I poke around and make up silly excuses before I actually start writing as well. When I do get a little bit down though it starts to flow better. I've just come to accept it though. It's just part of my writing process I guess. I keep a tab open with my writing on it and look at it a ton before actually writing, but I think that helps me with thinking about what I actually should write.

When I find myself procrastinating, I sing to myself "pro-cras-ti-na-tion" to the tune of Rod Stewart's "Infatuation". It doesn't actually help get me going, but it makes me a little less frustrated

Fortz said:

Anyway to make it easier?

Click to expand...

No. Granted, the advice here will help, but if it wasn't hard to get motivated, everyone would be doing this. The fact that you are pushing through the hard part is what will make it special when you succeed. Most people don't push past it.

Now I'll add to everyone's advice I finally realized a few months ago that staring at my ms on the computer screen is not conducive for creativity. When I know I'm stuck, I'll sit down with a pen and paper and just brainstorm, jotting down ideas and key phrases as I go. After a little bit of that, I usually get inspired and go running to the keyboard to start banging away.

It was a breakthrough, really, and I felt stupid when I realized it. I mean, two years ago I had basically never written anything in my life. As I read my WIP now, I can look at certain moments and pinpoint exactly where I was when I came up with the idea. For one thing, maybe it was that one day I was out for a walk. Another was that one time when I was driving (btw that's not a recommendation to daydream while driving). And yes, a lot of ideas happened in the shower. And it was those organic moments that finally inspired me to start writing. Now for some reason, I expect to force myself to come up with ideas while I'm staring at Microsoft Word. No.

Shut off the computer and go brainstorm.

How about when you are wrapping up for the day after your fabulous 1000-word streak, you leave some very concrete advice on the page for the next day. It could just be notes saying what happens next so you can just warm up by finishing the prompt you left yourself.

This may not work for you, but I start with scenes that I find fun, or motivating. I write as many fun scenes as I can, then start trying to write "around" them (leading up to, or following on from) and go from there. Then usually dip back to write some of the less-fun stuff.

I wonder what enthusiasm you have for what you've already written in the story if your first urge is to wander around the internet.


Nothing wrong with choosing to surf before writing but it can be used as an excuse for not doing any writing.


But if you're writing for fun there's no issue here.


Thinking about how to start is perfectly normal.

Ztwist said:

How about when you are wrapping up for the day after your fabulous 1000-word streak, you leave some very concrete advice on the page for the next day. It could just be notes saying what happens next so you can just warm up by finishing the prompt you left yourself.

Click to expand...

That's a good idea. It seems like it would be easier to get started if you know you aren't starting cold.

I think I'll try that

I'm also one of those writers who find it hard to sit down to write. Has nothing to do with enthusiasm for the project and everything to do with the procrastination gene running very strong in my family.
A couple of tricks I use to get myself to start writing when I'm faced with the page first thing in the morning/writing session:

• I will have left off in the middle of a sentence the day/session before.
• I set a timer for five minutes and promise myself that I will write anything for those five minutes. I let them be my throat clearing minutes. After that, I'm limbered up and can transition smoothly.

bearilou said:

• I set a timer for five minutes and promise myself that I will write anything for those five minutes. I let them be my throat clearing minutes. After that, I'm limbered up and can transition smoothly.

Click to expand...

It's amazing what a little limbering up can do.

Starting to write each day (or after a longer absence) can feel a little like nerving yourself to jump into cold water. A few of us can manage that first chilly plunge, but the rest of us need to get our toes wet first, then our feet, then a slow wade in, and suddenly the water's not cold any more, and we find ourselves far from shore and swimming.

Fortz said:

Okay so I'm doing a thousand words a day and I've done so for about ten days now.

The hardest part of the whole thing are the first 20-50 words. I sit there and procrastinate for like an hour, checking reddit, different forums, checking email.

Once I get the 20-50 words down, I write the rest. Maybe taking a break here and there but it's not as hard restarting as the first few words are.

Am I alone? Is there some kind of psychology behind this? Anyway to make it easier?

Click to expand...

Rewrite yesterday's last sequence/scene to get going again.

Or yesterday, leave the last scene for today. Leave today's last scene for tomorrow.

OK for me right now, it would be "avoid checking AW" and just write. Distractions abound, and once you get a prompt here that lets you move forward, seize it and write. Trying that out, now.

I face the same problem, but not when I start, but when I'm about to finish. I'm in my 15th page of my 20 daily pages (I write by hand) and I just don't know what else to write, and I'm like "Ummm..." and it's like being constipated. Then I finish and let out a sigh of relief.