You know you’re a writer when you’ve found a million ways to procrastinate…here are a few tips to help you spot the procrastination pitfalls.
Reading really is the perfect excuse for any writer because you can convince yourself that it is actually helping you to become a better writer. Yes, it certainly is, but sometimes you do need to put the book down and get back to your keyboard and write.
Snacks. If you want to keep your writing brain in tip-top working order you need a snack, right? Yes, until you realise you’ve eaten enough food for a small party, and then it’s time to explore the possibility that you might be letting procrastination creep in.
Daydreaming is the birthplace of all good plot ideas. But maybe if you’re daydreaming about ‘fetching another snack’, it’s time to get on with actually writing the book!
Editing! Is the worst form of writer procrastination. You know you need to start the next chapter, but it’s so enticing to pop back to what you did yesterday . . . just for a quick check. The next thing you know, you’ve taken a bulldozer to it . . . and you’re not making any new progress on the book!
Desk tidy. Yes, we have all been there and done that, but after your 23rd pencil readjustment, you know you really need to get back to your book!
What’s your favourite procrastination habit? 🙂
You forgot: checking Facebook to see how that latest home made ad is doing, reading and commenting on friends’ blog posts to wake you up and act as a warm-up for your own writing greatness…
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Hehe, thanks Dan 🙂
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
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Thanks for sharing Chris 🙂
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Welcome Gee 😀
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Reblogged this on Kim's Author Support Blog.
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Thanks for sharing Kim 🙂
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Reblogged this on Neven Carr and commented:
Another great post from Gee over at https://thewritingchimp.com
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Thanks for sharing Neven 🙂
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The pleasure is mine Gee, you make me laugh! In response to your question, favourite procrastination habit?
The dreaded iPad! Spend way too much time on it playing mindless games!
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Ah yes, so addictive! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Jeanne Owens, author and commented:
Guilty of reading and daydreaming 🙂
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Thanks for the share Jeanne 🙂
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You’re welcome 🙂
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I procrastinate on MY writing by writing for others’ ie, freelance writing. Good for the others… not so good for me 🙂
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That’s an unusual one! And at least it is productive…just not for you 😉
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Exactly!!
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Reminds me of the classic Dorothy Parker observation: “I hate writing. I love having written.” 🙂
And, yes, Dan nailed it. These days, social media is the biggest procrastination tool there is.
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1. Research. 2. Blogging. 😀
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Hehe, good points. Do you ever get distracted when you are researching and start reading about stuff that is not related to your book…I do 😉
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Yep. One link leads to another. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog and commented:
Here is a great post from The Writing Chimp blog on different ways writers procrastinate.
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Thanks for the share 🙂
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You’re welcome
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I can relate to this. Research always sends me down rabbit holes as well. I might be researching a type of weapon and somehow find myself reading about Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill without knowing how I got there and then I realize that two hours have passed. I wish there was a research setting on my browser that let me look up one thing every 3 hours and then shut down the Internet once I find it.
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Hehe, sounds like great idea, special browser for writers 🙂 I would buy it!
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I always have to play one game of cards on my pc when I boot up anf then if it doesn’t come out one more and …
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Hehe
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Got to admit that I do a lot of editing, and in my defense it does improve my writing, but I make up for it by never tidying my desk…or my apartment. 😀
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Reblogged this on Tales of . . . and commented:
One of my procrastination downfalls involved a feline walking across my laptop and I just have to pet her rather than shooing her away.
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Thanks for the share 🙂 My cat’s just use my laptop as a bed.
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Love this! I spend a lot of time “strategizing.” Lol
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Oh! I like that word…I am now a ‘strategist’ 🙂
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