Do you find yourself putting off writing whether it is a novel, or a short story, or a nonfiction book? Do you tell yourself you’ll write tomorrow, instead? Does this happen again and again, until days have turned into weeks, and you’ve still not made progress with your book? If so, you’ve got into a procrastinating habit. However, have no despair. The following tips will help you to deal with the procrastination of writing:
Remember the Pain
“Remember the pain?” I hear you say, stunned. Indeed, one reason you might be procrastinating your writing is because it is too much hassle, or too difficult and avoidance of writing lets you get away from such feelings. In effect, you’re running away from pain.
However, avoiding the discomfort of writing is short-lived. You may have got out of writing, sure. But you will still not have completed your story.
When you consider this and contemplate on how your life will not be better in the long run, knowing that your book is not getting written, how does that change your attitude towards your writing?
Just Write Already
Procrastination only becomes a problem if you allow your thinking to run a wild, and start to imagine how writing is difficult. One way to deal with this is to not think like this in the first place!
How can this be done?
By ignoring the initial thought of writing being a challenge, and just doing it anyway. By taking action and getting into your writing, you’re not giving those unhelpful thoughts about writing a chance to take over your consciousness.
Change Where You Write
The location where you do your daily writing can definitely affect your productivity. If you are constantly avoiding writing, then check that it isn’t the actual place where you write that you are avoiding. Is your room small, with hardly any light and air? If so, switch to another more airy room, where you can breath and where light comes, so that you’re in a area conducive for creative writing.
Take a Total Break
Rather than avoiding writing, and then most likely feeling guilty about doing so, give yourself a couple of weeks away from writing altogether. Take a vacation in a region in your country, or go to another nation altogether. Having a break from your daily routine, forgetting about writing, and then coming back afresh can do wonders to get writing mojo back.
Talk to Other Writers
Being a writer is one of the loneliest professions out there. However, it needn’t be. Develop a network of writer friends, both offline and online. Having a network in general can be a great work to increase your opportunities and finding new writing work. However, the power of networking really comes to the fore when you’re struggling.
Other writers know the experience of procrastinating every now and then. Talk through what you’re experiencing with others, and before you know it, the procrastination problem that you’ve just shared will be a procrastination problem that just halved.