Procrastination
I decided this was a fitting topic since I did so much of this today. I started out trying to write on the porch, but didn’t type a single word. I went to Starbucks and realized I forgot my earplugs. I can’t write with background music. I was going to try to write at a table in the grocery store and remembered they had background music as well. Finally, I went home, put on a DVD I’ve seen a hundred times, blocked it out and wrote a new scene.
So, why do we procrastinate? I think fears creep up into our subconscious. Possibly the fear it won’t be good enough.
Is all procrastination bad?
If procrastination keeps you from finishing a book, then in one sense it is bad. But I have found it is also sometimes productive.
How?
Before I became a writer, I used to procrastinate from cleaning by watching movies or reading novels. These activities ultimately became research. I learned back then what went into a good story.
Today, when I procrastinate from writing I clean. I find that ironic. I find that when my home is clean I am more productive when I do write. When my condo is a mess, I feel like the walls are closing in on me. Proponents of Feng Shui say clutter blocks your energy flow and leads to frustration.
I generally save movies for the evening, which is my least productive writing time. I have learned to analyze them for good story writing techniques and often report them back to you on this blog.
So, yes, procrastination can be bad if it inhibits you from reaching your ultimate goal, but in moderation may not be so bad overall.
Until next week,
Happy Writing,
Tina LaVon
I decided this was a fitting topic since I did so much of this today. I started out trying to write on the porch, but didn’t type a single word. I went to Starbucks and realized I forgot my earplugs. I can’t write with background music. I was going to try to write at a table in the grocery store and remembered they had background music as well. Finally, I went home, put on a DVD I’ve seen a hundred times, blocked it out and wrote a new scene.
So, why do we procrastinate? I think fears creep up into our subconscious. Possibly the fear it won’t be good enough.
Is all procrastination bad?
If procrastination keeps you from finishing a book, then in one sense it is bad. But I have found it is also sometimes productive.
How?
Before I became a writer, I used to procrastinate from cleaning by watching movies or reading novels. These activities ultimately became research. I learned back then what went into a good story.
Today, when I procrastinate from writing I clean. I find that ironic. I find that when my home is clean I am more productive when I do write. When my condo is a mess, I feel like the walls are closing in on me. Proponents of Feng Shui say clutter blocks your energy flow and leads to frustration.
I generally save movies for the evening, which is my least productive writing time. I have learned to analyze them for good story writing techniques and often report them back to you on this blog.
So, yes, procrastination can be bad if it inhibits you from reaching your ultimate goal, but in moderation may not be so bad overall.
Until next week,
Happy Writing,
Tina LaVon
1 comment:
Hey Tina,
Another great post. Next time you feel the need to clean, come on over to my house! :) I do find that sometimes procrastinaion is good in my writing because when I do get down to writing, scenes or ideas pop into my head that weren't there the first time around.
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