Procrastination is like a credit card. It's a lot of fun until you get the bill.
I have a confession to make. Maybe if I write it out loud it will help me.
I am a procrastinator.
I do well when under a dead-line imposed from without. I get down to it and write away, content and happy. But I can't seem to put a dead-line on myself. It just doesn't work, particularly as it relates to revising, which I struggle with. I will find a gazillion things to do. Anything from pulling weeds to reading to taking a nap to blogging to(GASP) dusting.
I'm asking for help here. If any of you have any methods for breaking the procrastination curse, any words of wisdom to help me get over my revision revulsion, I would appreciate it.
Perhaps you could just set yourself a little bit each day.
ReplyDeleteWell, the only thing that motivates me is money. Maybe if you asked someone to hold 20 bucks for you and then pay you 1 dollar per page that you finish, that might help.
ReplyDeleteor however many pages you have to do. IF you have 200 pages, that's 200 bucks. Yeah, I know, like there's that kind of cash hanging around.
But that's all I've got because I hate revisions too.
Oh, procrastination... it can get the best of me, too.
ReplyDeleteI use writing to procrasinate on everything else. What laundry? What dusting. Oh dear.
ReplyDeleteI'm like that too, Bish. I like deadlines because I happily get things done in time!
ReplyDeleteI am collaborating on a middle grade with Jon and our weekly skype chats keep me on task so I am producing each week.
Critique partners can be a help here. It helps me tons to know I'm expected to show up at a monthly meeting with some writing in hand. If you don't meet with a group, maybe ask a CP to be your "imaginary editor" who demands certain projects be e-mailed to her on time.
ReplyDeleteOh, I wish I could offer some words of wisdom, but I, too, am a procrastinator. The only thing I found that has worked for me is making lists and having to finish the list by the end of the day, but even sometimes then it doesn't always work. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteOMG, Bish!
ReplyDeleteDid you sneak over to my office and take the picture of me at my desk? I was just getting ready to start on that "Buy a furry pet" when I opened your blog--another small procrastinating effort.
I wish I had help for you, but I'm still seeking help for myself. I'll let you know if I come up with a remedy.
I'm exactly the same. Sometimes it bothers me, but lately I've been wondering if it isn't my subconscious' way to tell me to calm down.
ReplyDelete:-)
Bish, that picture is hilarious!
ReplyDeleteI procrastinate too, and am in revisionland so I suffer along with you, but it's practically part of the ritual of getting ready to write (a warm up, if you will).
I know if I were on a real deadline, my novel would be out and flying off the shelves. The only thing that helps me is limiting the procrastination to say 15-20 min. at most. Set the timer. Actually, the timer is my best friend, because I can set it for just 15 min. and say I will revise this ONE page. That's it. And often I will end up doing two.
In the end, you've got to want to do it more than anything else in the world.
And right now I am procrastinating ... but I have lessons to correct so that takes priority. But I'm warming up. I'll probably give this same advice to a student.
Ha! Oh yes! It's terrible, procrastination, but soo much fun too. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI love the cartoon! I happen to be very fond of post-its.
ReplyDeleteNikki
awesome quote. Sometimes we just have to decide to write/revise.
ReplyDeleteI am a procrastinator too. So I feel your pain. And you're right. It stinks when the bill comes and you realize how far behind you are. Great pictures, by the way, of the messy desk. I love it. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a master procrastinator. I've got levels of techniques, and often take it to defcon 5: Advanced Procrastinating Methods.
ReplyDeleteI've got mad procrastinating skillz, yo. Should you need any tips, you know where to find me. :)
Have a fab weekend!
Love,
Lola
That cartoon is hilarious. Especially "Call Mother-in-Law" ALONG WITH "Remarry." :D
ReplyDeleteI JUST got done reading a book that kicked me in the butt. It's THE WAR OF ART by Steven Pressfield. The front cover even says it's a kick in the a**. The time I spend writing per week has shot way up.
If only! The only thing that works for me is a little reward system. Finish this page and you can have some chocolate...
ReplyDeleteMe procrastinate? I was going to do the dishes but thought I'd let them soak until morn. hehe OF COURSE I PROCRASTINATE. Love the quote from the actor.
ReplyDeleteI always make my self-imposed deadlines too optimistic, so then I don't achieve them, and then I always feel like I'm behind. Eventually it all gets finished, though. Sorry I can't help more with ideas for beating procrastination!
ReplyDeleteWish I had an answer for you. I'm just like you in this. Here I am looking at blogs (not necessarily a bad thing) when I need to finish writing something that's due tomorrow and reading a book that I reviewing on my Tuesday blog post.
ReplyDeleteLove that quote though--it rings so true.
Lee
Tossing It Out and the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2011
I could write this post, and so could both of my daughters. We do so much better when we're racing around, terrified of going over that deadline.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to procrastinate over dusting if you stop dusting altogether. ;o) Just a thought!