Story time. I am a terrible writing procrastinator. In school and in my work I’ve always been good about managing deadlines and starting projects early so I have time to step away and reread it with a fresh eye. But for some reason when I sit down to write for myself, I can’t do it. I’d rather clean the bathroom or reorder my bookshelf an eleventh time than think about opening that document. Even now, I’m working on this essay instead of my draft (or sleeping, which I should also be doing more of).
And I know some of you are rolling your eyes at me saying: “You can’t wait for inspiration to take hold and write your novel for you. You have to just write” But I think we can all recognize that it’s hard to follow that advice.
Yes, dear reader, I have used some of those anti-procrastination apps like Self Control. I have tried to create a practice of writing at specific times and in specific places. I have tried to make it easy for me to open up my document whenever I have time. But nothing can get me to stay on the draft.
When I’m writing—even when the writing is going well—there’s this thought that creeps its way into my mind: “You’re working hard, you could take a break now.” One moment I’m working and the next I’ve been scrolling social media for two hours. And it frustrates me because now I have to start the process of getting myself back in the writing headspace all over again. The uphill climb begins anew.
My brain is lying to me. And I do mean lying. My own thoughts are deceptive at times. It took me a long time to figure this out, but when I’m thinking “I’ve done enough for now” what I really mean is “I don’t know what to write next.” And even though I’ve been doing my best to not give into that impulse, my own head is tricking me.
When I’m thinking “I’ve done enough for now” what I really mean is “I don’t know what to write next.”
So how do I try to cope with this? Well the first step was identifying why I give up. For me, I tend to quite as soon as I don’t know what’s going to happen next. When the writing gets hard, and the words aren’t flowing out in a steady stream, I jump ship.
Knowing that I started to create a log off procedure. I made a writing journal where every time I log off from a writing session I can write down what’s going on in the story and what I think I need to do next. This way sitting back down is easier because I don’t have to start up doing the hard work of figuring out what to do.
And this is a physical journal that I keep at my desk. Not a document on my phone or on my computer that I have to take time to search for. This is a pen and paper notebook that I keep on the desk that I do my serious writing sessions at. I think it’s important that this is a real journal because, writing on a computer can often feel too official and like it’s something that has to have a purpose. These notes are just for me to reflect on. This is not part of an outline. This is not writing I might want to include in my manuscript one day. They’re just a vehicle to get me to think about what I’m doing before you step out of my writing headspace. If I’m using this journal right I can throw it out the second it gets full. I will not need it.
And this has had some success for me. Putting my thoughts on a page is really the only way for me to organize all the thoughts in my head. My life is a little chaotic for me write now since the pandemic started, but as I return to some semblance of a normal routine, I will continue to use this journal.
Before I go I also want to talk about the drafting process. We often times feel a lot of pressure when we’re writing to do everything right the first time. But drafting is not perfect. In fact it’s purposefully not perfect. You will have to rewrite your book. Probably multiple times. There is nothing wrong with skipping around in your writing if you’re more excited to write a different scene. You can have multiple versions of one scene. Or change tense half way through. The second time you write the story you will know a lot more about it, and it will get easier. But if you don’t write it, then you’ll never get there. So be mindful of the ways that you avoid doing the hard work of writing a messy draft, and find ways to cope.
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