Here I am in the blogosphere with my very first blog. Now
what do I write about? Insert
procrastination here! Procrastination inserted!
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Yesterday, I went to my favorite shop Barnes and Noble. I
opened the doors and inhaled the aroma of Starbucks coffee while looking at the
display of newly released books. I got excited knowing that I would soon be
getting my fix, much the same way a junkie must get excited to see his drug
filled needle.
I instinctively
walked over to the section that held the books that are written for writers
(This section is much too small.) My fingers ran over the binders as I read the
titles. My heart dropped. I have most of these books. Was there nothing new?
Then I found it, the perfect book for me, Around
the Writer’s Block, Using Brain Science to Solve Writer’s Resistance, by
Rosanne Bane. Under the title it said; Including,
Writers Block (yes. yes, I’m blocked),
Procrastination (yes, this is me),
Paralysis (how did she know?),
Distractions (damn cat!), Postponing,
Perfectionism, Self-Sabotage, Excessive Criticism, Overscheduling, and
Endlessly Delaying Your Writing.
Wow, this Rosanne Bane understands me. I greedily grabbed the book and
grabbed a coffee just as greedily, and knew that my habit had been satisfied,
at least for a week.
As I was flipping through the pages of Bane’s book I
realized that if a book has been published about writer’s procrastination then
I must not be the only one out there with this debilitating problem. In fact,
there must be many writers with this problem. It consoled me to know that I was
not alone.
I settled in at my desk, turned my computer on (because I
knew that there would be writing prompts) and I opened Bane’s book. Chapter 1 (this is as far as I have read)
Bane writes about writer’s resistance, how it is normal and how she has proven practices
to overcome writer’s resistance. She can get us procrastinators/resistors into
the writing habit. This Rosanne Bane is
awesome I thought to myself. I got to the end of chapter 1 where my first
writing prompt or challenge as Bane calls it. I closed the book, positioned my
fingers over the computers keyboard and……….Nothing. All this nothingness made me hungry. I went
to the kitchen and got some lunch and never did return to the writing challange.
I know that there are people who can relate to my problem.
How do they get over it?
At least I should give myself credit that I did finish this
blog post (OMG is anyone going to read this?) I finished my bio too. But these
are things I have to do in order to pass my class. If only writing a book could
be a class. I could write a book if it depended on a grade. Good idea!
Rose, I think you were reading my mind. I was going over these same doubts in my head yesterday. And I thought the exact same thing - if I had to write this story for a class, I'd have no trouble getting started. I hope Bane's book is the answer, or at least some help. I am going to look for it right away. Thanks! So, see, someone did read your blog. Good Job!
ReplyDelete::::big smile::: I am so happy to hear that I am not alone in my writer's dilemma. Maybe we could share any and all ideas to overcome our writer's procrastination! Thanks for reading and commenting! Oh, BTW Bane's book makes a lot of sense. I recommend reading it.
ReplyDeleteIt's ridiculous how painful it is to sit down and just WRITE. I've been told to schedule myself two hours a week--for example, every Sunday from 9am to 11am--and stick to it no matter what. I'm to add more days if I can, but always at least two hour blocks, and sit staring at that damn blank page for two hours if that's what it comes to. I've noticed it takes me a good half hour of thinking, and staring, and typing three words and immediately deleting them before I can really start to write. That half hour feels much longer than that, and is frustrating if I don't remember to relax because I have two whole hours.
ReplyDeleteI'm told this works, but I haven't done it lately. Your post, Rose, reminded me I should do it because I haven't written (other than a blogpost) in two weeks.
I am currently procrastinating on writing a book because I'm not sure if it's going to end up being a memoir or fiction. That is stupid--I need to WRITE it--the writing will tell me what it's going to be, duh!
Isn't blogging fun? I'm so glad you started this!
Hi Holly. Thanks for reading :) Blogging is fun. I would have never done it if it wasn't a class assignment. It is a good assignment, because it makes me write. And people will actually read it! It's not a pulitzer, but it is writing, and I have to start somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI had read (somewhere) to do the same thing that you are doing. Schedule your writing time, and show up. If your brain won't focus on writing, then free write. Just write anything, gibberish if you must. Just keep your butt in the chair and write for the allotted time. I guess it's about practice and....
Let me know how you do with the writing schedule. I may try that myself.