Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Do you procrastinate?

This is topic Do you procrastinate? in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by MrsBrown (Member # 5195) on :

I am a horrible procrastinator. I had to set all creative writing aside because of the frustration of never getting those big chunks of time that I feel I must have.

But the ** really hit the fan with my work writing; major avoidance, any distraction will do, progress almost at a standstill. So I found a support group: http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/

My goal is to get my work life back in order, and then eventually pick up sf/f writing again. One small step at a time.

There's a phone line for conference calling with other members, where we state our plan and then report what we did. I'm finding it helpful.

Wanted to share in case anyone else might benefit. I have hope

[This message has been edited by MrsBrown (edited September 29, 2010).]

Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :

Terribly. I've been up since two-thirty AM and it took me till just a couple of minutes ago just to sit down and write something.

Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :

I'll tell you tomorrow.

Posted by TamesonYip (Member # 9072) on :

You would be amazed at how much time can be spent sitting around whining. That is the sad thing- when you look back at your day and realize you sat on the couch grumbling and that's it.

Posted by Tiergan (Member # 7852) on :

Who me? No, never. Well yeah, pretty much has been this year. A couple false starts in getting out of my writing funk. I am finding the posting everyday thread has stopped me. Strange just getting through that first bad 100 words, has gotten me to write or edit everyday for 2 weeks now.

Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :

Yes, that's why I'm here... and on a couple of other sites.

Of course one is pro writers blog where I'm learning a lot about agents, e-publishing and such. But reading all of the comments, to the blogs, takes up so much time its procrastination. As is critiquing stories by other writers.

Sometimes I procrastinate on purpose and I know why I do.

Actually, it's not the only reason I'm here.

Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :

Try Freedom for mac (there is a PC version too) if your procrastination is internet fuelled.

Posted by BenM (Member # 8329) on :

I'm a horrible excuse-maker.

My latest attempt to solve it? I've been writing with pen & paper on the train, on my way to and from work.

On a good day I get almost two hours a day, no internet, no pretty pictures. I'm finding it quite liberating just to get back into the whole writing headspace again after the distractions of the last few months.

Posted by PB&Jenny (Member # 9200) on :

I can proudly say, I'm an excellent procrastinator. Because of my health I put off washing my dishes, and write. I put off mowing my lawn, and write. I sometimes put off eating, and write. Granted, I write very slowly, but I write. I remember one day I sat at my computer and wrote for a six hour stretch for a good 3000 words. That's incredibly good for me. Unfortunately, I had to be helped out of my chair and into bed. That's why I married my nurse.

Posted by Crank (Member # 7354) on :

Last night, after I joyfully attended to my family duties (one of which was proofread my teenaged son's creative writing story...he is absolutely sold on the First 13 practice!), I sat down with the conviction of not moving until my WotF entry was completed and submitted.

Over an hour later, my consciousness finally kicked in. I realized one browser was set to Facebook, another to personal emails, another was playing The Tubes videos and concert footage. And I had my website code editor open, too. None of these things had anything to do with my story! It was then I realized the scope of my procrastination. I closed everything else (with much self-arm-twisting), and dove into my story.

PS...I finally did finish and submit it.

Now, it's time to procrastinate---er, I mean---resume work on one of my novels.

S!
S!

Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :

Yes I procrastinate.

Posted by goldhawk (Member # 8826) on :

procrastinate = TV Tropes

Posted by EP Kaplan (Member # 5688) on :

Do I ever! Totally didn't file my WOTF submission until yesterday evening.

Posted by genevive42 (Member # 8714) on :

Of course.

Posted by rstegman (Member # 3233) on :

I don't consider myself a procrastinator,

but I have yet to get around to start the process of planning for the 1968 procrastinator's society convention.

Posted by MrsBrown (Member # 5195) on :

For me, this is a serious issue. Its not just a problem with poor time management or too many distractions. Its not funny (although it helps to laugh at myself). It affects every area of life, every goal I set out to accomplish, and other people. Procrastination is a destructive force over which I feel powerless (how's that for melodramatic?)

One catch phrase I picked up is "demand resistance", where any task or pursuit starts to feel like a demand, and I (and many others like me) instinctually resist it. It affects my writing at work and my writing for pleasure (its no longer pleasurable). Perfectionism and fear are major contributors.

I am fortunate to have plenty of people who encourage me in my various creative pursuits. I've tried (and loved) drawing, printmaking, painting, pottery, dance, poetry, origami, and speculative fiction. In every single case, I reached a point where I could not make myself continue. They've all petered out into past hobbies. I'm trying like crazy to reclaim my life and at least hang onto the job and the fiction writing. I fear that my life will be wasted if I do not use all this potential to forge ahead toward some form of substantial accomplishment.

Sigh. I'd like to know if any of you can truly relate.

Posted by genevive42 (Member # 8714) on :

Mrs Brown, you actually sound a lot like my mom. Everything has to be a much bigger deal than it really needs to be and if it can't be perfect then it's not good enough to show/send out etc.

For as much as I do a moderate amount of procrastinating, I am not like her. I am goal oriented, sometimes I just have to get started. I am trying to get better about this myself.

From that perspective, I will tell you the frustrations I have with my mom if only to hope in helping you see it from another side. These things might not apply to you and I don't want you, or anyone, to take them personally.

One of my biggest frustrations with my mom is that she always has an excuse for everything. She can't do this because of that. And she can't change the way she is because of how she was raised. She won't take responsibility for anything in her life. Everything is someone else's fault and even if she admits it's hers, she acts like she's powerless to effect anything in her life.

Some of this has to tie back to that paralyzing perfectionism you referred to, but I feel like that perfectionism is really just the pre-setting up of an excuse.

The one thing I would like to see her do is stop making excuses and recognize that she does have control over who she is and how she handles things and decide to take control of her life. What, if anything, will ever bring her to this realization, I don't know. But these are my thoughts. Hope they help.